• Series returns to Hockenheim for the first time since 2021
• Just five points cover top two contenders in Pro-Am title fight
• Am class battle heating up with three crews separated by just nine points
The Fanatec GT2 European Series Powered by Pirelli will travel to Hockenheim next weekend (19-21 July) to launch the second half of its 2024 season.
The series returns to the German venue following a three-year hiatus, staging the fourth of its six double-header events after last month’s trip to Spa-Francorchamps. The key contenders have begun to emerge across both classes, with just five points between the leading duo in Pro-Am and the top three Am contenders separated by only nine points.
The title protagonists head a competitive 15-car field for the trip to Germany, which will also feature Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS and the GT4 European Series Powered by RAFA Racing Club. A pair of 50-minute contests will be staged on the 4.6km circuit, setting up the final sprint for glory in Fanatec GT2 Europe.
Pro-Am: Nothing to choose between leaders heading to Hockenheim
Last month’s trip to Spa-Francorchamps saw Reinhard Kofler and Martin Koch (#812 KTM X-BOW GT2) seize the advantage in the Pro-Am standings. The Team MZR duo bagged Race 2 honours in Belgium – their second win of the campaign – and maintained a perfect run of podium finishes in the process.
This remarkable consistency has moved them ahead of the LP Racing crew of Leonardo Gorini and Carlo Tamburini, who remain the most successful Pro-Am duo with three victories from six races. The #1 Maserati GT2 won the opening contest at Spa, but lost vital points to a puncture in Race 2.
Third place in Pro-Am belongs to one of the grid’s in-form pairings. Razoon - More Than Racing rookies Simon Birch and Thomas Andersen have made an instant impact aboard the #80 KTM, banking four class podiums in the previous five races. With half the season still to run, they sit 35 points off the top of the table.
Motorsport 98 now occupies fourth in the standings after its #98 Mercedes-AMG GT2 delivered competitive showings at both Misano and Spa. Eric de Doncker and Loris Hezemans have a single Pro-Am podium to their name, though that tally would have doubled were it not for a Race 2 penalty at Spa. Nevertheless, they remain the best-placed of the Mercedes-AMG competitors heading to Hockenheim.
In addition to its title-chasing Maserati crew, LP Racing will also have two Audi R8 LMS GT2 entries competing for Pro-Am silverware in Germany. The #18 duo of Michael Doppelmayr and Pierre Kaffer claimed an outright pole position at Spa, while Stéphane Ratel is back at the wheel of the sister #88 car. The SRO Motorsports Group CEO and Founder will team with 2023 Pro-Am title contender Stefan Rosina for the first time.
Having missed the trip to the Ardennes, Hubert Trunkenpolz returns alongside Laura Kraihamer in the #17 True Racing KTM. Hockenheim will also mark the reunion of Benjamin and Mauro Ricci (#61 Akkodis ASP Mercedes-AMG), who last raced together at the season opener. They complete the Pro-Am grid as the second half of the campaign gets underway.
Am: Three-way fight at the top after competitive Spa-Francorchamps weekend
The battle for the Am class crown has proven especially competitive this year, with less than 10 points currently covering the three leading protagonists. Consistency has been key for Alexandre Leroy (#24 TFT Racing Maserati), with six class podiums from as many races putting the Belgian on top of the standings.
Hot on his heels is the #87 Akkodis ASP Mercedes-AMG crew of Jean-Luc Beaubelique and Gilles Vannelet. The French duo are now just five points shy after an almighty charge up the order to seal Race 2 victory at Spa, their second of the campaign following a season-opening win at Circuit Paul Ricard.
Though he has notched up three class victories from a possible six – including Race 1 at Spa – the #2 Maserati of Louis Prette sits nine points adrift in third. The Italian finished second overall to ensure an LP Racing one-two in Belgium, though a puncture cost him dear in the second outing.
Akkodis ASP can count on a second all-French crew in Christophe Bourret and Pascal Gibon, who will share the wheel of the #53 Mercedes-AMG. They took their best result of the season at Spa, earning a runner-up finish in Race 2 to ensure an Akkodis ASP one-two.
A fifth and final Mercedes-AMG entry comes from NM Racing, which will field Stéphane Perrin and Jörg Viebahn in its #888 machine. The #16 True Racing KTM is again entrusted to Klaus Angerhofer and Sehdi Sarmini, while Dominik Olbert and Denis Liebl will hope to add to their podium tally in the #90 Razoon - More Than Racing KTM.
Five crews chasing Iron Cup honours
Open to driver line-ups with a combined age of 100 and over, the Iron Cup will be disputed by five crews at Hockenheim. The #87 Mercedes-AMG duo of Beaubelique/Vannelet were successful last time out at Spa, while the sister #53 Akkodis ASP crew of Bourret/Gibon is also eligible for the prize. They will face further competition from the experienced pairings of Doppelmayr/Kaffer (#18 Audi), Angerhofer/Sarmini (#16 KTM) and Perrin/Viebahn (#888 Mercedes-AMG).
How to watch
The fourth round of the campaign gets underway on Friday 19 July, with Free Practice set for 16:10 CEST. Saturday begins with Pre-Qualifying at 11:05, followed by the all-important Qualifying at 17:00. This will set the grids for a double helping of race action on Sunday, with the 50-minute contests scheduled for 10:25 and 15:40. Qualifying and both races will be streamed live and free of charge on the GT World YouTube channel and on the series’ official website.
