One year after unveiling its ambitious car and sports plans, Maserati made a triumphant return to Spa-Francorchamps for round three of the Fanatec GT2 European Series Powered by Pirelli. Amid the excitement of the 24 Hours of Spa, Maserati’s three GT2s stole the spotlight on Friday, securing a remarkable one-two finish in Race 1. The LP Racing team’s number 1 car, piloted by Leonardo Gorini and Carlo Tamburini, clinched victory, followed closely by teammate Philippe Prette, who also took the win in the Am class. The third Maserati, driven by Alexandre Leroy of the TFT Racing team, finished second in the Am class and fifth overall. In Race 2, the Belgian team secured a podium finish in their class.
Qualifying for Race 1 saw Maserati dominate, occupying the top three positions with Leroy achieving his first pole position of the season. Leroy maintained the lead initially but eventually ceded it to Gorini in the number 1 Maserati GT2. Gorini navigated to the front of the pack within a few laps and then handed over to Tamburini. Despite a minor mishap at Les Combes, Tamburini retained the lead, with Prette closing the gap but finishing 2.8 seconds behind. Tamburini’s win marked Maserati’s third victory of the year in the Am class, with Leroy finishing second in the Am class and fifth overall.
Race 2 on Saturday morning brought its challenges. Prette was forced to pit early due to a puncture, affecting his race strategy. Tamburini, after a strong start, found himself slipping to eighth after a collision. Gorini, who took over from Tamburini, managed to regain some positions but was hindered by another puncture, finishing in tenth place. Leroy, maintaining a steady pace, secured a sixth-place finish overall and third in the Am class.
The next event, round four of the Fanatec GT2 European Series Powered by Pirelli, is set for Hockenheim, Germany, from July 19 to 21.
Giovanni Sgro, Head of Maserati Corse, remarked, “Our winning streak with the Maserati GT2 continues: I couldn’t have hoped for a better outcome this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, despite some bad luck in Race 2. Securing first and second places in Race 1 underscores our development of an exceptional car for motorsport customers, professional racing teams, and gentleman drivers. Maserati’s racing heritage, recently celebrated with the MC20 Icona and MC20 Leggenda special editions marking the 20th anniversary of the MC12’s debut, is a testament to our commitment. From the MC20 to the Maserati GT2 and the MCXtrema, we continue to push the envelope in technology and performance, both on the road and on the track. We eagerly anticipate the next round of the 2024 Fanatec GT2 European Series Powered by Pirelli at Hockenheim.”
