Motodrom Insight // Fanatec GT World Challenge 2023
Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS is the flagship championship organised by SRO Motorsports Group, the global leader in GT racing. Reserved for GT3 machinery from world-leading automotive brands, events are staged at the continent’s premier circuits and with a mix of professional and amateur drivers behind the wheel.
The 10-round series its split equally between two race formats. Endurance Cup events range from three hours to the marquee CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, while the Sprint Cup features two 60-minute races per weekend. Championship honours are up for grabs in both, and combined titles are awarded to recognise the best performers across the disciplines.
Multiple classes compete in each race, ranging from the fully professional Pro category to mixed ability crews in the Gold Cup, Silver Cup, Bronze Cup and Pro-Am. The machinery comes from a rollcall of top brands, including strong representation for German marques Audi, BMW, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche.
The 2023 season begins with an Endurance Cup event at Monza and the Sprint Cup opener at Brands Hatch. A pair of prestigious Endurance contests are next, with the Circuit Paul Ricard 1000kms followed by the 75th CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. Then it’s back to Sprint Cup action at Misano and another Endurance round at the Nürburgring.
After the summer break the series returns to the Hockenheimring on 1–3 September for the latest Sprint Cup contest. This marks a change from 2022 when the track made its first appearance on the schedule as an Endurance Cup race. The 2023 campaign will conclude with trips to Valencia (Sprint), Barcelona (Endurance) and Zandvoort (Sprint).
The series also has an international aspect, joining with similar categories in Asia, America and Australia to form the global Fanatec GT World Challenge Powered by AWS. This unique concept allows manufacturers to measure the success of their customer racing programmes, with points from each continent counting towards the standings.
In a further initiative that began in 2021, the Fanatec Esports GT Pro Series is staged at each Endurance Cup event using Assetto Corsa Competizione. Pro and Silver Cup entrants contest a 60-minute virtual race, with points up for grabs in the real-world teams’ championships. A new series for leading sim racers has also been added for 2023.
The upcoming season represents the 13th since Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS was established in 2011 and draws on SRO Motorsports Group’s extensive experience in GT racing, which began in 1992 and continues to thrive 30 years later.
