Optimum Motorsport line-up confirmed for Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup campaign

The Wakefield-based outfit will once again contest in the series’ Gold Cup off the back of claiming the class’s inaugural drivers’ and teams’ Endurance crown last Autumn with Optimum Motorsport-run team, Inception Racing. The newly-revised class format differs from last season and is now reserved for one Silver and two Gold FIA rated drivers per car, with an additional of the latter for the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.

Sam De Haan and Charlie Fagg expand their racing commitments for 2023 with Optimum Motorsport, having already announced their partnership for the International GT Open campaign this season, now add further plans in Europe to their calendar. Dean MacDonald will join the duo for their five-race Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance assault, which will see the trio take on a total of 39 hours of racing, starting with the three-hour battle at Monza, Italy next month.

MacDonald, who after a successful karting career switched to GT4 machinery in 2017 before making the move to GT3’s in 2020, scored a podium on his debut in the 720S. The Briton has also added a global GT title to his list of achievements, having claimed the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe’s Sprint Cup Pro-Am honours last season in the British Manufacturers’ ultra-successful GT3, scoring four wins and three further podiums, respectively.  

Whereas De Haan has been present on the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe since 2021, Fagg made not only his 24 Hours of Spa debut last season, but also his first appearance in the championship.

“It’s great to add further endurance races to my season plans with Optimum Motorsport,” said De Haan. “Charlie and I are already confirmed for the International GT Open, and it’s great to welcome Dean to the line-up for our GT World Challenge effort.

“Both of them are proven race winners with the McLaren, Dean is the reigning Sprint Cup champion, and Optimum have been hugely successful across multiple championships with the 720S, so we are in a really strong positions heading to Monza.”

Shaun Goff, Optimum Motorsport Team Principal added: “It’s great to be back on the GT World Challenge Europe grid again for this season with the new 720S EVO as well as Dean – who claimed the series’ Sprint Cup Pro-Am title in 2022.

“He’s a proven race winner and adding him to the line-up alongside Sam and Charlie, an already strong duo in itself, will hopefully see us go for gold once again this season.”