SPECTACULAR ACTION AT AUTODROMO NAZIONALE MONZA DURING ACI RACING WEEKEND
The large motorsport audience showed up in full force, despite the intense heat in Brianza, filling the grandstands and paddock of the Autodromo Nazionale Monza. Their enthusiasm was rewarded with 12 spectacular races, full of twists and turns, culminating in the 3-Hour race of the Italian GT Endurance Championship, won by the Beretta-Frassineti-Testa crew driving the Lamborghini of VSR.
There were three different winners in the action-packed races of the Italian F4 Championship, which featured as many as 40 single-seaters on the grid. Victories went to Sebastian Wheldon, Kean Nakamura-Berta, and Newman Chi, who claimed his first win of the season. In TCR Italy, Matteo Poloni and Nicola Baldan took wins among the sequential cars, while Eric Brigliadori scored a double victory in the DSG class, finishing ahead of his teammate Matteo Roccadelli in both races.
Simone Bianco further extended his lead in the Italian Sports Prototypes Championship after winning Race 1, while Giacomo Maman secured his first career victory in Race 2. Also taking to the Monza track over the weekend was the FIA TCR World Tour, where Norbert Michelisz and Aurélien Comte took the wins.
The large crowd particularly appreciated the open paddock and the opportunity to step onto the starting grid of the 3-Hour Italian GT Endurance Championship race, where they could get a close look at the cars. Equally well-received was the Meet & Greet in the Fanzone on Saturday, where fans got the chance to meet some of the stars of the FIA TCR World Tour and TCR Italy.
A WORLD CLASS ACI RACING WWEEKEND IN MONZA
Temperatures are rising and a scorching weekend is expected at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza. The fourth ACI Racing Weekend of 2025 is ready to hit the track at the historic Monza circuit with 5 categories and 12 races scheduled across Saturday and Sunday. The highlight will be Sunday afternoon with the 3-hour race of the Italian GT Endurance Championship, starting at 2:30 PM. But the intense Monza program will also feature touring cars from the FIA TCR World Tour, single-seaters from the Italian F4 Championship, the TCR Italy series, and the Wolf prototypes from the Italian Sport Prototypes Championship. A number of initiatives are also planned for the weekend, starting on Thursday with the FIA Girls On Track event organized by the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission.
Engines roar once again in Brianza for the Italian GT Championship, which returns to the track for the second round of the Endurance series. After the season opener in Misano, the championship gears up for another high-profile weekend with 41 crews on the grid, split between GT3 and GT Cup classes, representing 7 manufacturers and featuring a diverse international mix of drivers and teams. In the top class, the Audi R8 LMS from Tresor Attempto Racing, driven by Mazzola-Rauer-Cazzaniga and fresh off a strong win on the Adriatic coast, will be aiming to consolidate its championship lead. However, the Audi trio will face stiff competition, starting with Denes-Cola-Guidetti (Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2), who finished a solid second in Misano, and their Audi counterparts from Haas Racing Team—Jackson-Azzam-Detry—who finished third overall in the opener and currently lead the GT3 PRO-AM standings.
The GT Cup class features 18 cars divided into two Divisions. In the 1st Division PRO-AM, the AF Corse Ferrari 296 Challenge driven by Gai-Fontana, winners at Misano, will be the team to watch. In the 2nd Division PRO-AM, the SP Racing Porsche 992 GT3 Cup, driven by Piria-Russo, leads the standings.
There will be 40 Tatuus Formula 4 cars, equipped with Pirelli tires, ready to battle it out this weekend for the third round of the seven-event season of the Italian F.4 Championship. The series, promoted by ACI Sport and WSK Promotion, sees the title fight intensifying with Kean Nakamura-Berta, a Slovak-Japanese driver from Prema Racing, leading the standings thanks to five consecutive wins in the opening rounds. Behind him is teammate Sebastian Wheldon, son of the late Dan “Lionheart” Wheldon, who has two victories and is currently Nakamura-Berta’s closest rival. Also joining the title fight is Brazilian driver Gabriel Gomez from US Racing, who made a strong showing at Vallelunga with one win and two podiums, moving him up to third in the overall standings.
