CMR Bentley to rely on all-Belgian trio in 2022 Endurance Cup

CMR Bentley to rely on all-Belgian trio in 2022 Endurance Cup

CMR has finalised the driver line-up for its assault on this season's Fanatec GT World Challenge Powered by AWS Endurance Cup.

The French squad continues with its Bentley Continental GT3 this term and had already named Belgian racer Nigel Bailly as the first member of its crew. CMR has now added two more drivers to what will be an all-Belgian trio, with Bailly joined by Stéphane Lemeret and Matthieu de Robiano.

Lemeret brings vast experience of GT racing to the programme, including particular success at the TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa. The Belgian has finished on the overall podium four times and led CMR to victory in the Am Cup class in 2020. This year, he is set to combine his Endurance Cup commitments with a return to CMR's front-running GT4 European Series squad. 

De Robiano completes the trio. A newcomer to GT3 competition, he has previously competed in touring car machinery and also undertook the 25-hour Fun Cup race at Spa-Francorchamps in 2019. Last year, he partnered with Lemeret and Ulysse de Pauw to secure victory in a five-hour Fun Cup event at Circuit de la Sarthe. 

The 2021 season will be the third in which CMR has run Bentley machinery in Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS. The French squad has enjoyed a number of high points during the past two campaigns, including a class win at Spa in 2020 and several successful results with its Silver Cup entry. 

The team will be present at the official Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS test days at Circuit Paul Ricard on 7-8 March. The Endurance Cup season begins at Imola on 1-3 April before visiting Circuit Paul Ricard (3-5 June), the TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa (28-31 July), Hockenheim (2-4 September) and Barcelona (30 September-2 October).