Treluyer, Fassler Confirmed in WRT Blancpain GT Lineup

Ex-Audi LMP1 drivers Benoit Treluyer and Marcel Fassler have been confirmed as part of Belgian Audi Club Team WRT’s lineup in the Blancpain GT Series, which will see the Audi-supported team again field up to five cars this season.

In the Endurance Cup, the No. 5 Audi R8 LMS will spearhead the team’s armada of four cars, with British ex-Formula One driver Will Stevens teaming up with Fassler and Dries Vanthoor, who starts his second year in GT racing.

Despite receiving multiple offers to complete a full WEC season this year, Stevens has opted to concentrate on a full-time Blancpain GT program due to clashing dates.

Treluyer and 2016 WEC LMP2 World Champion Stephane Richelmi will make a full-time return to the team they raced for in the past and will be joined by Nathanael Berthon in the all-French No. 6 Audi.

While his longtime partner Michael Meadows has left to Team AKKA ASP, Stuart Leonard has remained with WRT for a second season, sharing driving duties in the No. 17 car with Racing Steps Foundation driver Jake Dennis and Robin Frijns.

DTM ace Jamie Green will replace Frijns in Misano, Silverstone and Spa, where the Dutchman has clashing Formula E duties.

Niki Mayr-Melnhof, Josh Caygill and Jonathan Venter will compete in the fourth and final Audi entered for the Endurance Cup rounds.

WRT will defend both the Teams’ and Drivers’ Titles in the Sprint Cup, with reigning champion Enzo Ide and Christopher Mies reunited for a third consecutive season, with the duo carrying the No. 1 numberplate this year.

Endurance Cup pairing Fassler and Vanthoor (No. 5), and Leonard and Frijns (No. 17), will also compete in the Sprint Cup.

Phoenix Racing stalwart Markus Winkelhock moves over to WRT, joining Stevens during the five Sprint Cup weekends in the No. 6 entry, while Pieter Schothorst and Jake Dennis share the No. 3 Audi.

The team will also switch colors this year, moving away from its traditional black base to a silver livery.

Blancpain GT Endurance Cup:

No. 5 : Will Stevens – Marcel Fässler – Dries Vanthoor
No. 6: Nathanaël Berthon – Stéphane Richelmi – Benoit Tréluyer
No. 17: Stuart Leonard – Jake Dennis – Robin Frijns/Jamie Green
No. 3: Niki Mayr-Melnhof – Josh Caygill – Jonathan Venter

Blancpain GT Sprint Cup:

No. 1: Enzo Ide – Christopher Mies
No. 3: Pieter Schothorst – Jake Dennis
No. 5: Marcel Fässler – Dries Vanthoor
No. 6: Will Stevens – Markus Winkelhock
No. 17: Stuart Leonard – Robin Frijns