At the Temple of Speed, the championship returns to its traditional format: three 30-minute + 1 lap races, with all drivers on track simultaneously.
The Kumho FIA TCR World Tour makes its debut at the Temple of Speed, following in the footsteps of past global touring car series that raced at Monza up until 2017. The third round of the season comes just one week after Valencia, where Yann Ehrlacher scored a double win and now leads the championship ahead of Esteban Guerrieri. The top-tier TCR series will feature two races at Monza—Saturday at 3:10 PM and Sunday at 11:40 AM. The FIA TCR World Tour will also host a Meet & Greet session on Saturday at 5 PM in the Fanzone, located at the former museum area.
The third round of the TCR Italy championship also takes place at Monza, with 20 cars in the Sequential class and 17 in DSG. The battle between Nic Taylor (Audi RS3 LMS, PMA) and Nicola Baldan (also in an Audi RS3 LMS, Aikoa) resumes, with only three points separating them (162 to 159). Attention is also on Alex Ley (Hyundai Elantra N, BRC), who returned to victory at Vallelunga.
In the DSG class, another family duel is expected between Eric Brigliadori and Mattia Roccadelli, both driving Cupras for SF Squadra Corse. Challengers include Mattia Lancellotti (Audi, Planet Motorsport), currently second in the standings, and Gustavo Sandrucci (Audi, Casals Motorsport), who won Race 2 at Vallelunga.
The Italian Sport Prototypes Championship also returns for its third round with 15 cars on the grid. Making his debut is Daniele Pialorsi (Bad Wolves), born in 1982 from Brescia. Spotlight on Simone Bianco, who leads the standings after three wins in four races and will compete for the first time on his home track. The 17-year-old from Brianza, driving for Avelon Formula, will face the usual tough competition, including veteran Davide Uboldi (Emotion Motorsport), second in the standings, and a group of talented peers, among whom Romanian driver Victor Ionescu stood out during recent Monza testing sessions.
The Fanzone will be active on Saturday and Sunday—a space dedicated to fun and entertainment, featuring a kids area, food trucks with a chill zone, DJ sets, and a special Meet & Greet with Kumho FIA TCR World Tour drivers on Saturday at 5 PM.
Free entry to available grandstands and paddock. Public parking will be available in lots P8 and P9 on Saturday and Sunday with the following rates, payable on site: Cars €15 per day; Motorcycles €5 per day; Minibuses €30 per day; Buses €50 per day
All races will be broadcast live on ACI Sport TV (Sky channel 228).
KUMHO FIA TCR WORLD TOUR MAKES ITS MONZA DEBUT
The Kumho FIA TCR World Tour is back in action this weekend at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, one week after a hot trio of races at Valencia reshaped the championship, with two-time race winner Yann Ehrlacher assuming the points lead from Argentina’s Esteban Guerrieri.
It will be the first time the famous Formula 1 venue has hosted the TCR World Tour, and the first time an FIA touring car category has been to the track since 2017, when Thed Björk was one of the race winners on his way to his first world championship title.
After two wins in Spain, Ehrlacher has momentum behind him, but he’ll also carry the related compensation weight for his success, and his Lynk & Co will be weighed down with 40kg of ballast this weekend.
Guerrieri meanwhile, just seven points behind in the standings, will be ballast-free, and the circuit is known to suit the Honda Civic Type R, which will give the GOAT Racing driver an opportunity to strike back.
Hyundai enjoyed a resurgent weekend in Valencia too and will be hoping to have a strong weekend, with Valencia Race 2 winner Néstor Girolami now their leading charge in the standings, albeit someway behind after the tough season opener in Mexico.
The grid will be bolstered by some of the same guest stars from TCR Europe who took part last weekend – Ruben Volt who was an impressive runner-up in Valencia’s Race 2, Marco Butti, Viktor Andersson, Julien Briché, Felipe Fernández – plus some new faces: TCR South America points leader Leonel Pernía and TCR Italy regulars Jacopo Cimenes and Damiano Reduzzi.
The schedule returns to the more traditional two-race format for this weekend, with the second race featuring the reversed grid based on qualifying, rather than Race 1 result.
