BMW 1-2 Finish and Ferrari Podium at the 3 Hours of Monza in Front of Over 35,000 Spectators
At the Temple of Speed, the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe delivered excitement and impressive numbers. A BMW 1-2 finish with the M4s of OQ by Oman Racing and WRT ahead of the Ferrari 296 GT3 of AF Corse – Francorchamps Racing.
35,393 fans filled the grandstands of the Temple of Speed for the penultimate round of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS Endurance Cup. It was a spectacle on the track, in the grandstands, and in the paddock of the Autodromo Nazionale Monza during the three-day event dedicated to the continental series promoted by SRO, which saw four championships take to the 5.793 km of the Monza circuit. The public played a starring role in Saturday’s pit walk, Sunday morning’s autograph session in the paddock, and the grid walk.
Triumphing in the 3 Hours of Monza were Jens Klingmann, Ahmad Al Harthy, and Sam De Haan in the BMW M4 GT3 of OQ by Oman Racing, ahead of the sister car from Team WRT driven by Dries Vanthoor, Sheldon Van Der Linde, and Charles Weerts. In a photo-finish finale, with a breathtaking last lap, the Ferrari 296 GT3 of Alessio Rovera, Vincent Abril, and Alessandro Pier Guidi, who had secured pole position, took the third step on the podium. Fifth place went to the BMW of Valentino Rossi, Maxime Martin, and Raffaele Marciello.
In the Fanatec GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli, victories went to the Maserati GT2 of Leonardo Gorini and Carlo Tamburini, driving for the local team LP Racing, and the KTM X-BOW GT2 of Martin Koch and Reinhard Kofler.
In the spectacular races of the GT4 European Series powered by Rafa Racing Club, featuring 50 cars on the grid, there was a double victory for the Audi R8 LMS GT4 of Team Speedcar, driven by the French duo Benjamin Lariche and Robert Consani.
The McLaren Trophy Europe also took to the track, with the stunning McLaren Arturas thrilling on the fast straights of the Temple of Speed, with wins going to Spaniards Gonzalo de Andres and Alejandro Geppert in Race 1, and to their SMC Motorsport teammates Adalberto Baptista and Tomas Pintos in Race 2.
The Autodromo Nazionale Monza is now preparing for a very intense month of October with three top-level events. From October 4 to 6, the first ACI Racing Weekend will feature the Italian GT Sprint Championship, Euro 4 Championship, Porsche Carrera Cup Italy, and the Italian Historic Cars Championship. From October 18 to 20, it will be the turn of the GT Open International Series, while from October 25 to 27, the grand finale of the Italian championships will take place with the second ACI Racing Weekend.