TEAM WRT COMPLETES ITS LINE-UPS FOR THE 2023 FANATEC GT WORLD CHALLENGE EUROPE

TEAM WRT COMPLETES ITS LINE-UPS FOR THE 2023 FANATEC GT WORLD CHALLENGE EUROPE

28/02/2023

Team WRT confirms the driver line-ups of its two other BMW M4 GT3s that will compete in the 2023 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS. They add to the two BMW M Team WRT cars already announced. In total, Team WRT will run four cars in both the Endurance and Sprint Cups. 

Car #30 will be entrusted in the Sprint Cup to young new recruits Niklas Krütten and Calan Williams, who are both in their early twenties. German Krütten, an LMP3 vice- champion in the 2021 ELMS, has prior experience with the BMW M4 GT3 which he raced in the NLS and ADAC GT Masters last year. Australian Williams comes from single-seaters, having raced at F2 in 2022 and at F3 level for the five preceding seasons, in the FIA European F3, Euroformula Open and Australian F3, and winning a national title in the latter in 2017.

In the Endurance Cup, they will be joined by Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer, the Cup’s reigning Silver champion, who will contest his second season with Team WRT. In both championships, car #30 will be entered in the Gold Cup class.

Car #31 will be entered in the Sprint Cup, in the Pro class, in the hands of Jean- Baptiste Simmenauer and fellow countryman, Thomas Neubauer, who will also be in his second season with Team WRT. Together, they shared the Silver title in the Endurance Cup last year, and a win at the Spa 24H in the Silver category, to which Thomas added the Fanatec GT overall Silver crown.

In the Endurance Cup, the Gettrx branded car will be competing in the Bronze Cup class and entrusted to a trio of drivers from the United Kingdom. Lewis Proctor, in his second campaign with the squad, will be associated with Tim Whale, Dubai 24H podium finisher with Team WRT last January, and Northern Irishman Adam Carroll, a driver with an established reputation and great experience in almost all categories of racing, including with Team WRT back in 2012 where he stepped up for Stephane Ortelli and directly scored a podium in the FIA GT1 World Championship.

Team WRT Principal Vincent Vosse commented: “I am very happy to add two great line-ups to Team WRT’s entry for the Fanatec GT. We will be fighting in different classes, which is great, and we are ready to take up the challenge against very strong competition. As always, we have mixed youth and experience, with talent as a common denominator. I’m happy to welcome to the team Calan and Niklas, whose experience with the BMW M4 GT3 gathered last year will be very helpful. I am also very happy to see Thomas and Jean-Baptiste continuing with us and going into the Pro class. Equally nice is to have Lewis staying and to welcome Tim and Adam, who have done a great job in GT4 together. Tim has already successfully debuted with us in Dubai and probably few remember that also Adam, who did one fruitful appearance with Team WRT in the past. Now we are in full gear to attack the 2023 season, which starts with the collective test at Circuit Paul Ricard on 7-8 March.” 

Niklas Krütten: “It is a great honour and pleasure to drive for the W Racing Team in this year’s GT World Challenge Europe. For me, it is particularly nice to line up in a BMW M4 GT3 again. A new adventure with many opportunities and challenges awaits. WRT has shown in the past how professional, ambitious and successful they are. I look ahead to the coming season with great expectations and am thrilled to have the chance to work with this great team. The GT World Challenge Europe is an extremely renowned racing series and one of the best GT3 series in the world.” 

Calan Williams: “I’m really excited to be racing with Team WRT for this season’s GT World Challenge Europe. WRT have a very strong history and there is no other team I’d rather be making the move to GT racing with. I look forward to an enjoyable and successful season!”

Thomas Neubauer: “I am clearly very excited to start it all over again after such a great season with Team WRT last year. The objectives were met and we have created an excellent working relationship with everybody. I am happy to join Jean- Baptiste, in the Pro class this time, and I can’t wait to be on track again.” 

Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer: “I’m really happy to be back with WRT. We started the year with a great result in Dubai and now I get to compete in both the Sprint and Endurance Cups, with the aim of continuing that success. I have great teammates in Thomas, Niklas and Calan, and can’t wait to get going at Monza!” 

Adam Carroll: “WRT, Tim Whale, Lewis Proctor and Gettrx in a BMW M4 GT3, it just doesn’t get any better than this! I will be giving my all, opportunities like this do not happen often when you have the might and experience of WRT with a great car in the BMW. Tim is quickly becoming one of the best Am drivers in the world and Lewis is one of the best Silvers, so to say I’m excited is an understatement. We will fight hard for the championship.” 

Lewis Proctor: “I’m thrilled to be with WRT for a second season. They have embarked on an exciting new venture with BMW and I am honored to be part of this effort. They’ve hit the ground running and I have no doubt the car will be a front- runner overall and in class this year. I’m delighted to be working with Tim and Adam who are both super quick and great people. We should be a strong lineup for the championship!” 

Tim Whale: "I am super honored to be with the illustrious WRT team for my first year in GT3 and Fanatec GT, and I’m very excited for the season ahead. I look forward to the opportunity to learn in the most competitive environment, with the already race- winning BMW. Adam and Lewis make for exceptional teammates with well-proven pace. We’re aiming for the Bronze Cup, it’s going to be an exciting challenge ahead. Thanks to GETTRX for their commitment and enthusiasm to make this year possible."

BMW M Team WRT line-ups for the 2023 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe

Sprint Cup
#30 Niklas Krütten (DE) – Calan Williams (AU) Gold
#31 Thomas Neubauer (FR) – Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer (FR) Pro
#32 Dries Vanthoor (BE) – Charles Weerts (BE) Pro
#46 Maxime Martin (BE) – Valentino Rossi (IT) Pro

Endurance Cup
#30 Niklas Krütten (DE) – Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer (FR) – Calan Williams (AU) Gold
#31 Adam Carroll (GB) – Lewis Proctor (GB) – Tim Whale (GB) Bronze
#32 Sheldon van der Linde (ZA) – Dries Vanthoor (BE) – Charles Weerts (BE) Pro 
#46 Augusto Farfus (BR) – Maxime Martin (BE) – Valentino Rossi (IT) Pro