Van der Linde, Weerts Lead 45-Strong Zandvoort Entry

Reigning GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup champions Kelvin van der Linde and Charles Weerts head a 45-strong entry list for the penultimate round at Zandvoort this weekend.

The No. 32 WRT BMW M4 GT3 EVO duo enjoy a slender lead of 2.5 points over the No. 80 Lionspeed GP Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo of Ricardo Feller and Bastian Buus despite the BMW pair only having a seventh-place result to show for their efforts at Magny-Cours last time out at the start of August.

In contrast, the Porsche squad triumphed in France to narrow the gap, however just 9.5 points separate the top-five crews with plenty to play for in the overall title race.

Dani Juncadella is third aboard the 2 Seas-run Verstappen Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo and is set to have regular co-driver Chris Lulham back with him at Zandvoort after Jules Gounon deputized for the previous two Sprint Cup events while Lulham recovered from having his appendix removed.

Next up is the No. 51 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo of Arthur Leclerc and Thomas Neubauer, but this car is likely to feature a different lineup for this weekend after Neubauer’s recent collarbone injury in a cycling crash — however Sportscar365 understands a final decision on the Zandvoort roster has not yet been made.

Rounding out the five cars leading the title race is the No. 48 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG of Maro Engel and Lucas Auer that wrapped up the Endurance Cup crown alongside Luca Stolz with a round to spare at the Nürburgring last month.

However, this crew has a potential penalty hanging over it as a disqualification from third place in the second race at Misano for an illegal wheel bearing has been suspended pending a National Court hearing.

Elsewhere in the Pro class, Morris Schuring is due to return to the wheel of the No. 2 Boutsen VDS Porsche after missing Magny-Cours due to an IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship clash.

There is also an additional entry in the top division for Zandvoort with the Razoon – more than racing Porsche stepping up to the Pro class with Klaus Bachler and Simon Birch at the wheel.

Another WRT BMW leading a class is the No. 31 machine of Ignacio Montenegro and Matisse Lismont, but their Silver Cup advantage is far greater, standing at 37 points.

The duo claimed the Endurance Cup crown a round early at the Nürburgring with Amaury Cordeel and could also do the same in the Sprint Cup provided their lead is still 36 points or more at the conclusion of the Zandvoort event.

The closest challenger to the double Magny-Cours winners is the No. 34 Walkenhorst Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo of Jamie Day and Mateo Villagomez, who have GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG duo Anthony Bartone and Aurelien Panis hot on their heels.

There is an extra Silver Cup entry for Zandvoort with recently-crowned Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup champion Flynt Schuring joining Nicolas Baert in a second Lionspeed Porsche, while Riccardo Pera is due to be back aboard the No. 54 Dinamic GT Porsche for a second appearance this year.

The No. 51 AF Corse Ferrari of Matias Zagazeta and Tommaso Mosca leads the way in the Gold Cup but has a trio of McLaren 720S GT3 Evo crews chasing it down.

The No. 58 Garage 59 McLaren of Thomas Fleming and Louis Prette is 15 points back, with the pair of CSA McLaren entries not far behind either.

There have only been two rounds of the Bronze Cup to date after the division was not present at the Brands Hatch opener and two wins from those four races mean it is the No. 87 Winward Mercedes-AMG of Rinat Salikhov and Marvin Dienst that leads the way at the mid-point of the season.

They are eight points ahead of the similar 2 Seas machine of Kiern Jewiss and Charles Dawson, while the No. 93 Ziggo Sport Tempesta Porsche of Eddie Cheever III and Peter Dempsey is another 2.5 points back.