The TCR World Tour race is part of this weekend’s ACI Racing Weekend, which will feature around 200 cars on track competing in the Italian GT Endurance Championship, Italian Formula 4 Championship, TCR Italy and DSG, and the Italian Sport Prototype Championship. Admission is free; only parking is charged (15 euros for cars).
SCHEDULE Friday - Practice 1, 13:45; Practice 2, 17; Saturday Qualifying, 09:40; Saturday - Race 1, 15:10 (11 laps); Sunday - Race 2, 11:40 (11 laps).
(FROM WSC WEEKLEY NEWS)
SUZUKI BIKE DAY: OVER 2,500 CYCLISTS AT THE AUTODROMO NAZIONALE MONZA
On Saturday, June 14th, the fifth edition of the Suzuki Bike Day took place – a confirmed success, in line with the positive trend of previous editions.
More than 2,500 people took part in the great cycling celebration organized by Suzuki, bringing enthusiasm and passion to the roads of Brianza.
Wearing the official event technical jersey – inspired by Suzuki’s sporting tradition and the iconic livery with which Joan Mir won the MotoGP title in 2020 – cycling enthusiasts enjoyed an unforgettable experience, pedaling both within the historic Monza National Autodrome and along the scenic route inspired by the legendary “Coppa Agostoni.” The route spanned around 60 kilometers, with an elevation gain of 650 meters through the heart of Brianza.
The day was dedicated to an important cause: supporting Dynamo Camp, an organization that has been caring for children with serious and chronic illnesses for years.
Adding to the special atmosphere was the presence of many sports stars: sports executive, former road cyclist, and TV commentator Davide Cassani; cycling voices Giada Borgato and Luca Gregori; and Filippo Baroncini, U23 World Champion and professional cyclist.
Also in attendance was a large delegation from the FISG – Italian Ice Sports Federation – with well-known faces from various disciplines: figure skater Matteo Rizzo, Italian Champion in 2018; curling athletes Giacomo Colli, Stefano Gilli, Andrea Gilli, Rachele Scalesse, Fabio Ribotta, Francesco Vigliani, and Veronica Zappone. Alongside them were Orietta Bertò and Paolo Ioratti for Wheelchair Curling, Gabriele Lanza for Para Ice Hockey, and Margherita and Chiara Betti from the women’s Short Track national team.
Also present was a delegation of athletes from FITri – Italian Triathlon Federation – including Franco Pesavento, Michele Bonacina, and Marta Menditto.
The Suzuki Bike Day was a success not only for its strong turnout but also for its charitable mission in support of Dynamo Camp, the first Recreational Therapy camp in Italy for children affected by serious or chronic illnesses.
Thanks to the generosity of the many participants, a total of €34,233 was raised for Dynamo Camp.
(Suzuki Press Release)
2026 CALENDAR: FORMULA 1 IN MONZA FROM SEPTEMBER 4 TO 6
The 2026 Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix will take place from September 4 to 6: the official announcement came this morning, Tuesday, June 10, 2025, from Formula 1 and the FIA, who released the calendar for the next World Championship. The Autodromo Nazionale Monza will host the only Italian round among the 24 included in the world championship calendar and will be the penultimate race on the European continent, ahead of Madrid, which will make its debut next year from September 11 to 13.
The 2026 World Championship, which will feature the use of a new 100% sustainable fuel, will also mark the return of the Ford brand, the debut of Audi, and the entry of an eleventh team, the American Cadillac. The season will begin on the weekend of March 6–8 at Albert Park in Melbourne with the Australian GP, and conclude from December 4 to 6 in Abu Dhabi.
In addition to Madrid, another significant change is the Canadian GP, which has been moved forward to May 22–24, three weeks after Miami.
The first European race will be the Monaco GP, scheduled for June 5–7.
Autodromo Nazionale Monza will host F1 until 2031.
