A major turning point has arrived in the championship battle after Winward Racing successfully won their legal appeal against a previous disqualification handed down during the Sprint Cup round in Misano. The #48 Mercedes-AMG GT3 machinery had originally been stripped of its hard-fought third-place overall finish, triggering an immediate and rigorous challenge from the team's legal and technical departments.
The Royal Automobile Club of Belgium formally declared the appeal both admissible and well-founded, issuing a definitive ruling that the initial stewards' decision must be overturned and revoked entirely. This crucial verdict restores the original race classification, ensuring that the championship points and podium recognition remain safely in the hands of the squad.
Consequently, the third-place result secured by factory stalwart Maro Engel alongside his co-driver Lucas Auer stands officially confirmed in the record books. While the standalone Sprint Cup standings remain largely unaffected by the procedural shift, the restored points carry massive implications for the overall endurance and combined championship standings heading into the final stretch.
This legal vindication mathematically guarantees that Engel and Auer are crowned the overall drivers' champions of the GT World Challenge powered by AWS for the 2026 campaign. Holding an unassailable points advantage prior to the championship showdown at Portimao, the duo can now approach the season finale knowing their stellar efforts throughout the year have paid off with the ultimate prize.
Although the individual drivers' crown has now found its rightful home, the highly anticipated team championship battle remains fiercely contested and mathematically undecided ahead of the weekend. The 2026 season will officially draw its curtain on Saturday evening with a demanding three-hour endurance showdown in Portugal, with the green flag scheduled to wave at 17:00 local time.
Read Also
Simak kolaborasi spesial antara Lee 101 dan Indian Motorcycle rayakan 125 tahun sejarah denim. Baca analisis mendalam dan update lengkap di sini!
Stellantis gelar Future Days 2026 di Turin sambut 700 pelajar. Simak rangkuman lengkap diskusi teknologi dan inovasi industri di sini.
Simak detail Porsche Mission S, konsep hypercar mesin tengah terbaru yang membawa bahasa desain masa depan. Baca analisis mendalamnya di sini!
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!