Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS officially launched its 2022 campaign at Circuit Paul Ricard (7/8 March) with two days of testing laying the foundations for the year ahead.
A total of nine brands were represented at the test days, with all of the teams competing in the Sprint Cup and Endurance Cup on-site at the French venue.
Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes, Porsche.
14 hours of track time were available, with the two-day schedule running from 09:00-13:00 and again from 14:00-17:00.
The weather conditions were ideal, although cool in the morning, Monday and Tuesday.
The test represents an important learning experience for all contenders, from the most accomplished veterans on the grid to 16-year-old newcomer Lorenzo Patrese (son of ex Formula 1 driver Riccardo Patrese) , who is preparing for his maiden season of GT racing with the Audi R8 LMS GT3 of Team Tresor by Car Collection.
For my part, I was only present on Monday, which allowed me to be on site for the presentation of the nine-time (125cc, 250cc, 500cc and 6 time in Moto GP) motorcycle world champion Valentino Rossi’s #46 Audi R8 LMS GT3 team WRT.
It’s with this presentation that I will begin my intervention.
Now let's see the entry list of these two days brand by brand.
Aston Martin
Beechdean AMR was the only Aston Martin representative to have made the trip to the south of France.
Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3
Beechdean AMR
Audi
In addition to #46 seen above, the other Audi R8 LMS GT3s to have walked the asphalt at Paul Ricard were eight in number.
Audi R8 LMS GT3
Attempto Racing
Boutsen Racing
Sainteloc Racing
Tresor by Car Collection
WRT
Bentley
Another British brand, came to tease the lap times, in the colors of the French team CMR.
Only one car took to the track, but a second model was seen in the team pit.
Bentley Continental GT3
CMR
BMW
Another came with a single car, BMW from the German team Rowe Racing.
BMW M4 GT3
Rowe Racing
Ferrari
The Maranello brand was present with four cars followed by three teams.
Ferrari 488 GT3
AF Corse
Iron Dames
Iron Lynx
Lamborghini
With ten cars on the tarmac at Paul Ricard, the Italians of Lamborghini were among the best represented.
Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo
AGS Events
Barwell Motorsport
Emil Frey Racing
GSM
Leipert Motorsport
Vincenzo Sospiri Racing
McLaren
The Woking brand also presents four cars entered by three teams.
McLaren 720S GT3
Inception Racing
Jota Sport
JP Motorsport
Mercedes
Ten Mercedes-AMG GT3s met in the south of France for these pre-season tests.
Mercedes-AMG GT3
AKKA ASP Team
GetSpeed Performance
Haupt Racing Team
Madpanda Motorsport
SKY - Tempesta Racing
The team asked us not to reveal the colors of the car before March 25.That date has now been reached, so here is SKY Tempesta Racing's Mercedes-AMG GT3 with this decoration planned for the coming season.
Winward Racing
Porsche
Only three flat-six made their melody heard in the Var.
Porsche 911 GT3-R (991.II)
Allied Racing
Dinamic Motorsport
We only have a few more weeks to wait to witness the start of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS.
Based on Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS press report