Sebastian Øgaard Finishes Fifth in GT World Challenge Debut

A solid season start for Sebastian Øgaard, who secured a fifth-place finish in his Audi debut during the opening round of the GT World Challenge Europe at Paul Ricard.

It was a promising GT World Challenge debut for Sebastian Øgaard, Leonardo Moncini, and Riccardo Cazzaniga, who claimed fifth place in the Gold Cup class in the season opener at Paul Ricard. The trio from the Audi team, Tresor Attempto Racing, fought their way up the field after a challenging qualifying session that saw them start 31st overall in a massive 59-car grid.

"Overall, it was a strong debut. In terms of results, we’re not quite where we had hoped to be, but considering the challenges we faced during the race, we’re satisfied. We struggled to get everything right in qualifying, so we had quite a few cars to overtake once the race got underway. But our pace was good, the car felt great, and our strategy worked well. We finished as the highest-placed Audi, so I think we got everything we could out of the race," said Sebastian Øgaard.

Although Øgaard, Moncini, and Cazzaniga all hold FIA Silver Driver status, the team has chosen to field them in the Gold Cup class for this year’s GT World Challenge season. This means stiffer competition from cars with more experienced lineups. The fifth-place finish in the Gold Cup class would have secured a podium in the Silver Cup class at Paul Ricard.

"There are lots of positives to take from Paul Ricard. We know where to focus and where improvements can be made, so now it’s just about pushing forward before the next round. Huge thanks to the entire team for a massive effort," said Øgaard.

Next up for Sebastian Øgaard is the second round of the GT World Challenge Europe, taking place on May 4 at Brands Hatch in England. This will be the season’s first sprint round, where Øgaard will race alongside Leonardo Moncini.