Monza gives a frame of 30,000 fans to the GT World Challenge Europe
Victory for BWM of Yelloy-Eng-Wittmann ahead of the other BMW of ROWE Racing and the Lamborghini of Iron Lynx.
The first race of the 2023 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza was a great success with the public. 30 thousand spectators crowded the Monza circuit during the three days culminating in the 3 hours of the continental series which saw the triumph of the BMW M4 GT3 number 98 of the Rowe Racing team driven by Yelloly-Eng-Wittmann: the Anglo-German trio started from pole position , after 94 laps, covered in 3h01' 22"674, at an average speed of 180.3 km/h, he preceded his team mates Harper Hesse-Verhagen by 13"557 and the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo 2 of team Iron by 20"187 Lynx driven by Bortolotti-Caldarelli-Pepper.
In the other categories the following prevailed: Hofer-Baert-Soulet (Audi R8 LMS evo II Gt3), seventh overall, in the Gold category; Hezemans Dejonghe-Hutchinson Audi R8 LMS evo II Gt3) in Silver (16th at the finish line) and Bachler-Malykhin-Sturm (Porsche 911 Gt3 R -922) in Bronze (15th overall).
The adventure of Valentino Rossi, the undisputed protagonist of the weekend in Monza and followed by many fans who showed off his characteristic 46 on t-shirts and hats, was unfortunate. The 9-times world motorcycle champion, who started from the front row with the BMW M4 GT3 of the WRT team, shared with Farfus and Martin, was the protagonist of a straight to the first chicane due to a problem with the anti-stall, after he had maintained the second position, losing ground. Then the team was forced to retire the damaged car after a puncture while Farfus was driving.
In Eupean GT4 Lariche-Consani (Audi R8) and Schrey-BMW M4 GT4 won, while in GT2 the victories went to Beltoise (Audi R8 LMS GT2 - LP Racing) and Longin (Audi R8 LMS GT2 - PK Carsport) . In the Clio Cup Series, with a starting grid of over 50 cars, one-two for Gabriele Torelli (Rangoni Corse).
The Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe ready to set Monza on fire
The public on special occasions is expected for Sunday's 3 hours with as many as 55 GT3s at the start.
The anticipation for the first seasonal appointment of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS is growing. The Autodromo Nazionale Monza is ready to welcome over 170 cars which will give a show on the Brianza track with 55 GT3s expected at the start for the 3 hours in Monza which will start at 15.00 on Sunday 23rd April. The SRO-branded series returns to Monza after a year's absence with a thrilling line-up thanks to record numbers and high-sounding names.
Ready to take to the track with the BMW M4 GT3 of Team WRT, Valentino Rossi , one of the most eagerly awaited after a year of "apprenticeship" which has already led him to fight for the top positions. But the competition will be fierce for the former centaur from Tavullia, in the pro class with champions of the caliber of Antonio Fuoco , Davide Rigon and Alessandro Pier Guidi who will take turns at the wheel of the AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 number 71.
All eyes will also be on the reigning champion Raffaele Marciello , on track with the Mercedes AMG GT3 of Akkodis ASP Team and on Andrea Caldarelli and Mirko Bortolotti who will share the Iron Lynx Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2 with Jordan Pepper.
8 brands present with Ferrari, Lamborghini, Audi, Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, McLaren and Aston Martin who will compete for the first race of the season. But it won't be just the grid of the 3 hours of Monza that will make enthusiasts' eyes sparkle. Also in the GT4 European Series there will be 52 cars on track in the two races that will take place on Saturday and Sunday. As well as the Fanatec GT2 European Series which will bring the most extreme cars to the Monza track. To complete an exceptional program the Clio Cup Series with 53 cars on the track.
Stephane Ratel , founder and CEO of SRO Motorsport Group, said: "I am pleased to return to Monza to inaugurate the 2023 season of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS. This iconic circuit has an important place in the history of SRO Motorsports Group, dating back to our first event here in 1995. Then as now, it has a very special atmosphere and produces exciting, high-speed racing. With a fantastic 55-car grid and a top-notch support line-up, I know we have another wonderful weekend ahead".
Tickets are still available on the official website of the racetrack in the section dedicated to the Fanatec GT World Challenge or on the official website Ticketone.it .
Autodromo Nazionale Monza and Confcommercio: a bond for the Territory
Present the initiatives that will involve local activities, creating value and opportunities.
