The opening round of the 2021 GT World Challenge Europe (GTWCE) Endurance Cup season took place last weekend at Monza. The most competitive GT racing series in the world at one of the most iconic circuits was always going to be a spectacle, and it did not disappoint.
- Benjamin Goethe finishes second in Silver Cup alongside Stuart Hall and James Pull
- The 18-year-old completes a faultless stint in the treacherous conditions
- Second podium of the season with Team WRT
Benjamin enters his third season in the SRO-run GT championship as the youngest amongst 129 of the best GT drivers in the world, sharing the #30 Team WRT Audi R8 LMS GT3 with long-time coach Stuart Hall, and 21-year-old British youngster James Pull.
The weekend started with a strong run during the official tests, however, a challenging qualifying session placed the #30 squad in P18 on the 44-car grid. Stuart took the start, but 20 minutes into the race, heavy rain arrived, making conditions very difficult. Stuart completed a solid opening stint without any mistakes unlike several other drivers and handed the car over to his teammate.
Benjamin took over the wheel of the #30 WRT Audi just before the 1-hour mark from P22 on a drying track. The 18-year-old had a terrific run, carving himself through the pack in a race thwarted by multiple safety car periods and countless punctures. Unfazed by the tricky conditions, Benji handled the situation like a professional and completed a faultless stint, handing the car over to James Pull in P8 overall, and the young Brit completed the job in a perfect manner, crossing the line in P6, and second in the Silver Cup standings.
This result comes after a fantastic 2nd place finish for Benji earlier this year with Team WRT in the 24H of Dubai.
‘’Such a great way to start the GTWCE season in a race with a mix of wet and dry conditions.” – said Benjamin. “The team was flawless throughout the entire weekend, and my teammates Stuart and James did a fantastic job as well. It’s a tough championship, but we have what it takes to score our first win together. I can’t wait for the next round at Paul Ricard.”
Benji - who runs a double-campaign this year - will next race in the first round of the GTWCE Sprint Cup on May 7-8 in Magny-Cours.