Emil Frey Returns to Sprint Cup Alongside DTM

Ferrari team Emil Frey Racing will return to the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup this year alongside its previously-announced DTM effort.

The Swiss outfit has confirmed that Jack Aitken and Thierry Vermeulen will drive in the DTM, with the latter also tackling the Sprint Cup alongside former Lamborghini factory driver Albert Costa.

Aitken represented Emil Frey in GTWC Europe Endurance Cup and ADAC GT Masters last year, while Vermeulen is a new signing having previously driven GT3 Audis.

Giacomo Altoe, another ex-Lamborghini driver, and Konsta Lappalainen form the other Sprint Cup pairing in the No. 14 Ferrari.

Both are familiar with the Emil Frey setup having driven the team’s Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evos last year.

A team spokesperson confirmed to Sportscar365 that the Sprint Cup entries will compete in the Pro class, bringing Ferrari back to the series’ top category for the first time since 2016.

“After having changed car make, confirmed the racing calendar, and established our pilots, we are now happy to be able to focus entirely on the coming test days,” said team principal Lorenz-Frey Hilti.

“We look forward to entering the DTM and GT World Challenge Sprint with the brand-new Ferrari 296 GT3. We already know most of the pilots from our lineup.

“It is a good mix of years of experience and young talents. We are pleased to have on our side Thierry Vermeulen, a young and very talented pilot from Red Bull, for the 2023 racing season.

“We are looking forward to beginning the season with this new pilot formation.”

Emil Frey left Lamborghini after four years for commercial reasons, after the team’s parent company took over the official Ferrari road car dealership in Munich.

Following a full GTWC Europe campaign in 2021, Emil Frey transferred its Sprint Cup program over to GT Masters last year and won the team’s championship.

It will remain part of the ADAC racing landscape this season following the German organization’s takeover of the DTM, but will not return to GTWC Europe Endurance Cup.