W Racing Team
Encyclopedia
W Racing Team, commonly known as WRT, is a Belgian
auto racing
team founded in 2009 by engineer and former head of Volkswagen Motorsport René Verbist, racing driving Vincent Vosse, and entrepreneur Yves Weerts. The team campaigns Audi R8 LMSs in several national and international sports car
series, as well as Volkswagen Scirocco
GT24s in the Belgian Touring Car Series
. Through their association with the two brands, the team receives major support from the Belgian Audi Club and Belgian Volkswagen Club. In 2010 the team won the Belcar
Drivers' and Teams' Championships, while in 2011 they won the Spa 24 Hours
.
, the French FFSA GT Championship
(now GT Tour), and the mid-season Spa 24 Hours
. The team had success from the start, finishing on the podium with at least one car in every Belcar race including two wins by Gregory Franchi
and Anthony Kumpen and a third victory in a ten hour endurance race at Circuit Zolder with François Verbist, Bert Longin, and Bill Bailly. Franchi and Kumpen locked up the Drivers' Championship, while WRT secured the Teams' Championship. Franchi also partnered with Stéphane Lémeret to earn two further podium finishes in FFSA GT. In addition to this program, two Volkswagen Scirocco
GT24s were purchased for use in the Belgian Touring Car Series
where the team were vice-champions in their category.
Following their first year's success, WRT expanded their program for 2011 by adding the FIA GT3 European Championship
and Blancpain Endurance Series
to the schedule for their Audis. Once again success came early as WRT won the second of two races in the first event of the FIA GT3 Championship with Franchi partnering Enzo Ide. Their GT Tour program under the title of Team Audi France with French drivers David Hallyday
and Stéphane Ortelli
also earned its first victory for the team at Dijon-Prenois
. In July WRT won the Spa 24 Hours
in only their second attempt, with Franchi sharing the drive with factory Audi drivers Timo Scheider
and Mattias Ekström
.
WRT have been announced further expansion of their program in 2012 with accepted entries in the FIA GT World Championship as the representatives of Audi.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
auto racing
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
team founded in 2009 by engineer and former head of Volkswagen Motorsport René Verbist, racing driving Vincent Vosse, and entrepreneur Yves Weerts. The team campaigns Audi R8 LMSs in several national and international sports car
Sports car racing
Sports car racing is a form of circuit auto racing with automobiles that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built or related to road-going sports cars....
series, as well as Volkswagen Scirocco
Volkswagen Scirocco
The Scirocco is a 3-door Coupe manufactured by German automaker Volkswagen, undergoing two generations of development between 1974 and 1992 and reintroduced in a third generation in August 2008.-Etymology:...
GT24s in the Belgian Touring Car Series
Belgian Touring Car Series
The Belgian Touring Car Series is an endurance touring car racing series based in Belgium. It is organised by Speedworld and sanctioned by the Royal Automobile Club Belgium.-Race format:...
. Through their association with the two brands, the team receives major support from the Belgian Audi Club and Belgian Volkswagen Club. In 2010 the team won the Belcar
Belcar
The Belcar Endurance Championship is the national sports car racing championship of Belgium. The series is sanctioned by the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium and run by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation . The series' title sponsor is Mediagroep Van Dyck.Since the 2007 season, the series has run...
Drivers' and Teams' Championships, while in 2011 they won the Spa 24 Hours
Spa 24 Hours
The Total 24 Hours of Spa is an endurance racing event held annually in Belgium at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. Conceived by Jules de Their and Henri Langlois Van Ophem just one year after the first 24 Hours of Le Mans, the race was run under the auspices of the Royal Automobile Club Belgium...
.
Racing history
Upon the team's founding in late 2009, WRT purchased three Audi R8 LMS race cars as part of being the official Belgian Audi motorsport importer. The trio of cars shared duties in 2010 between the national Belcar Endurance ChampionshipBelcar
The Belcar Endurance Championship is the national sports car racing championship of Belgium. The series is sanctioned by the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium and run by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation . The series' title sponsor is Mediagroep Van Dyck.Since the 2007 season, the series has run...
