Wochenspiegel Team Monschau is set to make its 24H SERIES return at the Hankook 24H PORTIMAO on 16-17-18 July, doing so in a collaborative effort with Phoenix Racing for the first time. 

The German team made an impressive debut in the 24H SERIES at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in 2017, leading 373 of the completed 722 laps of that year’s Hankook 24H PORTIMAO en-route to 2nd overall. WTM Racing has since secured another outright podium finish at the event during a part-campaign in 2019, but has not raced in the 24H SERIES since last year’s Hankook 12H MONZA. 

The upcoming Hankook 24H PORTIMAO though will mark the team’s first series entrant with former DTM Teams’ champion Phoenix Racing, following a partnership agreement between the two parties heading into the 2021 season. The agreement also brings an end the team’s previous collaboration with Rinaldi Racing, with which WTM Racing ran two Ferrari 488 GT3s – ‘Luigi’ and ‘Guido’ – since 2016.

“We are very happy to work with such a professional and renowned team", says Georg Weiss, team owner of WTM Racing. “Of course, our goal is to build on our previous successes with the Ferrari 488 GT3. I think it's very beneficial to have a successful team like Phoenix Racing by your side. At the same time, I would like to thank our previous partner, Rinaldi Racing, for their efforts over the past four years.”

Phoenix Racing is also no stranger to the 24H SERIES, having taken GT4-class victory at the Hankook 24H DUBAI in 2018 and an outright podium on its most recent outing at the 2019 Hankook 12H SPA. Though a long-standing Audi customer, Phoenix Racing is confident its transition to the Ferrari will be completed smoothly during the 2021 season.

“Of course we know WTM Racing as a strong competitor from our Nordschleife operations,” explains Ernst Moser, Phoenix Racing team principal. “Georg Weiss and his team showed impressive performances there as a private team with both Porsche and Ferrari. We are very happy to work with a team that has so many fans.

“A new brand is not unusual in our team, and we are used to professionally separating the Audi factory engagement from customer assignments. I am sure that this partnership will be successful. We are looking forward.”

Team owner Georg Weiss is set to drive the ‘WTM Powered by Phoenix’-entered Ferrari 488 GT3 at Portimão alongside his son, Leonard. The pair will be joined on driver detail by team regular Jochen Krumbach, and former ADAC GT Masters and FIA GT3 European champion Daniel Keilwitz in an all-German line-up. 

Part of a near dozen-strong GT3 field already confirmed for the Hankook 24H PORTIMAO on 16-17-18 July, the WTM Powered by Phoenix will also compete against fellow Ferrari runner MiddleCap racing with Scuderia Praha, a three-time winner at the event. Other notable entries include last year’s outright winner – and 2017 24H SERIES Continents champion – Herberth Motorsport, series stalwarts CP Racing and Car Collection Motorsport, and Leipert Motorsport’s Lamborghini Huracan GT3. Rutronik Racing will also be in action after confirming a full season campaign in 2021.