(From FIA and Formula 1 press release)
GT WORLD CHALLENGE POWERED BY AWS: OVER 40,000 SPECTATORS ACROSS THREE DAYS
Over 40,000 spectators attended the Autodromo Nazionale Monza from Friday to Sunday to witness the spectacle of the GT World Challenge powered by AWS: 59 cars and 176 drivers of various nationalities. Additionally, two prestigious support series were featured: the Lamborghini Super Trofeo with 40 cars on the grid, and the McLaren Trophy Europe with 16 registered crews.
The 3-Hour race of the GT World Challenge, held on a sunny afternoon with typical summer weather, saw the Winward Racing Mercedes, driven by Matteo Cairoli, cross the finish line first—making for a dream birthday (29 years old, congratulations). Sharing the cockpit with the driver from Como were Austrian Lucas Auer and German Maro Engel. The trio completed 84 laps in 2h59'59"663, at an average speed of 161 km/h.
As for the individual classes, victories went to Klingmann-Tuck-Al Zubair (BMW M4 GT3 EVO, WRT) in the Gold Cup, Hartog/Au (Porsche GT3 R-992, Rutronik Racing) in the Bronze Cup, and Waberski-Moore-Jansen (BMW M4 GT3 EVO, Century Motorsport) in the Silver Cup.
The Meet & Greet session in the Fanzone was highly appreciated, taking place in the late morning and allowing several GT World Challenge drivers to interact with fans.
Before the start of the race, the Italian National Anthem was played and sung by the "Angelo Masciadri" Alpine Fanfare Band from Asso (Como).
In the other races, the second round of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo was won by Frenchman Paul Levet and Malaysian Adam Putera driving for Team VRS. It was the first-ever victory for this pairing. A notable milestone: with this round, the number of drivers who have competed in the Sant’Agata Bolognese one-make series since 2009 has reached 700.
In the McLaren Trophy Europe, the overall win went to Australian Jayden Kelly and Briton Michael O'Brien of Team Greystone GT.
BUSY PIT LANE DURING AUTOGRAPH SESSION WITH THE 176 STARS OF THE GT WORLD CHALLENGE BY AWS, AHEAD OF TOMORROW’S 3-HOUR RACE AT MONZA
BUSY PIT LANE DURING AUTOGRAPH SESSION WITH THE 176 STARS OF THE GT WORLD CHALLENGE BY AWS, AHEAD OF TOMORROW’S 3-HOUR RACE AT MONZA
LAMBORGHINI AND MCLAREN RACES KICK OFF TOMORROW. AUTOGRAPH SESSION WITH GT WORLD CHALLENGE DRIVERS
LAMBORGHINI AND MCLAREN RACES KICK OFF TOMORROW. AUTOGRAPH SESSION WITH GT WORLD CHALLENGE DRIVERS
The GT World Challenge powered by AWS is now in full swing this weekend at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza. Today, the track hosted testing sessions for the 59 cars entered in Sunday’s three-hour race (green flag at 3:00 PM), the 40 Lamborghinis competing in the Super Trofeo, and the 16 McLarens participating in the Trophy Europe.
During the two main test sessions for the championship, the fastest laps were recorded by Gabriele Piana in the Windward Mercedes AMG (1’46″605) and Belgium’s Maxime Martin driving for Boutsen VDS Mercedes (1’45″274). In the Lamborghini Super Trofeo, the top performances came from Stephan Guerin (CMR, 1’46″040) and Shota Abkhazava (ART-Line, 1’46″708). In the McLaren Trophy Europe, the fastest laps were posted by Kelly Jaiden (Greystone GT, 1’47″417), based in Spain, and Will Aspen (SMC Motorsport, 1’48″527). In the Bronze Cup, Jonathan Hui from Hong Kong stood out in his Ziggo Sport Tempesta Ferrari with a time of 1’46″719.
Tomorrow’s packed schedule (9:00 AM to 5:45 PM) opens with two Lamborghini Super Trofeo qualifying sessions (9:00–9:30 and 9:30–9:50), followed by GT World Challenge free practice (10:10–12:10). Then come Free Practice 3 for the McLaren one-make series (12:20–12:35) and its qualifying session (12:40–1:00 PM).
