Porsche captures first Endurance Cup crown with Rutronik Racing as Garage 59 McLaren shines in thrilling Barcelona finale
Porsche has just set a milestone in the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The German company won its maiden GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup title through Rutronik Racing in a drama-filled finale that captivated all.
The trio of drivers Sven Müller, Patric Niederhauser, and Alessio Picariello went from being behind to taking the title by just one point.
On the other hand, Garage 59 was the star of the day. Their McLaren was the fastest car of the race and brought the British manufacturer back into the championship’ circle after a nine-year drought.
How the Championship Battle Went Down?
The anticipation for this championship battle was unbelievable. Rutronik Racing’s five-point deficit was the situation when they arrived in Barcelona.
The Mercedes-AMG Team MANN-FILTER squad, who were in pole position as they led the championship standings, were their fiercest competitors.
Things looked tough early on. The #96 Porsche started from tenth position after qualifying. But Alessio Picariello had other ideas right from the green flag:
- He stormed into fourth place through the first corner
- The team dropped back during the first pit stop under safety car conditions
- Müller fought his way through traffic before Niederhauser took over in eleventh place
- Niederhauser made the crucial pass on Harry King’s Aston Martin with just nine minutes left
That final move sealed it. The Mercedes ended up outside the points after struggling all race and receiving a five-second penalty for going off track at the start. Rutronik finished seventh overall, which was all they needed to make history.
McLaren’s Dominant Performance
As the championship saga unfolded in the background, Garage 59 displayed an impressive performance. Dean MacDonald, behind the wheel of the #58 McLaren, who started from the very front, wasted no time in building a gap.
The triumph was a combination of an intelligent plan and excellent speed. MacDonald was in the lead for the first part of the race and was setting the fastest lap one after the other. Afterwards, Adam Smalley took over for the middle section of the race and kept things under control. Louis Prette brought it home in a brilliant way during the last hour.
The team also got a bit of luck when the safety cars were timed perfectly. The crash of the #88 Tresor Attempto Racing Audi between Turns 8 and 9 was a bad one, but it was Garage 59’s good fortune. Prette was able to extend his lead from there and finished with an 18-second margin.
This race marked McLaren’s first Endurance Cup victory since 2016. That was the wait time for the fans until they got to see another moment like this again. For Prette, MacDonald, and Smalley, it was the first overall victory in the series.
What Makes This Season Special
The 2025 campaign has been something else. More than 26,000 people showed up at Barcelona to watch the finale. The average grid size this year was the biggest in Endurance Cup history.
Fans at Khelo24race have been following this championship closely all season. The action started six months ago at Circuit Paul Ricard and included the legendary CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. Every round delivered incredible racing and record-breaking attendance.
Other Championship Victors
The Bronze Cup title went to Kessel Racing, who had already wrapped up both the full-season and Sprint Cup honors earlier. They made absolutely certain with a third-place finish in Barcelona. Rutronik Racing also grabbed the Bronze Cup race victory with their #97 car.
Century Motorsport secured the Silver Cup championship with a strong performance. The #42 BMW crew of Waberski, Moore, and Jansen took the title after climbing back to fifth in class. Aurélien Panis and César Gazeau successfully defended their full-season Silver Cup crown.
Verstappen.com Racing clinched the Gold Cup championship. The #777 AlManar Racing BMW and #98 ROWE Racing BMW rounded out the overall podium behind Garage 59.
Looking Ahead
The upcoming 2026 season will kick off at Circuit Paul Ricard with a six-hour duration race which is booked for April 10-12. Following the record grids and the astonishing races all through 2025, everyone who casts a glance at Khelo24race’s resident races and beyond has a lot to anticipate.
The grand finale in Barcelona was a clear demonstration of the fact that the GT World Challenge Europe is still the number one GT championship everywhere. The close racing, the various manufacturers fighting for first place, and the championship battles that go down to the last minute bring fans back every season.
What Does This Means for Porsche?
Being victorious in the championship is not just about taking home another trophy. It is also Porsche’s first title in the Endurance Cup and gives the 992 GT3 R a fantastic farewell before the next generation arrives.
Rutronik Racing achieved something very impressive. They kept their cool in a pressure situation, carried out their strategy flawlessly, and overtook other competitors at the best times. That is how the champions behave when the stakes are the highest.
