Two New Signings for Madpanda in Endurance Cup

Madpanda Motorsport has firmed up two-thirds of its Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup crew with the signings of Sean Walkinshaw and Dusan Borkovic.

The Spanish team has recruited two new drivers ahead of its third term in the Endurance Cup series with a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo in the Silver Cup class.

Walkinshaw spent the last five seasons in Super GT while Borkovic is set for his GT racing debut having racked up years of experience in touring cars.

The third member of the Madpanda Motorsport crew will be announced at a later date.

Team principal Ezequiel Companc and Rik Breukers were the team’s full-time Endurance Cup drivers last season. The pair won the Silver class at the TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa alongside Patrick Kujala and Ricardo Sanchez.

“We welcome Sean and Dusan to Madpanda with high hopes,” said Companc.

“We are sure that we can have an amazing season together in GTWC Endurance and achieve interesting results. We are looking forward to next week’s tests in Paul Ricard and to working with them. Bring it on, 2022!”

Walkinshaw teamed up with Giuliano Alesi in Super GT last year, sharing a Lexus RC F GT3 in the GT300 class.

Their Toyota Team Thailand squad elected not to take part in the 2022 season with Alesi moving up to the GT500 category and Walkinshaw refocusing his GT3 activities to Europe.

The British driver has previously raced in GTWC Europe when the series was under Blancpain title sponsorship.

His last full-season effort came in 2017 with the RJN-supported Nissan GT Academy team, while his most recent TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa attempt occurred in 2019.

Borkovic, meanwhile, arrives into GT racings traight off the back of a TCR Eastern Europe title-winning campaign.

The Serbian has also won races in TCR Europe and TCR International and made FIA World Touring Car Championship appearances earlier in his career.

“The decision to switch from touring races to GT didn’t come easy, and this is very exciting and challenging for me and my Nis Petrol Racing team,” said Borkovic.

“We will give our best to exceed the expectations and be a valuable part of Madpanda Motorsport.”

Walkinshaw added: “I’m really looking forward to driving for Madpanda this season. They have had tremendous success in only a few years since it was formed and I’m excited to see what this season will bring.

“It will also be nice to be back racing in Europe after five seasons in Japan’s Super GT.”

In other GTWC Europe news, Dinamic Motorsport has added a second Porsche 911 GT3 R to its Endurance Cup program.

The Italian squad ran two Pro-class Porsches last season but had only confirmed the one returning entry before this week’s announcement of a Silver Cup car.

Alessandro Giardelli and Marius Nakken, both of whom have Porsche single-make experience with Dinamic, will share driving duties with Giorgio Roda.