Leung Leads Bronze Class at Portimão as Asian Drivers Close GT World Challenge Europe Season

Leung and his Paradine Competition #991 crew finished fourth in the Bronze class, while Maini ended the race 16th overall with HRT Ford Racing #64 and De Leon secured ninth in the Silver class in the sister Paradine Competition #992.

Leung shared the #991 entry with James Kellett and Robert de Haan. The trio qualified 22nd overall and took pole position in the Bronze class, with their best individual qualifying result coming in Q3, where they placed eighth. During the race, they were 29th overall after 30 minutes and third in the Bronze class at the halfway point. They moved to fourth in class after 2.5 hours and maintained that position to the finish, crossing the line 31st overall.

Maini partnered Fabio Scherer and Thomas Drouet in the #64 entry. The team qualified fourth overall and in the Pro class, following a consistent qualifying performance that included third in Q1 and fourth in Q3. They were fourth overall after the opening 30 minutes before dropping to seventh in the Pro class at the halfway point and 11th after 2.5 hours. The car ultimately finished 16th overall and 10th in the Pro class.

De Leon, making a single championship entry, shared the #992 car with Christian Hahn and Josh Rowledge. The crew qualified 45th overall and 12th in the Silver class. They climbed to ninth in class after 30 minutes, then moved up to sixth in the Silver class at the halfway point and fourth after 2.5 hours. They finished 25th overall and ninth in class.

Leung ended the season fourth in the GT World Challenge Europe Bronze class Drivers’ Championship with 149 points. In the Endurance Cup Bronze class standings, he placed third with 84 points, while finishing fourth in the Sprint Cup Bronze class standings on 65 points. 

Maini finished 40th overall in the GT World Challenge Europe Drivers’ Championship with 16 points and 16th in the Endurance Cup overall standings. 

Tanart Sathienthirakul, who retired halfway through the finale, ended the season 23rd in the Silver class Drivers’ Championship and 20th in the Endurance Cup Silver class standings. Carl Bennett, who did not participate in the final race, finished ninth in the Sprint Cup Silver class standings.

The Portimão finale brought the European campaign to a close, with Leung finishing among the Bronze class championship’s leading contenders and Maini and De Leon completing their final outings across the Pro and Silver classes.