In the early afternoon, the spotlight turns to the fans, with a pit walk and autograph session from 1:15 to 1:45 PM, involving all 176 drivers entered in the main series. Just before that, from 12:30 to 1:00 PM, ten Italian drivers will be available for interviews in the press room: Mirko Bortolotti, Matteo Cairoli, Riccardo Cazzaniga, Eddie Cheever, Alberto Di Folco, Eliseo Donno, Mattia Drudi, David Fumanelli, Antonio Fuoco, and Raffaele Marciello.
The afternoon already features racing action: the first Lamborghini race starts at 2:25 PM (50 minutes, rolling start), followed by GT World Challenge pre-qualifying (3:30–4:30 PM), and the first McLaren race at 5:00 PM (45 minutes, standing start).
The day wraps up with VIP Laps from 6:00 to 7:00 PM, while teams will also rehearse pit stops and refueling procedures in the pit lane.
Off track, the Fanzone will be active: fans can enjoy live music by DJ Cristian Ambrosini, performing from 1:45 to 3:45 PM and again from 5:00 to 6:00 PM. Nearby, there will also be a kids’ area and food trucks.
Admission for Saturday is €20, with full access to the paddock and all open grandstands. A weekend pass, valid for both Saturday and Sunday, May 25, is priced at €35.
GT WORLD CHALLENGE EUROPE BY AWS GETS UNDERWAY WITH 59 ENTRIES ON THE GRID
GT WORLD CHALLENGE EUROPE BY AWS GETS UNDERWAY WITH 59 ENTRIES ON THE GRID
Fifty-nine teams, representing ten automotive brands, will bring dream machines to the track, including Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Ford, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG, and Porsche, with Corvette Racing joining the field this year. These are the standout numbers of the GT World Challenge Europe by AWS 3 Hours of Monza, which gets underway tomorrow at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.
There are 16 cars in the Pro category, 10 in Gold, 17 in Silver, and 16 in Bronze. Among the 176 drivers on the grid—each car with three drivers, except for one two-driver lineup—there’s a strong group of Italian racers, including Antonio Fuoco and Alessandro Pier Guidi, both recent winners of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Ferrari’s Hypercar team. In Monza, they will drive the Ferrari 296 GT3. Fuoco will be partnered with Arthur Leclerc, while David Schumacher, son of Ralf and nephew of Michael, will be behind the wheel of a Ford Mustang GT3 in the Silver category.
This Monza round is the second event of the Endurance Cup season, which opened at Circuit Paul Ricard and was won by the WRT BMW GT3 driven by Ugo de Wilde, Charles Weerts, and Kelvin Van der Linde.
Supporting the main race will be the Lamborghini Super Trofeo (42 cars) and the McLaren Trophy Europe (16 entries).
On Friday, the track will be open from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM for free practice and testing, with free admission for the public.
On Saturday, track activities will run from 9:00 AM to 5:45 PM, including GT World Challenge Free Practice (10:10–12:10), Pre-Qualifying (3:30–4:30), Lamborghini Qualifying (9:00–9:50), and Race 1 (2:25–3:15). McLaren’s Free Practice 3 (12:20–12:35), Qualifying 1 (12:40–1:00), and Race 1 (5:00–5:45) will follow. Admission is €20, including full paddock access and all open grandstands. A driver autograph session will be held in pit lane from 1:15 to 1:45 PM.
On Sunday, activities begin at 9:00 AM with McLaren’s Free Practice 4 and Qualifying 2, followed by GTWC Qualifying (9:50–10:50), Lamborghini Race 2 (11:20–12:10), and McLaren Race 2 (12:40–1:25). The highlight, the 3-hour race, starts at 3:00 PM and will be streamed live on the official GT World YouTube channel. Admission is €25.
A weekend pass costs €35. Children up to age 6 enter free, tickets for ages 7 to 11 cost €1, and discounts apply to under-24s, over-65s, and ACI members.
Fans who added the Grid Walk option can collect their wristbands at the Monza Circuit Shop on Saturday and Sunday by presenting both tickets. The wristband allows access to the starting grid before Lamborghini and McLaren races, and the GT World Challenge main event.
