Rutronik Racing continued its podium streak during the GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup race weekend in Misano.

The GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS made a stop on Italy's Adriatic coast. The third Sprint Cup weekend of the season took place in Misano. Rutronik Racing lined up at the start with two Porsche 911 GT3 R. The two Porsche contracted drivers, Sven Müller and Patric Niederhauser, drove the top cars, while Loek Hartog and Eshan Pieris competed in the Silver Cup.

The team used the two-hour test on Thursday and the two practice sessions on Friday to get used to the track and the warm conditions near the resort town of Rimini. This was particularly important for Eshan Pieris from Sri Lanka, as he had never driven at Misano before.

In the first qualifying session on Saturday, Niederhauser secured seventh place on the grid. Niederhauser and his partner Sven Müller put in a combative performance in the darkness of Misano, and the team also completed a good pit stop, meaning that the #96 car was initially classified in fifth place. Two hours after the end of the race, the car was one of nine to receive a 10-second time penalty following the race for a full course yellow offence, which saw the two drivers drop to seventh place. Niederhauser accelerated out of the neutralisation a few moments too early and drove at up to 94 km/h when the speed limit was 80 km/h. Loek Hartog and Eshan Pieris were classified sixth in the Silver Cup.

The Sunday race had to be interrupted for over two hours for recovery and repair work following a serious accident involving a Lamborghini. After the restart, Müller and Niederhauser continued their race, which Sven Müller had started in spectacular fashion. In the first few laps before the interruption, the Porsche veteran had already managed to move up from seventh on the grid to fourth place. The yellow and blue Porsche 911 GT3 R was involved in some exciting battles and the team completed the fastest pit stop in the race – in the GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup, this is a guarantee for success! In the end, the two long-standing Rutronik Racing drivers finished in third place, continuing the Remchingen-based team's run of success. Loek Hartog and Eshan Pieris were forced to retire early in the sister car after suffering a tyre failure.

After three of five race weekends in the Sprint Cup, Müller and Niederhauser are fourth in the overall standings. With only 7.5 points behind the leaders and four races remaining, the driver duo is still very much in contention for the championship. In the combined standings for the Endurance Cup and Sprint Cup, the two Rutronik Racing drivers are in third place and also still have realistic chances of winning the title.

The GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup will continue next week. The fourth race weekend will be held at the former French Grand Prix circuit in Magny Cours.

Klaus Graf, Rutronik Racing Team Principal: "For me, the most important thing was that we kept our streak alive: we've had at least one car on the podium every race weekend this year. That's a very good performance by the team! The team scored some good points in the championship battle with the #96. We had two good qualifying sessions; it's hard to do much better in terms of pure pace. We then made up places in both races. On Saturday, we struggled a bit with the penalty afterwards, but we have to accept that in moments like these, as it's all about hundredths of a second. In the Sprint Cup at this level, it's a very close call. Overall, we are very satisfied, especially with the podium in such a chaotic second race. The entire team did a very good job and once again completed some excellent pit stops. For Eshan, it was actually a good weekend with the #97 car, finishing sixth on Saturday, and Loek also put in a good performance. On Sunday, they had a bit of bad luck with a puncture caused by a minor collision. But I think Eshan is learning more and more and getting closer and closer. We are looking forward to the next races, where he has already tested what makes it easier for him.‘

Patric Niederhauser, driver Porsche 911 GT3 R #96: ’The podium in Misano is a consoling end to what was not an easy weekend for us. Although it was difficult for everyone at Porsche, the team did a great job and delivered mega pit stops in both races, which allowed us to make up positions. The battle for the championship remains very close and I'm already looking forward to Magny-Cours."

Eshan Pieris, driver of the Porsche 911 GT3 R #97: “We had a good result in the first race with sixth place in the Silver Cup and 23rd overall. Unfortunately, we retired on Sunday with a puncture after contact with another car. But we fought hard again for sixth place in our class. We could have achieved some better results over the weekend, but sometimes motorsport takes a different path. Many thanks to the team for a fantastic car!”