Latest news with #PhilippePrette
Al Bawaba
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- Al Bawaba
Maserati domineers Misano GT2 European Series
On its home track of the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, in round 4 of the GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli, Maserati took two runner-up positions overall and one pole, two victories in the Am Cup and second place in the Pro-Am Cup. The double was completed in the LP Racing team's number 1 Maserati GT2 by Philippe Prette, who was also the runner-up and took the overall pole position in Race 1. The Maserati GT2 number 7 of Dinamic Motorsport with Mauro Calamia and Roberto Pampanini took second place overall in a comeback in Sunday's race, also the equivalent of the runner-up position in the Pro-Am Cup. In Race 1 on Saturday, starting from pole position Prette managed to defend himself and maintain the lead until the mandatory pit stop. When he returned to the track, the Frenchman with an Italian licence resisted the attacks of his rivals, giving in only five minutes from the chequered flag when he surrendered the leadership to a Pro driver. However, Prette crossed the finish line in runner-up position overall, with victory in the Am Cup class. The other Maserati GT2, number 7, kept Pampanini busy in the first stint before he worked back up to third position after starting from seventh. Ahead of returning to the pits, in an attempt to defend himself Pampanini lost grip and careered off the track. When he got back on, he found himself in tenth. At the wheel, Mauro Calamia attempted to recover and managed to cross the finish line in the final position during the second round on the Romagna track on Sunday morning saw the two Maserati GT2s start from fifth and sixth, as numbers 7 and 1 respectively, with the latter in pole in the Am class. With the Calamia at the wheel, the Dinamic Motorsport car was the first to move up to fourth, responding promptly to attacks from number 115. Fifteen minutes from the start, Calamia took virtual third place. After the driver change, Pampanini found himself in second having profited from an issue in the pits, then maintained his placing until the chequered flag to celebrate with a podium on his home track. In the Am Cup, Prette obtained his second victory on the Misano circuit after Saturday's win, starting from pole and remaining in the lead for the entire hour of the race. He also rose to fourth place overall, consolidating his leadership in the class Thursday's trials, Niccolò Pirri – son of Luca who drove the car at its debut in 2024 to a podium at Paul Ricard – also gained confidence in the Maserati GT2, to mark the Modena-based manufacturer's return to closed-wheel racing after years of absence. At only 16, Niccolò, is the youngest driver to have ever test driven a Maserati car on the Trident manufacturer's focus on young people is becoming stronger and stronger, partly down to its involvement in the new SRO GT Academy project announced last June at Spa-Francorchamps. The Academy offers the best-placed under-30 driver at the end of the 2026 season (at the wheel of a Maserati or a car from another marque) the opportunity to race in 2027 – with no budget required – in the GT World Challenge Europe, in a team to be created specifically for that Misano, in the GT2 European Series and GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup races, the Leading Car was an MCXtrema kitted out in a special livery created to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Maserati MC12's first victory at the 24 Hours of Spa. That specific configuration had already been seen at the Belgian the summer break, the GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli returns from 19 to 21 September for its penultimate round, due to take place in Valencia, Conti, Head of Maserati Corse, noted: 'Winning this weekend at Misano is even more important for us. We would like to dedicate our pride to Claudio Bortoletto, a fundamental member of our team and a historic figure in Italian motorsport, who recently passed dedicate to him a weekend of powerful emotions and an extraordinary haul: Philippe Prette's double victory in the Am class both in Race 1 – having started from pole – and in Race 2, as well as the Calamia/Pampanini duo's runner-up position in the Pro-Am class on Sunday. At our 'home race' at Misano, we have added another chapter to the Trident's glorious history in motorsport, one made up of extraordinary cars but above all of invaluable people. We look forward to celebrating more victories ahead of next year's major anniversary: Maserati's century in racing'.
Al Bawaba
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- Al Bawaba
Maserati shines at Spa: Class victory and double podium placing in the GT2 European Series
Maserati achieved an outstanding overall result at the legendary Spa circuit, in round 3 of the 2025 GT2 European Series Powered by Pirelli season. The Maserati GT2s took a win in the Am Cup class and twice mounted the podium in the overall rankings and in the Pro-Am Cup Race 1, starting from pole position, the number 1 car from the LP Racing team – driven by Philippe Prette – saw the reigning Am Cup champion achieve an extraordinary overall class victory, after starting from the front Race 2, due to an issue with his right rear tyre, the French driver with an Italian licence had to settle for fourth place in his class but nevertheless maintained leadership in the Am Cup standings. In Race 1, Calamia and Pampanini took an outstanding runner-up position overall and the second step of the podium in the Pro-Am Cup. Their performance in Race 2 was also decent, where they once again mounted the overall and class podiums, in first race of the weekend, on Friday 27th, saw Prette start from the front row and firmly take the lead in his class with a broad margin of advantage. In the first half of the race, he duelled with his teammates Calamia and Pampanini for second and third place overall. Then in the second half after the pit stop, it was easy for him to keep his Am Cup rivals in check without taking unnecessary risks, as the track had been made slippery by the rain; he took his fourth class victory. Calamia and Pampanini from the Dinamic Motorsport team started well from the second row and rose up to second position. After the pit stop, they increased the pace to try and take advantage of the penalty given to their rivals for an irregularity during the driver change. For only three seconds, Calamia and Pampanini came close to their goal, but took home second place overall and in the Pro-Am 2, held on Saturday 28 June, saw the Maserati GT2 of Dinamic Motorsport driven by Mauro Calamia-Roberto Pampanini start from the second row and immediately settle into second place. The pit stop for a driver change shuffled the positions, putting the Maserati crew in third place until the chequered flag, when they mounted the podium at the prestigious Spa circuit for the second time running. Conversely, Philippe Prette was not so lucky, having started from the third row. When he was firmly in the lead of his category, he had an issue with his right rear tyre, which forced him to make a long pit stop. Upon returning to the track he found himself fourth in the Am Cup, a placing he maintained until the finish line, meaning he remains in the lead in the overall was the leading light throughout the Belgium weekend of the GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS: MCXtrema was the official Leading Car at the event, kitted out in a special livery to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the MC12's first victory at the 24 Hours of House of the Trident also supplied the entire range of support cars with official Safety Cars, Leading Cars and Medical Cars, thanks to an agreement between the car manufacturer and SRO Motorsports Conti, Head of Maserati Corse, noted: 'The weekend at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa was simply extraordinary! The Maserati GT2s shone with victories and podium placings in the GT2 European Series, whereas our MCXtrema took the limelight by leading the pack throughout the event, perfectly embodying the spirit of the the sporting front, the results speak for themselves: a first place in the Am class and a second and third place in Pro-Am confirm our leadership and the excellence of our the true thrill was to see the MCXtrema as the Leading Car on the legendary Spa track, celebrating 20 years since the historic victory of the MC12. It was an iconic moment, uniting past and future and propelling us with enthusiasm towards our first centenary in motorsport. We couldn't be prouder!' The next round of the GT2 European Series Powered by Pirelli is scheduled to take place at Misano, for the brand's home race in Italy, from 18 to 20 July.
