GT World Challenge powered by AWS returns to action next month with a six-hour race at Circuit Paul Ricard (10–12 April). The French venue has played host to 14 Endurance Cup events since the series launched in 2011. Only Spa-Francorchamps has staged more, so there's plenty to choose from as we look back at five of the best from years gone by.
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5
2023 – MARCIELLO’S MASTERCLASS
There are few more spectacular sights in GT racing than Raffaele Marciello on a charge. One of the best examples came at Circuit Pail Ricard in 2023, when the Swiss driver carved his way through the pack to secure a vital victory.
The Akkodis ASP Mercedes-AMG was undeniably fast that weekend: it had started on pole but fell back during the middle stages of the race. Enter Marciello, who passed four cars in quick succession before pulling away to win by 10 seconds. The result was crucial to the French squad's successful defence of the Endurance Cup title.
2023 Highlights
4
2019 – BANISHING THE DEMONS
Spoiler alert: the 2019 race was especially memorable because of what happened the previous year. Don't worry, we'll get to that.
After missing out on the 2018 win in heartbreaking fashion, Jules Gounon cut a desolate figure; his shoulders were practically on the ground as he stepped on to the second step of the podium. So, when he and his Bentley Team M-Sport squad won in 2019, it was a moment of sweet retribution.
The Continental was always extremely fast at Circuit Paul Ricard, but on this occasion it was a bona fide rocket ship. Gounon pulled away in the final stint to win by an astonishing 37 seconds, securing what would prove to be the final series victory for the British marque.
2019 Highlights
3
2016 – MCLAREN MAGNIFICANT, BENTLEY ABLAZE
Circuit Paul Ricard specialist Bentley dominated the much of this race, but a fire at its final pit stop – caused by fuel leaking on to the hot brake discs – ended the #8 Continental's chances. Remarkably, despite the size of the blaze, the car recovered to finish fourth.
Meanwhile, the Garage 59 McLaren seized upon a well-timed full-course yellow, vaulting ahead of the fire-damaged Bentley and a flying AF Corse Ferrari to assume the lead in the final hour. Shane Van Gisbergen beat Alessandro Pier Guidi to the win, which paved the way for Garage 59 to secure the Endurance Cup title.
2016 Highlights
2
2020 – WINNER TAKES IT ALL
The 2020 season was topsy-turvy in a lot of ways. For one thing, the calendar was flipped on its head by the Covid-19 pandemic, meaning a season-deciding six-hour race at Circuit Paul Ricard in the middle of November!
There was a wide-open title fight, which essentially rested on the outcome of the race. GPX Racing looked nailed on to win with its Porsche, but AF Corse played a clever strategy game with its #51 Ferrari.
The Italian car made a short final stop, changing just two tyres, and snatched the lead in dramatic fashion. This was enough to secure a maiden Endurance Cup title for Alessandro Pier Guidi, who was joined for the event by late call-ups Tom Blomqvist and Come Ledogar.
2020 Highlights
1
2018 – SIX-HOURS COMES DOWN TO THE FINAL LAP
In 2018, Bentley Team M-Sport looked set for a brilliant win after charging from 18th on the grid with a combination of speed at strategy. Jules Gounon led the final stint, but nerves began to ripple through the garage as Albert Costa closes the gap in his Emil Frey Racing Lexus.
It looked as though the Bentley would hang on, but on the final lap Gounon suffered a problem with the Continental's bonnet. Costa pounced, surging in front at the end of the Mistral straight. The Lexus only led one lap that day, but it was the one that mattered most.
As the cars took the chequered flag, fireworks lit up the skies above Circuit Paul Ricard. It was a suitably spectacular sight to mark the end of a remarkable race.
2018 Highlights