Create value and make the most of it. This is the theme that accompanied the initiatives presented today by Autodromo Nazionale Monza and Confcommercio Monza at the headquarters of the territorial association Confcommercio of Monza and its surroundings. An Autodrome that is a driving force for the promotion of the territory with its over 500 thousand annual attendances and which, thanks to the collaboration with Confcommercio Monza, will be even more present in the Municipalities where the track is located. The commercial activities, in fact, will display a window sticker and a totem from which you can view the calendar of events of the Brianza circuit.
A calendar which, in 2023, will see 15 weekends busy with racing activities and major events such as MiMo and the Bruce Springsteen concert. Two World Championships are scheduled with the FIA WEC World Endurance Championship, scheduled for July 9th and the Formula 1 Pirelli Italian Grand Prix on September 3rd, the flagship of a season that will host 4 other international events starting from Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe which, next weekend, will bring over 50 GT cars to the track immersed in Monza Park with characters of the caliber of Valentino Rossi capable of attracting an audience of fans and enthusiasts from all over Europe.
The international nature of the attendance, 46% of the public at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, in fact, comes from abroad, is a further stimulus to enhance an area that offers culture, services and opportunities, as recalled by the president of Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Giuseppe Redaelli : “The collaboration with Confcommercio, the Municipality of Monza and Federalberghi is a starting point to reiterate how close the Autodromo is to the territory and how close the territory can be to the Autodromo. A continuous exchange that creates value and possibilities for users and activities. Promoting Monza, Brianza and the whole of Lombardy, working as a team, is a duty to continue to be a leader in the Italian and international market"
"The collaboration between the Autodrome and the commercial and tourist operators of Monza and the surrounding area is very important - points out Domenico Riga, president of Confcommercio Monza – so as to be able to experience the Autodromo not only in the highlight of the Formula One Grand Prix, but all year round for the benefit of Monza and its territory".
Over 700 cars color Monza for the ACI Storico Festival
The third edition of the event at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza breaks all records with over 7,000 enthusiasts filling the grandstands and paddocks.
Over 700 cars from every corner of Italy and Europe colored the paddock and the track of the Autodromo Nazionale Monza for the third edition of the ACI Storico Festival hosted on the Brianza circuit. The more than 7,000 enthusiasts were able to observe closely and hear the roar of the engines of the cars that made the history of four wheels.
Thanks to the collaboration with the Automobile Club Milano, the Italian Alfa Romeo Register and Scuderia del Portello, the ACI Storico Festival has reached a new record, exceeding the number of cars by almost 100 compared to last year's edition.
The 4 most iconic cars of the event were awarded by the newborn magazine of ACI Editore , Youngclassic : Among the Coupés, a Datsun 240Z, among the sedans, an Alfa Romeo Alfetta 1979, among the discoveries, a Porsche 911 996 Cabrio and an Alfa Romeo Giulia out of competition 1600 Spider from 1962.
Even the CEO of Alfa Romeo, Jean-Philippe Imparato, once again demonstrated his infinite passion for historic cars, admiring the "Biscione" models present and confessing that he is a great lover of Monza, recalling his first time on the Brianza track in 1987 during a track day.
During the event, the new course on the restoration of vintage cars by the MTS Motorsport Technical School was presented. This was illustrated by the founder and CEO of MTS Eugenia Capanna flanked by Corrado Lopresto, one of the greatest collectors of vintage cars, Ivano Barletta, teacher of the course and former chief engineer of Michael Schumacher in Scuderia Ferrari, as well as the president of the Autodromo Nazionale Monza , Giuseppe Redaelli.
President Redaelli himself wanted to underline the perfect success of the event: "The ACI Storico Festival brought a feast of colors and sounds to the racetrack, showing the passion that revolves around the world of historic cars. Thanks to ACI Storico , Automobile Club Milano, the Italian Alfa Romeo Register and the Scuderia del Portello who made a record-breaking day possible"
Historic cars protagonists in Monza with ACI Storico Festival
Third edition of the event on Sunday 16 April. Paddock, track and banked roads will light up between exhibitions, track day sessions and parades. Free admission for the public.
ACI Storico Festival returns to Monza also in 2023. Sunday 16 April the Temple of Speed will in fact be the scene of the first seasonal appointment among the ACI Storico Club events, for a day that promises to be full of charm for lovers of heritage, tradition and vintage cars.
The success of the format of the event, now in its third edition and organized in collaboration with the Automobile Club Milano, the Registro Italiano Alfa Romeo and Scuderia del Portello, is demonstrated by the numbers from last year, when over 650 cars invaded the paddock, the track and the banked roads of the Brianza circuit amidst parades, exhibitions and non-stop free laps.
