Eshan Pieris arrived in Europe in 2025 carrying both reputation and curiosity. The Sri Lankan professional racing driver who had already carved out success in the GT World Challenge Asia with Porsche and Absolute Racing, Pieris stepped into the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup Silver Cup with Rutronik Racing knowing the context would be different. Europe’s GT3 paddock is louder, deeper, and less forgiving, and his debut season became less about instant results and more about recalibrating his craft against some of the sharpest Silver Cup competition in the world.
Certain moments still cut through with clarity. Brands Hatch sits first in his memory. “Racing in Brands Hatch for me was a highlight. We crossed the line in P1 in class but a penalty dropped us back[. H]owever it was still amazing to have that feeling.” The result did not stay in the record books, but the sensation mattered. It was proof that, on raw pace and execution, he belonged at the front. Misano offered a different satisfaction. “I really enjoyed driving in Misano [with] it being such a high speed circuit and flowing,” he said, describing a track that rewarded rhythm and confidence rather than aggression alone. And threaded through the entire season was the experience of his new surroundings. “Working with such an incredible team like Rutronik through this year was an incredible experience,” he added, a line that speaks to how much the environment shaped his year.
By his own measure, the season did not fully meet his expectations. “I wanted a stronger season in my debut year but I learnt alot about areas I need to improve such as driving at night,” Pieris said. Endurance nuances, limited running, and unfamiliar race formats exposed gaps that only experience can fill. One surprise came in the details. “How much closer attention I needed to give for the pit stops. In the end I like to think I was doing it well,” he reflected, acknowledging how marginal gains in GT racing often live far from the steering wheel.
Away from lap times, the year delivered something steadier. “Cultivating close relationships with my team mates Loek, Patric and Sven. I really learnt alot from them and they welcomed me to the team,” he said. Those relationships became informal classrooms, shaping his understanding of European racing culture.
The off-season is already framed with intent. “Training, training and more training!” Pieris said, before setting a clear aim for 2026, “to carry on the momentum from my improvements through 2025 and to come back with some silverware.” For anyone joining the grid next year, his advice is blunt and earned,
“if you think you know where the limit is, take that and add 10%!”
