The GT World Challenge Europe Prologue at Paul Ricard kicks off the 2025 season with a full GT3 field.
Present on the Var circuit were Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Corvette Z06, Porsche 911 GT3 R, Mercedes-AMG, Lamborghini Huracan, Ferrari 296, Aston Martin Vantage AMR, McLaren 720S, BMW M4, Audi R8 LMS.
Four practice sessions were organized over the two days from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., then from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Session 1
The first test session, on a tricky track partly due to the rain, on Monday morning saw three Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO 2s at the top of the timesheets.
In 1:55.186, the #63, from GRT - Grasser Racing Team, placed ahead of the #163 VSR by 0.419s, both in the PRO category, and the blue #333 from Paul Motorsport, first representative of the Gold class.
In fourth place and first in the Bronze category was the #81 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO of Winward Racing followed by the #10 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO of Boutsen VDS, fifth and leader of the Silver class.
Session 2
The Monday afternoon session will see Vincenzo Sospiri Racing put the #163 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 at the forefront of the time trials followed by another competitor from the Pro contingent, the #10 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO ahead of the first Gold Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO of the Verstappen.com Racing team.
Rinaldi Racing will place its #12 Ferrari 296 GT3 just off the podium, dominating the Bronze class.
The Silver class will go to GetSpeed's Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO 3.
Session 3
After seeing the natives of Sant'Agata Bolognese dominate the Monday sessions, it was the turn of Mercedes-AMG to rise to the forefront of the Tuesday session with 7 cars of my brand with the star in the top 8, only the McLaren 720S GT3 EVO #59 from Garage 59 will slip in among the Germans by taking 5th position.
The #3 Getspeed Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, entered in Silver, set the pace with a time of 1:53.657 in a session held in slightly milder conditions than the day before.
Three tenths behind, we found another #2 GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO and best GT3 Pro.
The top three was completed by the #9 Boutsen VDS Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO.
The first Gold Cup and the only non-Mercedes in the top 8 was the #59 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO - Garage 59.
The best bronze finisher, in 6th place with a time of 1:54.445, was the #81 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO.
Session 4
CSA Racing and the #111 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO set the fastest time in the Prologue, a time of 1:53.602 in this final session of the GT World Challenge Europe Prologue, ahead of the #2 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO - Mercedes-AMG Team Getspeed by 0.335s.
The top three was completed by the #163 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO 2 of Vincenzo Sospiri Racing.
Fifth place went to the best car entered in the Silver Cup, the #6 Getspeed Mercedes. It was ahead of the leaders in the Bronze Cup, the #81 Winward Racing Mercedes.
The #88 Tresor Attempto Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 dominated the Gold Cup in this final session.
Epilogue
As you can see from the pictures, many cars have not yet received their war paint.
To conclude this first report on the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe season, I'd like to announce that the competition is about to begin.
I'll see you, hopefully, at the Paul Ricard Circuit on April 11-13, 2025, for Round 1 of the GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS.
Based on GT World Challenge Europe press report.