HUTCHISON JOINS REIGNING GTWCE CHAMPIONS TEAM WRT FOR DUAL ENDURANCE AND SPRINT CAMPAIGN

Experienced Audi R8 racer Finlay Hutchison will compete in both the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS Endurance Cup and the sister Sprint Cup this year, after signing an exciting deal with reigning GTWCE Champions Team WRT.

Confirmed today, Friday, 4th March, the 22-year-old Dundee driver will embark on his fourth season racing with Audi power at GT3 level but his first with the renowned, multiple championship-winning Team WRT squad. 

Entered to mount a challenge in the Silver Cup class, Hutchison will be partnered by fellow Scotsman Lewis Proctor and Mexican driver Diego Menchaca in the five-round GTWCE Endurance Cup in the No.31 Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II. His team-mate in the shorter format Sprint Cup, which will also be contested over five events, will be confirmed in due course. 

“I really am elated to be joining Team WRT for the new season in GTWCE and I want to say a big thank you to Vincent Vosse for the opportunity, the team’s history and success in endurance racing speaks for itself”, said Hutchison, “I’ve got two quick and competitive team-mates in the Endurance Cup, with Lewis and Diego, and it’s great to be back racing in the Sprint Cup as well.

“Obviously, I’m really happy to be continuing racing an Audi R8 for the fourth year and I’m more determined than ever to challenge for podiums and, hopefully, the Silver Cup title. It’s going to be a huge season, potentially my biggest yet, so I can’t wait to represent Team WRT. We’re actually out testing today so hopefully we can make the best start possible!”

Team WRT, headed by former racer Vincent Vosse, needs no introduction in the world of GT racing and heads into 2022 off the back of a truly remarkable season last year – winning no fewer than five titles in GTWCE. 

Notably too, the world’s eyes will be on the Belgian squad more than ever this year with global sporting superstar Valentino Rossi, the inimitable nine-time World Motorcycling Champion, racing in GTWCE with the team in the No.46 car as he embarks on a new career on four wheels.

Speaking on today’s announcement of WRT’s full five car line-up for GTWCE, team principal Vincent Vosse said: “We are very happy to announce such a great driver line-up for the 2022 GTWCE season. We will be present in three different classes and determined to do well in each of them while, as per Team WRT’s tradition, we will have an interesting mix of experience and youth. Finally, I am happy to welcome to the WRT family some new faces but also pleased to retain long-standing friends.”

Hutchison, of course, has already had a busy start to the 2022 motor racing season with participation in the Hankook Dubai 24H, the Hankook Abu Dhabi 6H and also the recently concluded Asian Le Mans Series in the Middle East. 

Next week will mark the official two-day pre-season test at Paul Ricard in France, on 7th/8th March, ahead of the opening three-hour race of the Endurance Cup season at Imola in Italy on Sunday, 3rd April. The first pair of one-hour races of the Sprint Cup campaign will take place on home soil for Hutchison, at Brands Hatch in Kent, on Sunday, 1st May.

2022 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS Calendar 
Test Days – Paul Ricard, France – 7/8 March
Rd1 Endurance – Imola, Italy – 2/3 April
Rd1 Sprint – Brands Hatch, UK – 30 April/1 May
Rd2 Sprint – Magny-Cours, France – 14/15 May
Rd2 Endurance – Paul Ricard, France – 4/5 June
Rd3 Sprint – Zandvoort, The Netherlands – 18/19 June
Test Days – Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium – 21/22 June
Rd4 Sprint – Misano, Italy – 2/3 July
Rd3 Endurance – TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa, Belgium – 30/31 July
Rd4 Endurance – Hockenheim, Germany – 3/4 September 
Rd5 Sprint – Valencia, Spain – 17/18 September
Rd5 Endurance – Barcelona, Spain – 1/2 October

Source. Marc Orme