AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands— The curtain rose on the Gran Turismo World Series World Finals today with the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing GT Cup, an elite competition featuring 24 talented Gran Turismo drivers from across the globe.

The venue was Theater Amsterdam, renowned for its contemporary design and idyllic location along the tranquil River IJ in the Houthavens district. Returning to this location after hosting the 2023 World Series Showdown, Theater Amsterdam hosted another sold-out audience, with all fans eager to watch the action unfold on the virtual track. The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing GT Cup field was comprised of 21 top performers from the 2024 Online Qualifiers and three winners from Regional Qualifiers, who made up for a starting grid with many new names.

The competition began with two Qualifying Sessions, dividing the drivers into two groups of 12. Each driver’s lap time determined their starting position in the Semi-final races, where only the top six finishers from each group would advance to the Grand Final. The stakes were high, as the six drivers with the slowest times were essentially sent home. The following is a detailed report for all three races.

Semi-final Group A: Autodromo de Interlagos

The first race of the day was held at the legendary Autodromo de Interlagos, a circuit steeped in Brazilian motorsport heritage. This was a 12-lap sprint event, with no required pit stops and all competitors piloting Toyota’s 634ps Super Formula Dallara SF23 machines, shod with medium-compound Michelin racing tyres. On pole position was Indonesia’s Andika Rama (LOR_Ramstig), whose stellar pre-qualifying performance had captured the attention of everyone in attendance. Beside him sat another surprise newcomer, Italy’s Daniele Alunni (OP_ALU), while seasoned Spanish veteran José Serrano (AVA_JOSETE) lurked in 3rd, flanked by his compatriot Coque López (coquelopez14) in 4th.

The drama erupted right from the standing start! With lightning reflexes, José Serrano rocketed off the line, slicing past both Alunni and Rama in an instant to snatch the lead by the first corner. Behind him, Coque López was equally impressive, surging cleanly into third place. Japan’s Takuma Sasaki (SZ_TakuAn22) showcased his trademark precision, slipping into P4 with surgical precision. But the action was only heating up.

López, refusing to settle, made an audacious move moments later, darting past Rama to seize 2nd place. For the Indonesian, it was the beginning of a nightmare. The midfield battle ignited in a flurry of aggressive overtakes, and Rama was caught in the crossfire, plummeting to 7th place as drivers fought tooth and nail for the crucial six positions needed to secure a spot in the Grand Final.

Amid the chaos, Italy’s Marco Busnelli (RR_MARKUS) emerged as the opportunist of the moment. With a cool head and sharp timing, he threaded through the melee, outmaneuvering Sasaki and positioning himself just behind Alunni in P4. The intensity was palpable, the stakes sky-high, and the race was already delivering on its promise of unrelenting excitement.

By the second lap, the field had settled into single-file formation, each driver biding their time for a chance to strike. On lap 3, as Brazil’s Lucas Bonelli (RVT_BONELLI) turned up the heat, attempting to overtake both Alunni and Sasaki. However, his aggression proved costly when he clipped the rear of Sasaki’s car, sending the Japanese driver off the track and down to 7th place. Bonelli’s miscalculation earned him a two-second penalty, knocking him out of the critical top six positions.

As the race progressed, Ryota Kokubun (Akagi_1942mi), the seasoned Japanese competitor, began his charge, methodically working his way up to 5th place by mid-race. Meanwhile, Serrano and López demonstrated the class and consistency of former Nations Cup world champions, steadily pulling away from the pack. By the time they crossed the finish line, they were a commanding seven seconds clear of the field! Kokubun’s relentless pace secured him a well-deserved 3rd place finish, while Busnelli, Sasaki, and Rama rounded out the top six, each earning a coveted spot in the Grand Final.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing GT Cup 2024 Finals
Semi-final Group A Results

Semi-final Group B: Red Bull Ring

The second 12-lap Semi-final unfolded at Austria’s picturesque Red Bull Ring, a track famous for its fast straights and technical corners. Once again, the drivers were behind the wheel of Toyota-powered Dallara SF23 Super Formula race cars, all fitted with medium-compound tyres. At the head of the grid were two newcomers: Antonio Santos of France (ERM_AntonioSK) and Australia’s Joshua Struik (Dstinct_jeeeesh). Behind them, the ever-dangerous Pol Urra of Spain (PolUrra), the defending TOYOTA GAZOO Racing GT Cup champion, was positioned in 3rd, with fellow Spaniard Alex López (GG_AlexLM) in 4th.

