Real-world GT3 aces line up once again for the Fanatec Esports GT Pro Series

The Fanatec Esports GT Pro Series was first introduced in 2021 as a way of joining motorsport and sim racing. It takes place during five GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup weekends at the actual event, within a Fanatec arena equipped with PCs, sim rigs and Assetto Corsa Competizione.

Points are handed out based on race results, naturally, for the simulation competition, but also in the form of teams’ points for the GTWC.

As a result, for the first round at Monza, there’s a strong entry list that includes some of the best GT drives in the world.

Five teams’ points will be awarded to the race winner, with the top five positions also receiving a points payout. Each event will be a one-hour sprint race.

Last season, Akkodis ASP Team won the championship in a year where Daniel Juncadella and James Baldwin both took race victories. Emil Frey took the honours in 2021.

Works Audi drivers such as 2022 24 Hours of Nürburgring winner Dries Vanthoor and 2022 WTCR race winner Gilles Magnus will be on the Round 1 grid, alongside Porsche representatives Ayhancan Güven and Laurin Heinrich.

Güven, in particular, has a strong sim racing background, winning a round of the Porsche TAG Heuer Esports Supercup championship last season and competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual alongside Heinrich.

Race winner in last season’s DTM, Lucas Stolz is also featured, representing Mercedes-AMG. The reigning Fantec GT Pro champions field Thomas Drouet.

Of note, all three new cars available for the platform – Ferrari 296 GT3, Porsche 911 GT3 R (993) and Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 – will be in use, alongside the revised Mercedes-AMG GT3.

The first race will be live on the GTWorld YouTube channel, 5 pm BST / 6 pm CEST, today, Saturday 22^nd April 2023. This will then be followed on Sunday by the first race in a new SRO SIM Pro championship.

2023 Fanatec GT Pro Series, Round 1, Monza, entry list

• #5 – Charlie Fagg – McLaren 720S GT3 EVO – Optimum Motorsport – GOLD
• #6 – Sandy Mitchell – Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 – K-Pax Racing – PRO
• #9 – Alberto di Folco – Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II – Boutsen VDS – GOLD
• #10 – Roee Meyuhas – Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II – Boutsen VDS – SILVER
• #11 – Gilles Magnus – Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II – Comtoyou Racing – PRO
• #12 – Sam Dejonghe – Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II – Comtoyou Racing – SILVER
• #19 – Leonardo Pulcini – Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 – Iron Lynx – GOLD
• #21 – Nicolas Baert – Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II – Comtoyou Racing – GOLD
• #25 – Simon Gachet – Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II – Sainteloc Junior Team – PRO
• #26 – Erwan Bastard – Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II – Sainteloc Junior Team – SILVER
• #30 – Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer – BMW M4 GT3 – Team WRT – GOLD
• #32 – Dries Vanthoor – BMW M4 GT3 – Team WRT – PRO
• #33 – Romain Leroux – Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 – Bullit Racing – SILVER
• #40 – Mattia Drudi – Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II – Tresor Orange 1 (Attempto) – PRO
• #51 – Nicklas Nielsen – Ferrari 296 GT3 – AF Corse – PRO
• #13 – Ayhancan Güven – Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) – Dinamic GT Huber Racing – PRO
• #56 – Jop Rappange – Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) – Dinamic GT Huber Racing – SILVER
• #58 – Fabrizio Crestani – Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 – GRT Grasser Racing Team – SILVER
• #63 – Jordan Pepper – Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 – Iron Lynx – PRO
• #87 – Thomas Drouet – Mercedes-AMG GT3 – Mercedes AMG Team Akkodis ASP – PRO
• #90 – Alexey Nesov – Mercedes-AMG GT3 – Madpanda Motorsport – SILVER
• #96 – Laurin Heinrich – Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) – Rutronik Racing – PRO
• #99 – Alex Aka – Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II – Tresor Attempto – SILVER
• #157 – Marius Zug – Mercedes-AMG GT3 – Winward Racing – GOLD
• #159 – Nicolai Kjærgaard – McLaren 720S – GT3 EVO Garage59 – PRO
• #777 – Lucas Stolz – Mercedes-AMG GT3 – Mercedes AMG Team AlManar – PRO
• #998 – Max Hesse – BMW M4 GT3 – ROWE – PRO