, the French FFSA GT Championship
FFSA GT Championship
The GT Tour is a French Grand Touring-style sports car racing series that began in 1997. It is controlled by the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile and organized by racing company Oreca...
(now GT Tour), and the mid-season Spa 24 Hours
Spa 24 Hours
The Total 24 Hours of Spa is an endurance racing event held annually in Belgium at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. Conceived by Jules de Their and Henri Langlois Van Ophem just one year after the first 24 Hours of Le Mans, the race was run under the auspices of the Royal Automobile Club Belgium...
. The team had success from the start, finishing on the podium with at least one car in every Belcar race including two wins by Gregory Franchi
Gregory Franchi
Gregory "Greg" Franchi is an Belgian racing driver.-Karting:Franchi began his karting career in 2000, with the 36th place in European Championship Formula A.-Formula Ford:...
and Anthony Kumpen and a third victory in a ten hour endurance race at Circuit Zolder with François Verbist, Bert Longin, and Bill Bailly. Franchi and Kumpen locked up the Drivers' Championship, while WRT secured the Teams' Championship. Franchi also partnered with Stéphane Lémeret to earn two further podium finishes in FFSA GT. In addition to this program, two Volkswagen Scirocco
Volkswagen Scirocco
The Scirocco is a 3-door Coupe manufactured by German automaker Volkswagen, undergoing two generations of development between 1974 and 1992 and reintroduced in a third generation in August 2008.-Etymology:...
GT24s were purchased for use in the Belgian Touring Car Series
Belgian Touring Car Series
The Belgian Touring Car Series is an endurance touring car racing series based in Belgium. It is organised by Speedworld and sanctioned by the Royal Automobile Club Belgium.-Race format:...
where the team were vice-champions in their category.
Following their first year's success, WRT expanded their program for 2011 by adding the FIA GT3 European Championship
FIA GT3 European Championship
The FIA GT3 European Championship is a sports car racing series organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation and regulated by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . It is a championship derived from the international FIA GT1 World Championship, but meant to provide competition for more...
and Blancpain Endurance Series
Blancpain Endurance Series
The Blancpain Endurance Series is a sports car racing series developed by the SRO Group and the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium with approval from the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile...
to the schedule for their Audis. Once again success came early as WRT won the second of two races in the first event of the FIA GT3 Championship with Franchi partnering Enzo Ide. Their GT Tour program under the title of Team Audi France with French drivers David Hallyday
David Hallyday
David Hallyday is a French singer/songwriter and amateur sports car racer. He was born in Boulogne-Billancourt and is the son of the French singers Sylvie Vartan and Johnny Hallyday....
and Stéphane Ortelli
Stéphane Ortelli
Stéphane Ortelli is a Monagasque motor racing driver who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in . He also won the GT1 Class at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2005, driving for Aston Martin.-2008 Monza Le Mans Series crash:...
also earned its first victory for the team at Dijon-Prenois
Dijon-Prenois
Dijon-Prenois is a motor racing circuit located in Prenois, near Dijon, France. The undulating track is noted for its fast, sweeping bends....
. In July WRT won the Spa 24 Hours
2011 24 Hours of Spa
The 2011 Total 24 Hours of Spa will be the 64th running of the 24 Hours of Spa. It will also be the third round of the 2011 Blancpain Endurance Series season.-Qualifying:...
in only their second attempt, with Franchi sharing the drive with factory Audi drivers Timo Scheider
Timo Scheider
Timo Scheider is a German racing driver who competes in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters for Audi. He won the title in 2008 and 2009.-Karting:...
and Mattias Ekström
Mattias Ekström
Mattias Ekström is a racing driver from Sweden. He has been competing in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters for Audi since 2001. He is a two-time DTM champion and a three-time winner of the Race of Champions.-Career:...
.
WRT have been announced further expansion of their program in 2012 with accepted entries in the FIA GT World Championship as the representatives of Audi.