Dominant Performance at Misano
Team WRT solidified its position as a dominant force in the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup, with drivers Kelvin van der Linde and Charles Weerts completing a clean sweep of the Misano round this weekend. Their victory in Race 2 aboard the #32 BMW M4 GT3 Evo marks a significant turning point in the championship standings, moving the defending champions into the lead.
The race was defined by a tactical masterclass in the pits. After a closely fought opening stint where van der Linde stalked the #3 Mercedes-AMG of Jules Gounon, the WRT pit crew executed a stop 3.1 seconds faster than their rivals. This efficiency allowed Weerts to emerge ahead of co-driver Daniel Juncadella and maintain a lead that he defended to the finish, crossing the line 2.977 seconds ahead.
Championship Stakes and Tactical Shifts
The Misano result has profound implications for the 2026 season. With this victory, Weerts has secured a record-extending 20th Sprint Cup win, surpassing his long-time co-driver Dries Vanthoor. The pair now leads the drivers’ championship by 14 points over Maro Engel and Lucas Auer of Winward Racing, who finished third in Race 2.
The weekend was particularly difficult for the previous championship leaders, Bastian Buus and Ricardo Feller. Their #80 Lionspeed GP Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo struggled after contact with the #96 Rutronik Racing Lamborghini Temerario at Turn 2. The subsequent 10-second penalty for Buus relegated the team to 21st, causing them to drop to third in the overall standings.
Next Steps in the Calendar
The GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup now heads to Magny-Cours, France. Teams will have less than two weeks to analyze the performance data from Misano before the next round, scheduled for July 31st to August 2nd. For Team WRT and the BMW M4 GT3 Evo platform, the focus will remain on maintaining the momentum that has seen them secure 15 wins in the last 19 races at the Italian circuit.