The GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup was back in action this past weekend of May 31-June 1, 2025, at the famed Monza circuit in Italy with a three-hour race held in front of over 40,000 fans. BMW had a strong weekend overall, with wins in two classes with the M4 GT3 EVO.
The BMWs weren’t that competitive in qualifying. The series runs qualifying for Endurance Cup events by having all three drivers participate in qualifying sessions, with the fastest combined time of the three drivers used to set the grid. The #32 Team WRT M4 GT3 EVO of Charles Weerts, Kelvin van der Linde, and Ugo De Wilde were the fastest BMW but was in eleventh overall.
Ben Tuck (left), Jens Klingmann (middle) and Al Faisal Al Zubair won the Gold Cup class and finished fourth overall.
The BMWs always race better than they qualify thanks in large part to fantastic pit work by the Team WRT crew, which runs three of the M4 GT3 EVOs. The crew and drivers of the #777 AlManar Racing by WRT car of Jens Klingmann, Al Faisal Al Zubair, and Ben Tuck (shown in top photo) had a great race, moving up to first in the Gold Cup class around halfway through the race after qualifying seventh in class. They held on to win their class and finish fourth overall. “Teamwork makes the dream work!” said Klingmann. “At the start, we didn’t think we had the pace to win. But the strategy, the pit stops, the driver changes – all of that made the difference once again. Now we head into the big race at Spa-Francorchamps well-prepared and full of anticipation.”
William Moore (left), Jarrod Waberski (center) and Mex Jansen celebrate their Silver Cup victory.
BMW also finished one-two in the Silver Cup class, with Century Motorsport getting the win with their #42 M4 GT3 EVO and drivers Jarrod Waberski, Willam Moore, and Mex Jansen. “This was the most difficult stint I’ve done in my life!” Jansen after the race. “My legs are shaking! We didn’t get the result we wanted in qualifying, so this is mega revenge. I’m really looking forward to Spa after this!” The #30 Team WRT entry of Etienne Cheli, Gilles Stadsbader, and Gustav Bergström finished second in Silver Cup.
The #30 Team WRT entry of Etienne Cheli, Gilles Stadsbader and Gustav Bergstrom finished second in SIlver.
The BMW teams didn’t fare as well in the top Pro Cup class. The #32 Team WRT entry of Weerts, van der Linde, and De Wilde finished fourth in class after serving two five-second time penalties, but it was enough to keep them in the points lead. The Pro Class win went to the #48 Mercedes-AMG. The #98 ROWE Racing entry of Augusto Farfus, Jesse Krohn, and Rafaelle Marciello had to retire due to damage from an accident.
Next up for the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup is the biggest race of the year, the 24 Hours of Spa in Belgium on June 25th-29th.
—David Haueter
[Photos courtesy SRO, BMW]
