KENT, UK – After the heartbreak of a mechanical retirement in the morning, Lionspeed GP roared back to life on Sunday afternoon to claim a commanding victory in the second race of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup weekend. The #80 Porsche 911 GT3 R (992.2) Evo proved that its qualifying pace was no fluke, leading from lights to flag in a clinical display of resilience.
The victory marks the team’s first outright series win and a perfect comeback for the duo of Bastian Buus and Ricardo Feller, who had seen a likely Race 1 win evaporate due to power steering failure.
Buus Withstands Early Pressure
Taking the start from his earned pole position, Bastian Buus faced an immediate challenge from Chris Lulham in the #3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing entry. Lulham, seeking his own redemption after losing the Race 1 victory to a post-race penalty, lunged toward the inside at Paddock Hill Bend, but Buus held his nerve and the racing line.
Once the initial skirmish settled, Buus began to turn the screw. By the time the pit window opened at the 25-minute mark, the young Dane had built a steady three-second cushion, showcasing the superior tire management of the Porsche in the warmer afternoon conditions.
Feller Seals the Deal
A flawless pit stop by the Lionspeed crew—a testament to their hard work repairing the car between races—saw Ricardo Feller emerge with an even larger lead of nearly six seconds.
While Daniel Juncadella (who took over the #3 Mercedes) managed to chip away at the gap in the final ten minutes, Feller remained in total control. The Swiss driver crossed the line 3.073 seconds ahead of the field to secure a historic win for the German-flagged squad.
“This is for the mechanics,” Feller said after the race. “They had to replace the steering rack in record time after Race 1. To reward them with a trophy and the top step of the podium is the best feeling.”
Mercedes-AMG Battle for the Podium
Behind the dominant Porsche, a fierce battle raged for the remaining podium spots. Maro Engel made a lightning start in the #48 Winward Racing Mercedes to jump the #46 WRT BMW of Max Hesse.
Despite being hit with a five-second penalty for a pit stop infringement later in the race, Lucas Auer (who took over from Engel) drove aggressively to build a large enough gap over Valentino Rossi to keep third place. Rossi and teammate Hesse brought the #46 BMW home in a solid fourth, satisfying the local crowds with a strong showing.
Class Winners
- Silver Cup: The #30 Team WRT BMW of Matisse Lismont and Ignacio Montenegro claimed a dominant class victory, finishing 8th overall and making up for their Race 1 penalty.
- Gold Cup: Victory went to the #555 CSA Racing McLaren driven by Simon Gachet and Romain Andriolo, who fought through the mid-pack to finish 10th overall.
With the Sprint Cup season now officially underway, the paddock shifts its focus to the endurance rounds, but Lionspeed GP leaves the UK as the team to beat for raw pace.