The structure will replicate that of 2022, with the road track open from 9:30 for track day sessions that will take up the whole day and end at 16:45. Each round will last 25 minutes and will allow members to experience the thrill of driving on one of the most famous tracks in the world.
There is also space for an important novelty : participants will in fact be able to test their cars on track laps in street legal configuration, with a discounted cost for ACI Storico members. There will be 6 slots of this type, and one of these will open the day of action on the track.
Then there will be the classic parades, which will partly characterize the road circuit between 12:15 and 14.25 and between 17 and 18, and partly the High Speed Ring and the Sopraelevate, with continuous shifts of 30 minutes each starting from 9:30 and until 5pm.
Finally, during the event there will also be some round tables, presentations and award ceremonies located between the paddock and the Tazio Nuvolari Press Room. Among others, at 2.30 pm the new course on the restoration of vintage cars by the MTS Motorsport Technical School will be presented and at 4.00 pm there will be the awarding of the cars participating in the ACI Storico Festival.
The racetrack will be open to the public , as will free access to the grandstands and paddock , the latter dedicated to static displays of the cars involved in the event. During the day , the tours of the Monza Circuit Experience and the Tiscali Monza Karting will also be active in the internal square of the Curva Parabolica-Alboreto. All information on the event and the weekend at the racetrack is available on the website www.monzanet.it.
An eventful month of April in the Temple of Speed
The Coppa Milano-Sanremo and FX Racing Weekend concluded with an excellent balance, the Autodromo is preparing for weeks full of activities including tests, races, historic events and the Monza Sport Festival
With the XIV Historical Commemoration of the Milano-Sanremo Cup and back and the FX Racing Weekend , the 2023 sports season of the Autodromo Nazionale Monza has officially begun . Two events that lit up the paddock and grandstands of the Temple of Speed and paved the way for a month of April that will continue with other important appointments.
The Milano-Sanremo Cup , also known as the "Lady of the Races", got underway on 23 March right in the Brianza Autodrome, with the first timed trials that saw the historic cars make a double pass both on the road track and, above all, on the legendary banked roads, one of the iconic sections of the circuit.
On the other hand, during the weekend that has just ended, between Friday 31 March and Sunday 2 April, the 12 series of theFX Racing Weekend, able to give entertainment and emotions to the approximately 3500 people who attended live three days full of races, no less than 22, for a total of over 200 drivers engaged on the track.
Among the various categories, the GT4 Italy Championship stood out for its prestige, a real seasonal novelty for FX thanks to the partnership with SRO Motorsport, with the drivers who competed in two exciting races in Monza. Giovanni Berton (Bolza Corse) on an Audi R8 LMS prevailed over his adversaries in race-1 and, in race-2, Tommaso Lovati driving the Mercedes AMG of Lema Racing.
But for the Autodrome the activity of the month of April has just begun and there are various appointments scheduled in the next few days. Proceeding in chronological order, the week after Easter will be mainly dedicated to testing some categories that will take to the track at Monza in 2023.
On 11 and 12 April the drivers of the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine will test the cars on the Brianza asphalt to prepare for their season, while two days later, on the 14th, it will be the turn of the tests for the Porsche Carrera Cup Italy, with three-time MotoGP World Champion Jorge Lorenzo at the wheel, like last year, of the Q8 Hi Perform Team's 911 GT3 Cup.
Two days will pass and the cars of the ACI Storico Festival , an event signed by Club ACI Storico and now in its third edition, will take care of animating the Temple of Speed again on 16 April. The format will repeat that of 2022, when over 650 cars including historic cars and youngtimers gave dynamism to the event, making it an extraordinary success between parades, free laps and parades.
Instead, we will return to pure racing in the last ten days of April, with an appointment to be marked in red on the calendar for all Fans. The Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS will in fact open its 2023 with an unmissable 3 Hours and will see Valentino Rossi in the parterre of drivers. Tickets to watch the race live, scheduled between Friday 21 and Sunday 23 April, can be purchased from the monzanet.it website or directly on the platform of the official reseller www.TicketOne.it.
Finally, the last weekend of April, between Friday 28 and Sunday 30, will be dedicated to one of the events organized by the Municipality of Monza and hosted by the Autodromo: the Monza Sport Festival, promoted by the Unione Società Sportive Monza and Brianza, which for over 45 years has brought together the sports associations of Monza and Brianza for a double day of all-round sport.
All the information and the complete 2023 calendar of the Temple of Speed are available on the official website of the circuit www.monzanet.it.