FINAL RESULT: Zandvoort Race 2
Emil Frey Racing returned to the front in brilliant style in Race 2 at Zandvoort. This was effectively a straight fight between the Swiss squad’s twin Ferrari crews, and it was settled by a full-course yellow period which fell just after the 10-minute mark.
The #14 of Konsta Lappalainen led from pole – the Finn's first in the series – while the sister #69 car of Ben Green immediately jumped Louis Prette (#58 Garage 59 McLaren) to assume P2 and put Emil Frey in a commanding position. It was formation flying at the front during the early stages, with Lappalainen keeping Green in his mirrors.
Then came the decisive FCY, which was caused by the #89 Lionspeed GP Porsche finding the gravel. When the race director announced the end of the neutralisation, Green reacted instantly while Lappalainen appeared to hesitate. The #69 Ferrari charged ahead of the #14, a decisive move that effectively sealed the win.
A good stop from the Emil Frey crew sent Thierry Vermeulen, back out in the lead, and the Dutchman was faultless during his stint. He crossed the line with an advantage of 3.7 seconds, becoming the first local driver to win overall at Zandvoort since 2014.
Lionspeed GP split the Emil Frey duo with its #80 Porsche, thanks in no small part to a fantastic pitstop. The result sends Ricardo Feller and Bastian Buus to the top of the standings ahead of next month's finale at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The #14 Emil Frey Racing machine of Lappalainen and Matteo Cairoli completed the podium.
Fourth went to the #46 Team WRT BMW of Max Hesse and Valentino Rossi. The car started from P4 but slipped to sixth at the start, then returned to its original position during the pit window. Indeed, the #46 crew of Adria Gracia and Evan Guillot completed their stop with a time of 48.2 seconds from pit-in to pit-out, the fastest of anyone in Race 2.
AF Corse was fifth with the #50 Ferrari of Arthur Leclerc and Thomas Neubauer. They have been the most consistent points scorers this term and this result keeps them firmly in the title fight heading to the season finale.
Indeed, we can expect a titanic Sprint Cup showdown at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where no fewer than eight crews will fight for the series title. Buus and Feller hold a six-point advantage over Dani Juncadella (#3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing) and the #50 AF Corse duo, while defending champions Charles Weerts and Kelvin van der Linde (#32 Team WRT BMW) are also within striking distance.
There were also plenty of twists and turns in the fight for class honours. Garage 59 looked to be on the rise after its Race 1 victory, but AF Corse duo Tommaso Mosca and Matias Zagazeta struck back in Race 2, winning aboard their Ferrari.
The #58 McLaren led the opening stint, but a delayed pit stop saw Tom Fleming emerge behind the #30 Team WRT BMW of Amaury Cordeel. The McLaren tipped the BMW into a spin and was subsequently handed a stop-go penalty. The Ferrari duo will therefore take a healthy lead of 21 points to Barcelona.
The Silver Cup has already been settled. Team WRT duo Matisse Lismont and Ignacio Montenegro triumphed in Race 1 aboard the #30 BMW to put the combined class title beyond doubt; then, in Race 2, they wrapped up the Sprint Cup by finishing second to Oliver Söderström and Arthur Dorison (below), who secured a first win of 2026 in their #21 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin.
Zandvoort could prove to be pivotal in the fight for the Bronze Cup. Appropriately, it was the Ziggo Sport Tempesta Porsche – competing in its unmistakable orange and white livery – that stood out from the crowd, taking a brace of class wins thanks to Peter Dempsey and Eddie Cheever. They lead the way into the deciding race next month.
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will welcome GT World Challenge powered by AWS for an 11th consecutive season on 2-4 October.