GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup – Round 1, Brands Hatch Review

Brands Hatch burst into life as the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup kicked off its 2025 season with a high-octane double-header. Saturday saw Windward Racing’s Mercedes, piloted by Maro Engel and Lucas Auer, secure a commanding pole. In the Gold Cup, Emil Frey's Chris Lulham and Thierry Vermeulen led the charge.

Sunday’s Race 1 was a thriller, with AF Corse’s #51 of Alessio Rovera and Vincent Abril claiming victory, chased hard by Garage 59’s Marvin Kirchhöfer and Benjamin Goethe. Emil Frey’s Lulham and Vermeulen rounded off the podium — and clinched Gold Cup honours.

Race 2 flipped the script, as Engel and Auer stormed back to take the win for Windward. WRT’s Charles Weerts and Kelvin van der Linde secured second, while Rutronik Racing’s Sven Müller and Patrick Niederhauser grabbed a hard-fought third.

Solid start to the season — and Ollys shots were as sharp as the racing.

📷 Courtesy of Olly Goodall. ✍️ Courtesy of Amber Reid