The 2025 GT Cup Europe started with a spectacular and intensely-fought Race 1 at Portimão which ended with a last-corner victory for Ian Rodriguez and Luca Franca, both at their maiden success in the series, at the wheel of the Porsche 992 by FAEMS Team, the new outfit created by Fabio Pampado.
“What an incredible race and what a thrilling finale, we are speechless”: there was much emotion in the words of the winning duo, who beat the Burgers Motorsport by HWM car of Laura van den Hengel and Paul Meijer, who retained the success in Pro-Am. The third spot on the podium was for Pietro Armanni-Lodovico Longoni (ZRS Motorsport), also thanks a last-minute charge.
In Am, success for Brazil’s H.de Mello (GDL Racing) ahead of the other Porsches of Leandro Martins-Dieter Svepes (LMR) and Nico Vandierendonck-Nathan Brauns (Q1).
THE RACE – After dominating free practice and qualifying 1, the Burgers Motorsport by HWM logically took the first pole of the year, with Paul Meijer keeping the advantage at the start ahead of Brauns, Fernandes and Papi , respecting the order in the starting grid, with Longin taking briefly fifth in the early stages before being passed by Franca.
Firdt lap saw a contact between Bugliotti and Leonov, with both dropping to the back of the field. Later another incident involved Berberich and Martins.
After ten laps, the advantage of Meijer on Brauns was 4.5 seconds, with Fernandes, Papi and Longin 3 seconds further back, followed by Franca, Mello and then a compact group formed by Nunes, Luvisi, Patrinicola and Pisani, in close fight (and with the Ferrari #83 taken a 5-second penalty for overtaking out of the track).
The driver changed window opened in lap 12and after all pit stops, in lap 19, Van den Hengel was in the lead with ten seconds over Zaenen, then Saelens, Rodriguez, Svepes (first in Am), Armanni , Vandierendonck and Mello. Soon after starts a close battle for fourth between Svepes and Armanni, with both taking great liberty with the track limits.
The last laps are thrilling, as the gaps get reduced. In the very last corner, Ian Rodriguez manages to overtake Laura van den Hengel , while Pietro Armanni steals third from Zaenen.