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GRT impresses at the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe in Monza with strong seventh place in the PRO CUP

Sep 24, 2024 | News, Partnerships, Video

Mountain Wolf Lamborghini on race track in Monza Fanatec GT World Challenge

Seventh place in the PRO CUP for #163 after a strong comeback.

Jordan Pepper sets a new track record at Monza in the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2.

Team principal Gottfried Grasser: “We missed a crucial strategic call during the Full Course Yellow.”

Record Lap and Resilient Rally: GRT's Thrilling Journey at GT World Challenge in Monza

At the GT World Challenge in Monza on the legendary Autodromo Nazionale, GRT once again delivered a strong performance. From September 20th to 22nd, the fourth round of the season was marked by highs and lows for the Austrian team and the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2. A standout moment was Lamborghini factory driver Jordan Pepper setting a new lap record for GT3 cars during qualifying. However, during the race, Jordan Pepper, Marco Mapelli, and Franck Perera encountered a setback when an early collision hampered their fight for the top positions.

Despite the unfortunate incident at the start, where Franck Perera was caught in an unavoidable collision in the first chicane, the trio managed to recover and rejoin the leading group. Marco Mapelli brought the car up to second place in the second phase of the race, but a strategic misstep during a Full Course Yellow cost the team valuable ground. In the final stint, Jordan Pepper launched a comeback, moving from 16th place to secure tenth and ultimately finishing in a strong seventh place in the PRO CUP.

Pepper Shatters Record at Monza’s Temple of Speed, Boosting GRT as Top Lamborghini Contender

A key highlight was the qualifying performance: Pepper set the fastest GT3 lap ever recorded at Monza’s “Temple of Speed” with a time of 1:44.727 minutes. The speed and potential of the car underscored GRT’s position as the highest-ranked Lamborghini team on the grid.

The Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, often referred to as the “Temple of Speed,” is renowned for its high-speed straights and challenging chicanes. The 5.793-kilometer circuit places immense demands on both cars and drivers, especially during the approach to the famous first chicane, which frequently causes chaotic race starts. Monza’s rich tradition and history in motorsport make it one of the most prestigious venues in international racing.

Title Within Reach: GRT Gears Up for Season Finale Showdown at Jeddah Corniche Circuit

Looking ahead to the season finale of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit from November 28th to 30th, GRT still has a shot at the title. Pepper, Mapelli, and Perera sit in fourth place in the drivers’ standings with 39 points, only 15 points behind the leaders. In the team standings, GRT is also within reach of the title, just 13 points off the top spot. The showdown in Saudi Arabia, where 33 points will be awarded for the win, promises an exciting final.

Jordan Pepper (RSA) / Marco Mapelli (ITA) / Franck Perera (FRA)
#163 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2
PRO CUP
Qualifying: P6 – Rennen: P7

Mountain Wolf Lamborghini on race track in Monza GT World Challenge

“After a good preparation with promising performance, we were confident in our package. I was really happy with my track record and the fastest lap in Q3. We confirmed our pace, and I was proud of that achievement. However, the qualifying didn’t go completely smoothly as Marco and Franck couldn’t finish their final laps due to red flags. The race was even more of a rollercoaster. We fought our way back with good moves and clean pit stops and were on course for a podium finish, but unfortunately, we made the wrong call during the Full Course Yellow. It was disappointing for the whole team. But thanks to this fantastic crew, we will have a fast car again in Jeddah and fight back to win the championship.”

Jordan Pepper

“It was a bittersweet weekend. Once again, we showed how strong our performance is and that we can be on point when it matters. We delivered in qualifying, and even after the start collision, the race went well. Franck saved the car in that situation, and we gained some positions afterwards. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the strategy right, which was a shame, but we’re still in a good position in the championship, and there’s a 6-hour race waiting for us in Jeddah.”

Marco Mapelli

“The start was total chaos, unlike anything I’ve experienced before. I tried to save what I could. The race was tough, and we fought like crazy. The result is disappointing because we had a shot at the podium. The rule change with adjusted stint times for the race was really strange. We could have achieved much more here, but we win and lose together. Our car was very fast again, and we want to show that one more time in the final. Big thanks to the entire team for their fantastic work.“

Franck Perera

“It was a weekend of extreme highs and lows. For our PRO line-up, it was really unfortunate. Despite the bad luck with red flags in qualifying, we still managed to secure a solid starting position, and Franck had a great start. Unfortunately, he was caught up in the start collision through no fault of his own, which caused us to lose a lot of positions. After that, the guys did an incredible job, and we had podium pace at all times, but then we missed the right strategic call during the Full Course Yellow. The last-minute rule adjustment the day before led to this tactical mistake, which set us back, and tenth place was the best damage control we could achieve. For our crew with car number 19, the retirement was really tough. We had a very strong driver pairing in the SILVER CUP in Monza, and they were absolutely competitive in the overall standings as well. It was disappointing that their performance wasn’t rewarded. But we’re not giving up, and we’ll give it our all in the finale in Jeddah to end the season with another victory.”

Gottfried Grasser, GRT Team Principal

Photos: © SRO Motorsports Group

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