Debut victory for Max Verstappen’s team in the GT World Challenge Europe

Debut victory for Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing in the GT World Challenge Europe. Jules Gounon and Daniel Juncadella secured the first Sprint Cup race win at Magny-Cours for the team run by four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 dominated the race from pole position and secured a well-deserved victory in the heart of France. For Daniel Juncadella, this is his first victory in a GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup race.

Second place went to the AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 driven by Thomas Neubauer and Arthur Leclerc, who fought their way up from ninth on the grid. They ultimately finished 2.597 seconds behind the winning Mercedes-AMG in Red Bull colours.

Kobe Pauwels and Nicki Thiim, in the Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin, rounded off the podium.

Shortly after the pit stop window closed, the race was neutralised. Christopher Haase in the Eastalent Racing Audi came to a halt off the track at the exit of the Imola chicane and had to be recovered. The incident was triggered by a pile-up involving Michael Blanchemain in the Sainteloc Racing Audi, Jef Machiel in the AF Corse Ferrari, Mikey Porter in the Optimum Motorsport McLaren and Haase, who came off worst in the incident. The Belgian Machiels was also forced to retire his Ferrari with extensive damage. Mikey Porter, too, had to retire his car with consequential damage.

GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup Magny-Cours Race 1 results (Top 10):

1. Daniel Juncadella/Jules Gounon – Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing – Mercedes-AMG GT3

2. Thomas Neubauer/Arthur Leclerc – AF Corse – Ferrari 296 GT3

3. Kobe Pauwels/Nicki Thiim – Comtoyou Racing – Aston Martin Vantage GT3

4. Lucas Auer/Maro Engel – WINWARD Racing – Mercedes-AMG GT3

5. Dean MacDonald/Marvin Kirchhöfer – Garage 59 – McLaren 720S GT3

6. Max Hesse/Valentino Rossi – WRT – BMW M4 GT3

7. Charles Weerts/Kelvin van der Linde – WRT – BMW M4 GT3

8. Gilles Magnus/Robin Knutsson – Boutsen VDS – Porsche 911 GT3 R

9. Alessio Picariello/Dorian Boccolacci – Boutsen VDS – Porsche 911 GT3 R

10. Alex Arkin Aka/Dylan Pereira – Tresor Attempto Racing – Audi R8 LMS GT3