The Misano GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup weekend witnessed a thrilling Race 2, with Kelvin van der Linde and Charles Weerts claiming a clean sweep for WRT. Their victory was a testament to their strategic prowess, particularly in the pit stops, which allowed them to surpass the polesitter, Jules Gounon, and secure the lead. This triumph marks Weerts' record-extending 20th win in the Sprint Cup and propels him and van der Linde to the top of the championship standings.
The race was not without its drama, however. The No. 80 Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo, driven by Bastian Buus and Ricardo Feller, found itself in a precarious position after Buus' penalty for rotating Patric Niederhauser's Rutronik Lamborghini Temerario at Turn 2. This incident not only handed Feller a 20th-place finish but also allowed Maro Engel and Lucas Auer to secure the overall podium in their No. 48 Winward Mercedes-AMG.
The battle for the top spots was intense, with Valentino Rossi and Max Hesse pressing van der Linde before their decline during the stops. Ben Green and Thierry Vermeulen's Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo finished just behind, while Jordan Pepper's No. 31 WRT BMW was issued a 10-place penalty for forcing Green off the track, demoting Amaury Cordeel to tenth.
Arthur Leclerc and Thomas Neubauer's No. 50 AF Corse Ferrari secured sixth place, with Marvin Kirchhofer and Dean Macdonald's No. 59 Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo close behind. Alex Aka and Dylan Pereira's No. 66 Tresor Attempto Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II claimed eighth overall, with Louis Prette and Tom Fleming's No. 58 Garage 59 McLaren in pursuit.
The Silver class was dominated by the GetSpeed Team Bartone Bros Mercedes-AMG, driven by Aurelien Panis and Anthony Bartone, who finished 13th overall. In the Bronze class, Rinat Salikhov and Marvin Dienst's Winward Mercedes-AMG prevailed, despite Charles Dawson's drive-through penalty for contact with Gilles Stadsbader's Ferrari. The No. 12 GetSpeed Team Dubai Mercedes-AMG, shared by Gabriel Rindone and Fabian Schiller, finished second on the road but was handed two 10-second penalties, ultimately taking third in class.
This race showcased the team's strategic prowess, the intensity of the competition, and the dramatic moments that make the GT World Challenge Europe a thrilling spectacle. As the championship continues, the battle for the top spots promises to be even more exciting, with WRT and their drivers at the forefront of the action.
