BMW’s Dream Start in GT World Challenge Europe
BMW M Motorsport Dominates GT World Challenge Europe Opener at paul Ricard
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LE CASTELLET, France (April 14, 2025) – BMW M Motorsport enjoyed a stellar start to the GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS Endurance Cup season, with the new BMW M4 GT3 Evo claiming overall victory and podium finishes across multiple classes at the 6 Hours of Paul Ricard.
Team WRT Secures Overall Win
The No. 32 BMW M4 GT3 Evo, driven by charles Weerts, Ugo de Wilde (both of Belgium), and Kelvin van der Linde (South Africa), emerged victorious after a strategic race. Starting from ninth position, the team steadily climbed through the field. As track temperatures cooled in the evening, van der Linde seized the lead with approximately 1 hour, 45 minutes remaining, maintaining the position to the finish.
This win marks van der Linde’s second major victory with Team WRT, following the Bathurst 12 Hour. De Wilde celebrated a meaningful milestone, securing a win in his debut as a BMW M works driver.
Paradine Competition Triumphs in Silver Cup, Secures Bronze Cup Podium
Paradine Competition also had reason to celebrate, with its No. 992 BMW M4 GT3 Evo team of James Kellett, Charles Clark (both of Great Britain), and Pedro ebrahim (Brazil) winning the Silver Cup.The sister car, No. 991, secured second place in the Bronze Cup, driven by BMW M works drivers Dan Harper, team owner Darren Leung (both of Great Britain), and Sean Gelael (Indonesia).
Almanar Racing by Team WRT Claims Gold Cup Podium
Almanar Racing by Team WRT, with BMW M works driver Jens Klingmann (Germany), Ben Tuck (Great Britain), and Al Faisal al Zubair (Oman) at the wheel of the No. 777 BMW M4 GT3 Evo, finished third in the Gold Cup.
Other BMW Teams Show Strong Performance
ROWE Racing’s No. 98 BMW M4 GT3 evo, starting from 13th, showcased a strong recovery drive to finish sixth overall with drivers Augusto Farfus (Brazil), Jesse Krohn (finland), and Raffaele Marciello (Switzerland). Century Motorsport finished fifth in the Silver Cup with their No. 42 entry. The No.30 WRT entry and the No. 15 BMW Italia Ceccato Racing car both retired early from the race.
Reactions from BMW M Motorsport Leadership
Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport, congratulated Team WRT, stating, “Congratulations to the WRT team for the opening victory in the GT World Challenge Europe! The drivers Charles Weerts, Kelvin van der Linde and ugo de Wilde can be very proud of their performances. Ugo de Wilde won in his first race as BMW M factory drivers – that is great! In general,our BMW M4 GT3 Evo celebrated an excellent debut.”
Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Sport at BMW M Motorsport, added, “I am thrilled, that was a great race for customer sports with the BMW M4 GT3 Evo. In qualifying it did not look like that in all classes we went home with a podium. Jens Klingmann fought until the end of the victory in the gold category,and the team of darren Leung can be in the victory in the victory Silver class and second place in the bronze category.”
Team and driver Quotes
Vincent Vosse, team WRT boss, praised the teamwork: “It was once more great teamwork! Small history hours: We have not won here since 2012 and were close to it a few times, but always followed a little bit of bad luck. To achieve such a strong result is mega. I am super happy for Ugo, who drove with us. It is a nice start and takes a little pressure from our shoulder. 30, but until then you have a great performance in the gold cup.”
Charles Weerts, No.32 BMW M4 GT3 evo, Team WRT, first place, said, “A very good weekend, I am very happy! We didn’t expect this result at all, but it is exactly the kind of surprise that we love. The team did an excellent job, our car was really good to drive, so a big thank you to the team and at BMW M Motorsport, but also to my two teammates. We drove together, and we got a win!”
