SRO Pre-Selects 26 Pro Entries for Endurance Cup

Photo: Vision Sport Agency

Twenty-six entries for the Pro class of the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup have been pre-selected ahead of the season.

SRO Motorsports Group released the list of accepted entries on Tuesday, after announcing last year it would limit numbers in the top category in order to have an increased focus on Pro-Am, Am and Silver Cup entries.

A record number of 11 GT3 manufacturers are represented, including the series debut of the Lexus RC F GT3 and new models from Bentley and Nissan.

The grid cap will be in place for the Monza, Silverstone, Paul Ricard and Barcelona rounds, with an exception for the Total 24 Hours of Spa which couples as the second round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge.

Furthermore, any team fielding an additional Pro car at Spa will also be able to run it in the six-hour race at Paul Ricard on June 1-2.

“I am pleased to announce our pre-selection of 26 Pro entries for the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup,” said SRO founder and CEO Stephane Ratel. “We made a firm commitment to this limit and I am glad to say that we are standing by our word.

“While it would have been possible to exceed this number in the Endurance Cup, it was more important to show our renewed commitment to Pro-Am racing.

“I have been involved with all-Pro championships before, which strengthens my belief in maintaining a balance between professional and non-professional drivers.

“I was pleased to hear the positive response we received when the cap was first revealed last year. I hope that there will be a similar reaction now that we have demonstrated the strength of our commitment.”

The full-season entry process will remain open until Feb. 28.

2018 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup Pre-Selected Pro Entries:

AF Corse – Ferrari 488 GT3
Attempto Racing – Lamborghini Huracan GT3
SMP Racing by AKKA ASP – Mercedes-AMG GT3
Auto Sport Promotion AKKA – Mercedes-AMG GT3
Belgian Audi Club Team WRT – Audi R8 LMS GT3
Belgian Audi Club Team WRT – Audi R8 LMS GT3
Bentley Team M-Sport – Bentley Continental GT3
Bentley Team M-Sport – Bentley Continental GT3
Black Falcon – Mercedes-AMG GT3
Emil Frey Racing – Lexus RC F GT3
Emil Frey Racing – Lexus RC F GT3
Garage 59 – McLaren 650S GT3
Grasser Racing Team – Lamborghini Huracan GT3
Grasser Racing Team – Lamborghini Huracan GT3
Grasser Racing Team – Lamborghini Huracan GT3
R-Motorsport – Aston Martin Vantage GT3
R-Motorsport – Aston Martin Vantage GT3
Manthey Racing – Porsche 911 GT3 R
RJN Motorsport – Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3
ROWE Racing – BMW M6 GT3
ROWE Racing – BMW M6 GT3
Sainteloc Racing – Audi R8 LMS GT3
Sainteloc Racing – Audi R8 LMS GT3
Strakka Racing – Mercedes-AMG GT3
Strakka Racing – Mercedes-AMG GT3
Team Lazarus – Lamborghini Huracan GT3

Jake Kilshaw

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.