In current season the Flying Finn Konsta Lappalainen has competed as Emil Frey Racing driver in GT World Challenge Sprint Europe racing series with british team mate Ben Green. In five meetings and ten one hour races Lappalainen and Green secured bronze medal in the PRO-group with Ferrari 296 GT3 car. This result was third bronze medal in international GT-racing series for Lappalainen.
In season 2022 Konsta collect bronze medal in GT World Challenge Endurance Europe as well as in ADAC GT Masters series. Now in season 2024 Emil Frey Racing drivers collect 70 points which was enough for bronze medal by 17 points gap. Furthermore Lappalainen collect bronze podium position in Italian GT3 Racing series Imola meeting, which was driven in first weekend of June. Konsta was called into service as a team mate for another Flying Finn Luka Nurmi. Finnish duo were in flames as third position in overall classifications was an excellent result.
– Season 2024 was divided into two sections. One overall victory, one overall silver and one overall bronze podium positions in 10 rounds were the results we had hoped for. However seven other races didn’t go as planned and therefore we couldn’t compete for Gold or Silver medal positions. Fortunately many of our fellow drivers had even worse results and therefore bronze medal was the maximum result we managed to secure from this season, Lappalainen tells.
– The final weekend, which was driven in traditional circuit of Barcelona, was just securing the bronze medal. In first race, which was driven in torrential rain, we collect 4th highest Championship points and in second race we just drove for the finish in 12th position. I’m happy for the drivers bronze as well as teams bronze medal in this highly competitive racing series and therefore we had shown our pace for the forthcoming season 2025. Big thanks for my sponsors and partners as well racing fans for the support, Lappalainen shared his thoughts.
Final weekend offered big drama for the victory of the series as Championship leaders Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts encountered troubles. Therefore Maro Engel and his team mate Lucas Auer collect two podium positions and grabbed the title by nine points gap.
Final results GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Barcelona #1: 12th October 2024: PRO-group, top-5:
1. Jules Gounon (FRA) & Maximilia Götz (GER), Boutsen VDS, Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, 21 laps
2. Patrick Niederhauser (SUI) & Sven Muller (GER), Rutronik Racing, Porsche 911 GT3 R, +2,363s
3. Maro Engel (GER) & Lucas Auer (AUT), Winward Racing Team, Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, +6,939s
4. Konsta Lappalainen (FIN) & Ben Green (GBR), Emil Frey Racing, Ferrari 296 GT3, +9,305s
5. Cesar Gazeau (FRA) & A. Panis (FRA), Boutsen VDS, Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, +9,716s
Final results GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Barcelona #2: 13rd October 2024: PRO-group, top-5:
1. Patrick Niederhauser (SUI) & Sven Muller (GER), Rutronik Racing, Porsche 911 GT3 R, +35 laps
2. Benjamin Giethe (GER) & Tom Gamble (GBR), Garage 59, McLaren 720S GT3 EVO, +9,265s
3. Maro Engel (GER) & Lucas Auer (AUT), Winward Racing Team, Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, +9,620s
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12. Konsta Lappalainen (FIN) & Ben Green (GBR), Emil Frey Racing, Ferrari 296 GT3, +30,384s
Final results GT World Challenge EU Sprint, Sunday 25th August 2024 Magny Cours #2: Overall top-3:
1. Maro Engel (GER) & Lucas Auer (AUT), Winward Racing Team, Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, 35 laps
2. Dries Vanthoor (BEL) & Charles Weerts (BEL), Team WRT, BMW M4 GT3, +0.563s
3. Maximilian Götz (DEU) & Jules Gounon (FRA), Boutsen VDS, Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, +10.626s
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13. Konsta Lappalainen (FIN) & Ben Green (GBR), Emil Frey Racing, Ferrari 296 GT3, +40.443s
GT World Challenge Europe Sprint 2024 final standings 10/10 rounds: PRO-group: top-5:
1. Maro Engel (GER) & Lucas Auer (AUT), Winward Racing Team, Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, 116,5p
2. Dries Vanthoor (BEL) & Charles Weerts (BEL), Team WRT, BMW M4 GT3, 105,5p
3. Konsta Lappalainen (FIN) & Ben Green (GBR), Emil Frey Racing, Ferrari 296 GT3, 70p
4. Patrick Niederhauser (SUI) & Sven Muller (GER), Rutronik Racing, Porsche 911 GT3 R, 53p
5. Maximilian Götz (DEU) & Jules Gounon (FRA), Boutsen VDS, Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, 52p