Kelvin van der Linde, No. 32 BMW M4 GT3 Evo, Team WRT, first place, noted, ”It was a very surprising victory for us today. After qualifying, our main goal was to land and collect under the top five. But that we fight for a podium, came unexpectedly and makes it all the better. One of his best races.”
ugo de Wilde, No. 32 BMW M4 GT3 Evo, Team WRT, first place, exclaimed, “The first race is over and I can’t beleive what has just happened. It is amazing to start my journey at BMW M Motorsport with a win. It was a very educational weekend for me and great, finally with Charles, Kelvin and the team WRT. To land on the podium.”
Augusto Farfus, No.98 BMW M4 GT3 Evo, rowe Racing, sixth place, reflected, “We literally had everything in this race, all sorts of things did not go according to plan. But in the end we brought the car into the goal despite the problems.That was good. Though, it was an incredible weekend for BMW M Motorsport. celebrate.”
Jens Klingmann,No. 777 BMW M4 GT3 Evo, Almanar racing by Team WRT, third place Gold Cup, stated, “I am very happy to start the season with a podium. I think a top 10 place in the overall ranking with our Gold Cup car is an astonishing result. In the end we didn’t have the pace to achieve more, but we were so close to place, but was unless we were. Reach.”
Darren Leung, team boss and driver, Paradine Competition, commented, “It was the first race for our Silver Cup car and the first time that we used two cars, so I am extremely happy that the first result is a class victory. I am very proud of everyone involved. Unluckily, we had three yellow phases with the number 991, which we could also have gained in the bronze Cup.I am that today’s results are a very good sign for the coming season.”
Dan Harper, No.991 BMW M4 GT3 Evo, Paradine Competition, second place Bronze Cup, said, “It was a challenging weekend from the start. We lacked a little pace at the beginning of the weekend. But at the end we had a brilliant race and were able to secure a podium. If you look at our training and qualification services, we can be very satisfied with this panel result.”
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BMW M Motorsport Dominates GT World Challenge Europe Opener at Paul Ricard: Your Burning Questions Answered
Welcome to a deep dive into the thrilling GT World Challenge Europe opener at Circuit Paul Ricard! As an expert in content writing and SEO, I'm here to provide you with all the key details and insights, answering your most pressing questions about BMW M Motorsport's triumphant performance.
Q: What was the headline achievement at the GT World Challenge Europe opener for BMW M Motorsport?
A: BMW M Motorsport had an remarkable start to the GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS Endurance Cup season. The highlight was the overall victory secured by the new BMW M4 GT3 Evo at the 6 Hours of Paul Ricard. Beyond the overall win, BMW teams also achieved podium finishes across multiple classes, showcasing the car's and the team's strength.
Q: Which team claimed the overall victory at the 6 Hours of Paul Ricard?
A: Team WRT (belonging to the BMW M4 GT3 Evo) secured the overall win. The No. 32 BMW M4 GT3 Evo, driven by Charles Weerts, Ugo de Wilde, and Kelvin van der Linde, emerged victorious after a strategic race, starting from a ninth-place grid position.
Q: How did Team WRT secure their victory?
A: Team WRT’s triumph was a result of meticulous strategy and impeccable driving. While starting ninth, the team consistently improved their position throughout the race. A crucial moment came as track temperatures cooled during the evening. Kelvin van der Linde took the lead with approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes remaining and maintained that position until the finish, securing the win.
Q: What other achievements did BMW M Motorsport teams celebrate at Paul Ricard?
A: Besides the overall victory, BMW M Motorsport teams celebrated success in other classes:
Silver Cup: Paradine competition's No. 992 BMW M4 GT3 Evo (driven by James Kellett, Charles Clark, and Pedro Ebrahim) won the Silver Cup.
bronze Cup: Paradine competition's No. 991 BMW M4 GT3 evo, driven by BMW M works drivers Dan Harper, Darren Leung, and Sean Gelael, secured second place in the Bronze Cup.
Gold Cup: Almanar Racing by Team WRT, with Jens Klingmann, Ben Tuck, and Al Faisal Al Zubair in the No. 777 BMW M4 GT3 Evo, finished third in the Gold Cup.
