Italian GT Endurance Championship - Racing in Rome - where the gladiators fought.

Report by Marcello Mastroianni Fotografo

27 July 2024

The first seasonal race of the endurance series, held at their home track, Vallelunga, and in the presence of thousands of Italian Gran Turismo fans, was truly a triumph for the Scuderia Baldini crew composed of Leclerc-Fisichella-Mosca driving a Ferrari 296 GT3.

The trio's victory in the three-hours race was never in question, despite two full course yellow flags and safety cars that neutralised the race. Despite the rest of the field bunching up behind the Scuderia Baldini team under the safety cars the drivers were able to pull ahead of their pursuers at both restarts.

Fisichella, upon restarting in the last stint, immediately pulled away gaining precious seconds over the following pack. When the checkered flag fell he finished in command, ahead of the Tresor Audi Sport Italia Audi R8 of Aka-Delli Guanti-Mazzola and the BMW M4 of Comandini-Guerra-Denes, who held off the second Tresor Audi of Moncini-Cola-Van Berlo to the end of the race. 

The Tresor Audi Sport Italia drivers of Moncini-Cola-Van Berlo were the authors of a fantastic race and, after climbing from 18th starting position to finish forth after a difficult qualifying session. They finished the race 4 tenths from the podium and ahead of the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2 (VSR) of Cazzaniga-Di Folco-Liberati.

Seventh place overall went to Fulgenzi-Galbiati (Porsche GT3 R-EF Racing), while the top ten is completed by the third VSR crew, Moulin-Tribaudini-Guidetti, who finished the race ahead of Ponzio-Gai-Mac (Ferrari 296 GT3-AF Corse) and Rogalski-Gilardoni-Deledda (Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2-Imperiale Racing). 

In GT3 AM, however, the top step of the podium went to Colavita-Riccitelli-Ulrich at the wheel of the Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 220 of Double TT Racing, preceding the two Honda NSX GT3s of Nova Race of Marchetti-Ferri-Bodellini and Magnoni-Eyelashes-Massaro.

It has been a very hot race, with lots of people cheering for Arthur Leclerc and the Italian F1 idol, Giancarlo Fisichella. Luckily they didn’t disappoint the crowd, taking a wonderful win in the land of the gladiators with their stunning Ferrari 296 GT3 with a bit of yellow on the livery to match the Ferrari 499P that won in LeMans.

Now, heading to the next race will Team Scuderia Baldini maintain the lead of the championship?