The race sprang into action right from the standing start, as all 12 drivers hurtled toward Turn 1 in a ferocious display of aggression. The opening corners were a frenzy of jostling and wheel-to-wheel battles, with minor contact pushing several drivers, including Pol Urra, off their lines. Despite the chaos, the field remarkably avoided disaster. Antonio Santos held firm at the front, while Alex López, showcasing razor-sharp focus, surged into 2nd place. Joshua Struik ran solidly in 3rd, with Brazil’s Adriano Carrazza settling into 4th.

The fireworks continued on lap 2 with a pivotal shake-up. López made his intentions clear, muscling past Santos in a bold move to claim the lead, while behind them, Urra was on a mission, recovering from his shaky start to climb back into 3rd place. Adding to the excitement was Australia’s Guy Barbara (OP_Twitchy), the revelation of the early laps. Starting from a disappointing 11th on the grid, Barbara stormed through the field, making up an incredible six positions to sit in 5th place.

The mid-race phase belonged to Urra, who showcased why he’s the defending champion. On lap 5, he dispatched Santos to take 2nd place and began closing in on López. His relentless pursuit paid off on lap 8, where he seized the lead with a passing move down the front straight. Things became worse for López when he was penalised for exceeding track limits, briefly surrendering his P2 spot to Santos.

The race ended with the positions of the top three drivers remaining unchanged, as Urra crossed the finish line first, followed by Santos and then López. Barbara’s extraordinary drive earned him a well-deserved 4th place finish, while Carrazza and Struik rounded out the top six, securing their places in the Grand Final.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing GT Cup 2024 Finals
Semi-final Group B Results

Grand Final: 24 Heures du Mans Racing Circuit

The Grand Final of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing GT Cup took place on the legendary Sarthe Circuit, the home of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Anticipation was high, and the pre-race storyline was clear as the top three starting spots on the grid were held by Spanish drivers, with José Serrano on pole, followed by Pol Urra and Coque López. For this eight-lap contest, the drivers piloted Toyota’s 680ps GR010 Hybrid machines, and strategy would be key, as regulations required each driver to complete at least two laps on soft-, medium-, and hard-compound Michelin tyres. And, the tactical battle had already begun before the green flag dropped, with half the field, including Serrano, starting on mediums, while the rest, including Urra, opted for the slower hard-compound Michelins.

The difference in tyre performance was immediately apparent. On the Mulsanne Straight, Coque López breezed past Urra, relegating him to 3rd place. Shortly after, Alex López overtook Antonio Santos to claim 4th, giving the Spanish drivers a commanding 1-2-3-4 running order! By the end of lap 2, those on the hard-compound tyres, including Urra, pitted to fulfil their stint on the slowest tyres, while the medium runners followed suit a lap later, swapping to the hards.

As the race approached its midpoint, Urra, now on the faster medium compound, began to claw his way back. On lap 4, he overtook Coque López for 2nd place and set his sights on Serrano. Meanwhile, Takuma Sasaki, running on the soft-compound Michelins, disrupted the Spanish stronghold by overtaking Alex López through Turn 1 on lap 5 and later moving into 3rd by overtaking Coque López.

The plot thickened as rain began to fall, turning the Sarthe Circuit into a treacherous battleground. The slick surface forced drivers to tiptoe through corners, but the conditions weren’t severe enough to justify switching to wet tyres. By the end of lap 5, most drivers made their final pit stops, gambling on soft-compound tyres to see them through the remaining laps.

Takuma Sasaki, who had built an impressive 21-second lead, made his stop at the end of lap 6. But his strategy unraveled, when he rejoined the race in 7th place, his hopes of victory dashed.

The final lap was a masterclass in high-stakes racing, setting up a Spanish duel for glory. José Serrano led the charge, with Pol Urra and the López duo—Coque and Alex—bearing down on him. But as Urra pushed his car to the limit in his pursuit of Serrano, he made a rare driver error. In the crucial Turns 7 and 8, he overcooked it, missing his apexes and sliding wide and falling back nearly three seconds.

Serrano had a slight scare at the end of the race when he momentarily lost control of his car, but he recovered quickly and crossed the finish line first after a masterful drive, cementing his status as one of the best drivers in the world. Urra followed in 2nd, with Coque López taking 3rd, delivering a remarkable 1-2-3 finish for Spain.

The 2024 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing GT Cup champion, Jose Serrano, said after the race, “It was very tough, especially the last two laps of the Grand Final. I was able to remain calm when it began raining. It’s a special moment for Spanish drivers because last year, we won in the same place. I am very, very happy with the outcome.”

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing GT Cup 2024 Finals
Grand Final Results