The GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup race weekend in Monza was marked by numerous incidents, Balance of Performance (BoP) adjustments, and a surprising race win.
Ben Dörr set the fastest time in the McLaren 720S GT3 from Team RJN as early as the second free practice session. With a lap time of 1:46.315 minutes, he relegated Dennis Lind in the Steller Motorsport Corvette Z06 GT3.R and Mirko Bortolotti in the Grasser Racing Team's Lamborghini Temerario GT3 to the further positions. The session was briefly interrupted due to incidents involving Stylianos Kolovos and Alex Malykhin.
For the first time, a Ford Mustang GT3 secured pole position in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup during qualifying. The car from Haupt Racing Team, with Arjun Maini, Fabio Scherer, and Thomas Drouet, achieved the best average time across the three qualifying segments. The individual fastest times in each of the three sections went to Arjun Maini (Ford), Chris Lulham (Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing), and Ben Dörr (RJN McLaren). The Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing initially qualified in second place but received a five-place grid penalty due to an infraction during the first practice session.
Prior to the race, the SRO Technical Commission made changes to the car specifications. The Ford Mustang GT3 had its engine power reduced, while Aston Martin and Ferrari gained aerodynamic advantages through adjustments to the rear wing. In addition, the minimum weight of the Audi R8 LMS GT3 was increased by five kilograms.
The three-hour race developed into an extremely eventful event with multiple safety car, full course yellow, and neutralization periods. Shortly after the start, a serious multi-car accident occurred in the first chicane, which eliminated both Ford Mustang GT3s from Haupt Racing Team, among others. Several other vehicles were damaged or had to end the race prematurely.
In the end, the Audi R8 LMS GT3 from Tresor Attempto Racing surprisingly prevailed. Rocco Mazzola, Sebastian Ogaard, and Ariel Levi celebrated an overall victory after a flawless performance. For Audi, it was the first success in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup since the 2022 season finale in Hockenheim.
WINWARD Racing, with Lucas Auer, Luca Stolz, and Maro Engel, took second place. The podium was completed by the McLaren 720S GT3 from CSA Racing with Baptiste Moulin, Romain Andriolo, and Lorens Lecertua.
In the final phase, the race was once again overshadowed by a serious accident. After a collision between Kelvin van der Linde and Alexey Nesov, the Pure Rxcing Porsche flipped after several subsequent impacts.
After the race, the stewards investigated the incident. The BMW M4 GT3 from WRT, driven by Kelvin van der Linde, Charles Weerts, and Jordan Pepper, received a 155-second time penalty and two behavior warning points. As a result, the car dropped from seventh to 30th place in the final standings.
The Top 10 of the race:
- Rocco Mazzola / Sebastian Ogaard / Ariel Levi (Tresor Attempto Racing, Audi R8 LMS GT3)
- Lucas Auer / Luca Stolz / Maro Engel (WINWARD Racing, Mercedes-AMG GT3)
- Baptiste Moulin / Romain Andriolo / Lorens Lecertua (CSA Racing, McLaren 720S GT3)
- Morris Schuring / Dorian Boccolacci / Alessio Picariello (Boutsen VDS, Porsche 911 GT3 R)
- Augusto Farfus / Jake Dennis / Raffaele Marciello (ROWE Racing, BMW M4 GT3)
- Horatio Fitz-Simon / Maxwell Lynn / Ben Dörr (Team RJN, McLaren 720S GT3)
- Luca Engstler / Marco Mapelli / Patric Niederhauser (Rutronik Racing, Lamborghini Huracán GT3)
- Dustin Blattner / Lorenzo Patrese / Dennis Marschall (Kessel Racing, Ferrari 296 GT3)
- Jonathan Adam / Lorcan Hanafin / Giacomo Petrobelli (Ecurie Ecosse Blackthorn, Aston Martin Vantage GT3)
- Further placements adjusted after application of penalties.
With the unexpected Audi victory, the first pole position for the Ford Mustang GT3 in the series, and several race interruptions, the Monza weekend will be remembered as one of the most eventful races in recent GT World Challenge history.