Maserati enjoyed a successful return to Spa-Francorchamps for round three of the Fanatec GT2 European Series which coincided with the iconic 24 Hours of Spa.
LP Racing’s number 1 car, driven by the pairing of Leonardo Gorini and Carlo Tamburini, secured the overall victory. Their teammate, Philippe Prette, piloting the number 9 car, took first place in the Am class, further solidifying Maserati’s strong showing. The third Maserati, the number 24 car driven by Alexandre Leroy for TFT Racing, also impressed, achieving second place in the Am class and a commendable fifth place overall.
Qualifying for Race 1 saw Maserati flexing its muscles by claiming the top three positions on the grid. Leroy secured his maiden pole position of the season, putting the number 24 car in prime position for a strong start.
Prette finished a close second, 2.8 seconds behind, securing the one-two finish for Maserati and extending his lead in the Am class with his third win of the year. Leroy remained in contention for a podium finish throughout but ultimately settled for fifth overall and second place in the Am class.
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The second 50-minute race, held on Saturday morning, proved less fortunate for Maserati. Prette’s race was compromised by a puncture early on, forcing him into an unscheduled pit stop. Tamburini, after a promising start that saw him in fourth position, slipped back to eighth due to contact with another competitor after approximately 20 minutes. Following the mandatory pit stop window, Gorini took over driving duties from Tamburini and attempted to recover lost ground. Unfortunately, his efforts were hampered by another puncture, relegating him to a tenth-place finish. Leroy, however, maintained a steady pace throughout the race, crossing the line in sixth place overall and securing a podium finish with third place in the Am class.
Looking ahead, the next round of the Fanatec GT2 European Series Powered by Pirelli is scheduled for July 19-21 at Hockenheim, Germany. Giovanni Sgro, Head of Maserati Corse, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance: “Our winning streak with Maserati GT2 continues. I couldn’t have hoped for anything better this weekend at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, despite a bit of bad luck in Race 2. Once again, taking the first and second places in Race 1 demonstrates that we have developed an outstanding car for motorsport customers, professional racing teams, and gentleman drivers.”
Sgro further emphasized the significance of Maserati’s racing heritage: “Maserati’s racing vocation, recently celebrated with the two MC20 Icona and MC20 Leggenda special editions for the 20th anniversary of the MC12’s debut, both in GT1 and Stradale versions, is the common thread that binds all our cars. Starting from the MC20, via the Maserati GT2 to the MCXtrema, our brand reiterates its intent to develop cutting-edge technologies and to meet customers’ requirements, both on the road and on the track. We can’t wait to line up on the grid for the next round of the 2024 Fanatec GT2 European Series Powered by Pirelli at Hockenheim.”
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