Q: Who are some of the key drivers involved in Team WRT's winning performance, and what's their meaning?
A: The winning team's drivers were:
Charles Weerts: Displayed strong driving throughout the race.
Ugo de Wilde: Celebrated a meaningful achievement by securing a win in his debut as a BMW M works driver.
Kelvin van der Linde: This victory marks van der Linde’s second major victory with Team WRT, adding to their momentum following the Bathurst 12 Hour.
Q: What was the performance of other BMW teams at the race?
A: Several other BMW teams put up a strong showing:
ROWE Racing's No. 98 BMW M4 GT3 Evo, starting from 13th, had an extraordinary recovery drive to finish sixth driven by Augusto Farfus, Jesse Krohn, and Raffaele Marciello.
Century Motorsport finished fifth in the Silver Cup with their No. 42 entry.
Regrettably, the No. 30 WRT entry and the No. 15 BMW Italia Ceccato Racing car both retired early from the race.
Q: What was the reaction from BMW M Motorsport leadership?
A: BMW M Motorsport leadership expressed their enthusiasm and pride in the team’s outstanding performance:
Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): Congratulated Team WRT, highlighting the impressive performances of the drivers and the excellent debut of the BMW M4 GT3 Evo.
Björn Lellmann (Head of Customer Sport at BMW M Motorsport): Expressed thrill at the outcomes,noting the podium finishes across multiple classes and the success for customer sports teams.
Q: What did the team and drivers have to say about the race?
A: The team and drivers shared their insights and excitement:
Vincent Vosse (Team WRT boss): Praised the teamwork, highlighting the significance of the victory and the team's collective effort.
Charles Weerts (No.32 BMW M4 GT3 evo, Team WRT): Expressed his happiness with the weekend, crediting the team and his teammates for the win.
Kelvin van der Linde (No. 32 BMW M4 GT3 Evo, Team WRT): Described the victory as surprising and one of his best races.
Ugo de Wilde (No.32 BMW M4 GT3 Evo, Team WRT): Expressed his excitement about winning in his debut race with BMW M motorsport.
Augusto Farfus (No.98 BMW M4 GT3 Evo, Rowe Racing): Reflected on the challenges they faced but also celebrated the overall impressive weekend for BMW M Motorsport.
Jens Klingmann (No. 777 BMW M4 GT3 Evo, almanar racing by Team WRT): Expressed his enjoyment in starting the season with a podium finish.
Darren Leung (Team boss and driver, Paradine Competition): Commented on the class victory in the Silver Cup and being extremely happy with the result of what was the team's first race with two cars.
Dan Harper (No.991 BMW M4 GT3 Evo, Paradine Competition): Expressed that the team was happy after a challenging weekend and being able to secure a podium.
Q: What makes the BMW M4 GT3 Evo a accomplished racing car?
A: While the article doesn't go into great detail on the car, the success of the BMW M4 GT3 Evo is a testament to its performance capabilities. The car's ability to compete and win across different classes demonstrates its versatility and effectiveness. It suggests impressive engineering, strong performance in varying track conditions, and efficient team strategies for success.
Q: Where can I find more detailed facts about the GT World Challenge Europe and BMW M Motorsport?
A: For up-to-date information, results, and news:
Visit the official GT World Challenge Europe website: You'll find the latest news, race schedules, and standings.
Check the official BMW M motorsport website: Stay informed about BMW's involvement in various racing series.
Follow reputable motorsport news outlets: they offer in-depth coverage, interviews, and analysis of the races.
Q: What can we expect from BMW M Motorsport in the upcoming GT World Challenge Europe races?
A: Based on this strong opening performance, BMW M Motorsport is poised for a highly competitive season. We see potential for continued podium finishes and possibly more overall victories. The team's success at Paul Ricard sets a positive tone, and fans should anticipate exciting races ahead. The BMW M4 GT3 Evo appears to be a major contender in the series.