Stienes Longin and Nicolas Saelens are determined to win the European title
After finishing third in the final standings in their debut year in the GT Cup Europe last year, Stienes Longin and Nicolas Saelens want to win the European title in GT Cup Europe in 2025. They will once again do so at the wheel of a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup from Q1 Trackracing.
It was one of the pleasant surprises of last motorsport season: in their very first year in the high-level GT Cup Europe, Stienes Longin and Nicolas Saelens fought for the title until the last meeting. They eventually claimed third place, after winning three races during the season.
“This year we want more,” grins Stienes Longin. “Our goal is definitely the title. That will be no small task, because the starting field of the GT Cup Europe will be a lot bigger and stronger in 2025. So it will be a huge challenge, but that is exactly what I expect from a European championship.”
Longin and Saelens are once again racing with a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup from the workshops of Maaseik's Q1 Trackracing. "I have to admit: I was actually a bit surprised that Stienes and Nicolas were able to immediately fight for the title in their first season with the Porsche", smiles team manager Nicolas Vandierendonck. "A Cup version of the 911 is not an easy car to master. It only proves how strong Stienes and Nicolas have been. When I see how they prepare for the meetings... There are professional drivers who could take an example from that."
“I am very happy that I can work with Stienes and Q1 again”, Nicolas Saelens adds. “We now know the championship, which should ensure that we make fewer mistakes and can go for the title with determination. To get to know the Porsche even better, I am also driving a few Belcar races at Q1 Trackracing.”
“Especially in qualifying and during the in- and outlaps during the races, we may have missed something last year,” Stienes Longin suspects. “Now that we have mastered the Porsche’s settings better, we should be able to fix that.”
“Finishing third in your first season of a high-level championship opens up perspectives,” concludes Bert Longin, who has taken on the role of coach/manager of the duo. “Especially because we really enjoyed the collaboration with Q1 Trackracing. The team does everything it can to make the car fast, and that pays off. In short, all the elements are there for Stienes and Nicolas to have a shot at the title.”
The GT Cup Europe season kicks off in late April in Portimão, Portugal, before stopping at Spa-Francorchamps (16-18 May), Hockenheim (6-8 June), Circuit Paul Ricard (18-20 July), Barcelona (19-21 September), with the season finale in Monza, Italy on 18-19 October.