Emil Frey Racing ready for a fresh start at the penultimate GT World Challenge Sprint Cup in Zandvoort

Fast Facts – The Press Bulletin
After a difficult weekend in Magny-Cours, Emil Frey Racing heads to Zandvoort for the penultimate round of the GT World Challenge Sprint Cup. The team has fond memories of the Dutch coastal circuit: in the DTM, Emil Frey Racing has already claimed a victory and a further podium there. With the #14 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo of Matteo Cairoli and Konsta Lappalainen and the #69 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo of Thierry Vermeulen and Ben Green, the team is determined to deliver a strong result in the dunes.

Press Release
The fourth round of the 2026 GT World Challenge Sprint Cup takes the series to Zandvoort, where Emil Frey Racing will line up with the #14 and #69 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo. The circuit on the Dutch North Sea coast, with its fast, undulating sections and banked corners, is one of the standout challenges in the racing calendar.

In Magny-Cours, both Ferraris struggled from the outset with balance issues and a lack of pace that could not be fully resolved despite various setup changes. The #69 Ferrari of Thierry Vermeulen and Ben Green finished 15th in the first race before retiring from the second following a collision. The #14 Ferrari of Matteo Cairoli and Konsta Lappalainen came home 17th in the second race. The team fell well short of its own expectations.

Zandvoort now offers the next opportunity to go on the attack. The good memories from the DTM, where Emil Frey Racing has already taken a victory and a podium at this circuit, give the team extra motivation. With two Sprint Cup weekends still remaining, every point counts from here on.

Weekend Highlights:

- Round 4: GT World Challenge Sprint Cup: Zandvoort, Netherlands

- Date: 18th – 20th September 2026

- Highlight: Iconic coastal circuit on the Dutch North Sea and a home race for local hero Thierry Vermeulen

- Targets: Score points in both races and put the bad luck of Magny-Cours behind them

Drivers & Cars:

- #14 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo – Matteo Cairoli (ITA) / Konsta Lappalainen (FIN)

- #69 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo – Thierry Vermeulen (NED) / Ben Green (GBR)

TEAM QUOTES – Emil Frey Racing

Lorenz Frey-Hilti, Team Principal
"Zandvoort is a circuit that suits us, and the memories from the DTM earlier this season give us a real boost. After two difficult weekends in a row, it is now time to give an answer on track. We have analysed the data, we know where we stand, and I am convinced that we can deliver a solid weekend with both cars."

Jürg Flach, Technical Director
"We have already raced at Zandvoort this season in the DTM and were able to win the first race there with Matteo Cairoli. Zandvoort is well known as a circuit where we are traditionally strong, provided the performance parameters work in our favour. I very much hope that will be the case this time, and that we can finally take our first GT World Challenge podium of the year."

DRIVER QUOTES – Emil Frey Racing

Matteo Cairoli (Italy)
"I would love to repeat the success we had in the DTM at Zandvoort and hope that Konsta and I can take our first podium together, or maybe even a win. I think we all deserve it."

Konsta Lappalainen (Finland)
"After the disappointments of Misano and Magny-Cours, we simply need to take it one step at a time. Everyone in the team is working very hard, and if we manage to find a good setup from the very first free practice session, I see no reason why we cannot be back at the front."

Thierry Vermeulen (Netherlands)
"I'm really looking forward to racing on my home circuit again this year. In the DTM we were able to show what we are capable of, as we were competitive throughout. It's a circuit I personally love, and even though I haven't been able to produce the performances in the GT World Challenge that I would have liked, I hope the breakthrough comes in Zandvoort."

Ben Green (Great Britain)
"I'm really looking forward to Zandvoort and the next round of the GTWC. We have had success here in the past, with pole position last year and the team's victory in the DTM with the Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo earlier this season, so our target is clear. It's always a pleasure to join the hard-working Emil Frey Racing team, and I can't wait to see them trackside again!"

ABOUT EMIL FREY RACING

Emil Frey Racing is a storied Swiss motorsport team based in Safenwil. Founded in the 1960s on the foundations of the Emil Frey Group, the team can look back on decades of motorsport experience, ranging from single-seater and rally racing to long-distance GT series. Today, Emil Frey Racing competes internationally, currently in both the DTM and the GT World Challenge with the Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo.