Race 1 of the GT Cup Europe at Monza definitely sanctioned the three driver titles, with Luca Franca and Ian Rodríguez (FAEMS Team) crowned Overall Champions, despite finishing fourth today. The race was won by Lars Zaenen and Gonçalo Fernandes in one of the Q1 Trackracing Porsches ahead of teammates Stienes Longin-Nico Saelens, who took the success in Pro-Am, their first this season.
A fourth in the class was also enough for Laura van den Hengel and Paul Meijer (Burgers Motorsport by HWM) to claim the Pro-Am title, with Laura becoming the first lady driver to win a title in GT sport-promoted series. The race podium was completed by Andrea Galli-Daniele Cazzaniga (SP Racing) and the vice champions Daniele Scannicchio-Fabio Babini (Tsunami RT).
A third in Am was enough for Leandro Martins and Dieter Svepes (LMR Motorsport) to secure a second Am title in a raw, while the race was won by the runner up, Cássio de Mello ahead of teammate Giacomo Giubergia in a one-two for GDL Racing.
Tomorrow, Race 2 will have to decide the last title, the Teams’ one, with FAEMS Team and Q1 Trackracing now tied with 52 points
The race started with Paul Meijer (Burger Motorsport by HWM) in the lead, after taking his sixth pole in six events, but having to go straight at the first chicane after missing the breaking point. Diego Di Fabio sitting in row 1 in the EasyRace Ferrari was hit by Luca Franca, creating confusion at first corner and further contacts at the back, with Laurini and Romagnoli having to retire.
Di Fabio in the Ferrari firmly took the lead ahead of Franca, Longin, Meijer, Halder and Zaenen in the initial laps, with this situation going up to the pit stop. After all changes, Bontempelli kept the lead with authority ahead of Fernandes and Saelens, 13 seconds behind, and Armanni, who was leading quite a compact group including Mello, Giubergia, Rodriguez, Cazzaniga, van den Hengel and Svepes.
Unfortunately, there was no glory awaiting for the Easy Race Ferrari, as an engine issue three laps from the end stopped the car leaving victory to Gonçales.