Off the track, there will be a Meet & Greet with drivers on Sunday (12:15–12:45 PM) in the Fanzone, with live music by DJ Cristian Ambrosini (Saturday 1:45–3:45 PM & 5:00–6:00 PM, Sunday 12:00–2:00 PM). A kids’ area and food trucks will also be available, with extended options near Grandstand 26 on Sunday.
The day will open with the Italian National Anthem, performed by the Alpine Fanfare Band “Angelo Masciadri” from Asso (Como).
STRONG ITALIAN PRESENCE AT THE START OF THE GT WORLD CHALLENGE EUROPE 3-HOUR RACE
Autodromo Nazionale Monza hosts this weekend the 3 Hours of the GT World Challenge Europe by AWS Endurance Cup, the fourth round of the 2025 season with many Italians at the start. Ferrari fields among its official drivers Alessandro Pier Guidi, a three-time World Endurance Champion, winner of the centenary 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023 and the 2021 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, a regular presence in the GT World Challenge since 2012.
The Prancing Horse counts three more Italians in its Pro lineup. Alessio Rovera shares the #51 AF Corse - Francorchamps Motors Ferrari with Pier Guidi and won the title together with his compatriot last season. Antonio Fuoco, winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2024. The youngest of the group is Eliseo Donno, 20, who joined the #50 crew this year after impressing in the Silver Cup.
There are two more official Ferrari drivers on the grid:. Andrea Bertolini, in his last race, who will line up here in the #52 AF Corse. The Sassuolo driver was one of the stars of the GT1 era, winning the Spa 24 Hours in 2006 and 2008 and the FIA GT1 world title in 2010. Davide Rigon has been a Ferrari man since 2012 and was part of the brand's Pro roster until 2024. He now drives for the Rinaldi Racing team in the Bronze Cup.
Lamborghini in its Pro lineups fields Mirko Bortolotti, whose palmarès includes two GT World Challenge titles and a record number of pole positions in the Endurance Cup. Marco Mapelli, also a multiple champion, holds the lap record at the 24 Hours of Spa and was born just 10 kilometers from Monza; he currently races under a Swiss license.
Mattia Drudi (born in Rimini, races with a San Marino license) is behind the wheel of an Aston Martin: in 2024he won the 100th edition of the 24 Hours of Spa. Matteo Cairoli and among the contenders for overall victory at Monza in the Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter.
We cannot fail to mention Raffaele Marciello. Although born in Lugano, he raced for many years under the Italian flag before switching to Switzerland in 2022.
Moving from the Pro class to the Bronze Cup, the #8 Ferrari of the Kessel Racing team features an all-Italian crew: David Fumanelli, Niccolò Schirò and Nicolò Rosi (who was born in Milan and races with a Swiss license). The BMW Italia Ceccato Racing team fields two Italians in the #15 M4 GT3 EVO: Federico Malvestiti, who is from Monza, and Felice Jelmini, born in Gallarate.
Eddie Cheever , a son of art, participates with the Tempesta team. This year he has a new teammate, Marco Pulcini, also from Rome (he races under a Monaco license). The Bronze Cup also includes Gabriele Piana in the #81 Mercedes-AMG of Winward Racing, who has a class win at the 24 Hours of Spa on his resume.
Four other Italians will compete in the Silver Cup, all with Italian teams. Mateo Llarena-who holds dual citizenship as he was born in Guatemala-will drive the #54 Porsche for Dinamic GT. Michele Beretta and Alessio Deledda will share the #60 Lamborghini of the VSR team, while Alberto Di Folco will be behind the wheel of the #99 Audi of the Tresor Attempto Racing team.
The same team will field two Italian drivers in the Gold Cup, with Leonardo Moncini and Riccardo Cazzaniga in the #88 Audi. Edoardo Liberati will drive the #611 Mercedes-AMG for rookie team Nordique Racing, while Marzio Moretti will complete the Italian line-up in a Lamborghini for the Paul Motorsport team.
In addition to the 3 Hours, the one-make Lamborghini Super Trofeo and McLaren Trophy will also be held in Monza. Don't miss the many Fan Zone attractions, food courts and a dedicated children's area. The GT World Challenge Europe by AWS race will start at 3 p.m. Sunday, and tickets for the entire weekend cost €35.