PROsport Racing has confirmed the four drivers that will tackle this year’s GT4 European Series Powered by RAFA Racing Club, with each car featuring a proven winner teamed with a rising star.
The German team will run twin Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4s this year for its first full-season return since 2022, with some familiar names mixed with young talent across both cars.
PROsport regular and two-time ADAC GT4 Germany champion Hugo Sasse returns and will be partnered by 17-year-old Raphael Rennhofer in the first car, while Hendrik Still will lead the second car alongside German teenager Fabio Rauer.
Sasse has a superb record in GT4 competition around Europe since graduating to GT racing in 2021. He won the GT4 Germany title in both 2022 and 2023 and was also firmly in the fight for the GT4 European Series title in 2022, winning three races in a PROsport Aston on his way to third in the final points.
Austrian Rennhofer is new to the GT4 European Series and only made his GT4 debut last year after switching from a successful karting career. He gained experience with PROsport in GT4 Germany and has also been a regular in the recent GT4 Winter Series.
Still has marked himself out as a driver to watch in the GT4 European Series across recent seasons after spending two seasons racing a W&S Motorsport Porsche. He and former team-mate Max Kronberg secured podium finishes in 2022, then went on to become outright race winners last season on their way to third in the Pro-Am championship. He’s also been a race winner in GT4 Germany and the Porsche Endurance Trophy.
PROsport’s second teenage protégé, Rauer, is also fresh to GT racing after many years competing in European karting. He made his first steps into car racing in the German Tourenwagen Junior Cup in 2022, winning one race before moving to GT4 Germany last season. He has completed multiple test days with PROsport across the winter to prepare for his European GT racing debut.
With two drivers aged just 17 in the team, PROsport will boast two of the youngest racers on the grid this year.
PROsport team boss Chris Esser says: “Logically we could have put Hugo and Hendrik together in one car to fight for the title again. But for us this makes no sense after winning GT4 championships in 2022 and 2023 we find it much more attractive that both our experienced drivers are combined with young talents, then we have two cars to go on the hunt for the title.”
Hugo Sasse says: “I’m pleased to be staying with PROsport for my third full season. In recent years the team has become like a second family to me. I’m also excited to be sharing a car with Raphael, who is a very talented young driver that I know from last year. I hope I can pass on some of my knowledge and experience to him.”
Rennhofer says: “I’m rally looking forward to my first GT4 European Series season with PROsport Racing, together with Hugo. A strong grid awaits us, but with my experience from last season, Hugo as a team-mate and with the support of PROsport, I am convinced that we can regularly fight for podiums and wins.”
Still says: “I’ve known Chris and his team for many years and have raced and coached with PROsport a few times before over the last 10 years. Now I am very proud to be part of the two-time champion team from the ADAC GT4 Germany and to be able to contest a complete championship in PROsport team colors for the first time. The opportunity and incentive to switch to PROsport and the chance to compete for the title with the shared know-how was very great and I am now really looking forward to the new challenge. I'm also looking forward to the task of growing together with a young, talented driver and fighting for podium places. My thanks go to Chris for this opportunity and the trust in my work on and off the track.”
Rauer adds: “I feel very comfortable in the team and the Aston Martin is a very strong car. The first days of testing we had in Le Castellet were positive and we prepared perfectly for the first race weekend. We have a strong package and I’m looking forward to the season together with Henrdrik and hopefully we can be fighting at the front.”