The Italian titles up for grabs in the 14th edition of the Italian GT Championship have been awarded today in Mugello at the 7th and closing round. Mirko Venturi and Stefano Gai (Ferrari 488) are the new Super GT3 Champions, Federico Leo and Edward Cheever III (Ferrari 458 Italia) won GT3, while the Brazilian Nicolas Costa (Lamborghini Huracan) won Super GT Cup. Ivan Benvenuti and Luca Demarchi (Lamborghini Gallardo) run their final catwalk after winning the GT Cup title in race-1, as Riccardo Pera that had already been crowned winner of the Cayman Cup in the penultimate round run in Imola. Lamborghini (National Trophy Super GT3) and Ferrari (National GT3) won the teams classifications. 

SUPER GT3: A lot of fans cheered Alex Zanardi’s victory and the Super GT3 title won by Mirko Venturi and Stefano Gai. The nicest day of the 14th edition of the Italian GT Championship has really been unforgettable. It will certainly stay in the heart of all motorsport fans present in Mugello for a long time. The Champion from Bologna prepared the victory in the first stint and then defended it in the closing stages, when a quick Jaime Melo was closing in. Zanardi’s will to win has been strong and the chequred flag marked an exceptional win at the comeback after one year of absence from motorsport. The Champion from Bologna proceeded Melo-Schirò (Ferrari 488-Easy Race) and Audi Sport Italia’s Mapelli-Vanthoor (Audi R8 LMS), while BMW’s success was rounded off by Comandini-Cerqui (BMW M6 GT3) fourth leading Kujala-Venturini (Lamborghini Huracan-Imperiale Racing) and Venturi-Gai. Thanks to the five points harvested today, Black Bull Swisse Racing’s pairing were crowned Champions at 148 points, as they ended up 7 points clear of Marco Mapelli and 22 of Filipe Albuquerque. Agostini (115) and Di Folco (114) complete the top 5.

GT3: GT3 race has also been quite tight and has lived on the duel involving Leo-Cheever (Ferrari 458 Italia) and Zonzini-Russo (Audi R8 LMS). The two pairings were only one point apart at the eve of the closing round, with virtually identical chances to get the final victory. A puncture suffered by Audi’s drivers (seventh at the flag) opened the doors to Scuderia Baldini 27’s lineup that ended third behind Postiglione-Barri (Lamborghini Gallardo-Imperiale Racing) and team mates Casè-Bontempelli. The team from Rome secured therefore the third Italian title of GT3 in a row, secured by the new pairing Federico Leo - Eddie Cheever, that proceeded Emanuele Zonzini and the Argentine Mathias Russo by nine points. Postiglione ended a quite unlucky season at 123,5 points thanks to the fourth win taken today and closed behind the two Ferrari and Audi pairings, but ahead of Venerosi-Baccani (109).

Super GT Cup: Race-2 has seen the 24yrs old Brazilian Nicolas Costa triumphing at the flag and taking the Italian title of class Super GT Cup reserved to the Lamborghini Huracan SuperTrofeo. Vincenzo Sospiri Racing’s driver on track with co-equiper Yuki Nemoto, has been unstoppable since the start and took the lead fighting for a long time with title rival Matteo Desideri. The second stint has been a formality for Nemoto, who overtook Galbiati first and Faccioni-Baruch then (due to a penalty), taking the victory leading team mates Galbiati-Necchi, who also put in a strong race. The seventh place of Matteo Desideri (Antonelli Racing) and co-equiper from Japan Kasai, handed the Italian the title of runner-up, proceeding in the final standings Antonio D’Amico (Raton Racing), Bar Baruch (Vincenzo Sospiri Racing), Kasai Takashi and Piero Necchi (Antonelli Motorsport).

GT Cup: Ivan Benvenuti and Luca Demarchi celebrated the Italian title of class GT Cup (secured in race-1) with the victory in the Sunday race. Imperiale Racing’s Lamborghini Gallardo proceeded the two Porsche 997 of Carboni-Durante, penalized by an error at the driver swap, and Quinzio-Schiattarella. Former Formula 1 driver put in a great comeback in the second stint, which allowed Ebimotors’ pairing to close third on the podium leading Di Leo-“Poppy”, who were also handed a penalty for irregular driver change.

GT4 and Cayman Cup: The victory of class GT4 went to Dario Cerati and Lorenzo Uttini (Porsche 997-Autorlando), while Sabino De Castro (Ebimotors) repeated race-1 victory in the Cayman Cup, ending the season second behind team mate Riccardo Pera, who won the Porsche Italia single make trophy. The third step of the podium went to Mercatali-Cecotto (Dinamic Motorsport), that were also third in the final standings of the Cayman Cup.

Constructors Trophy: The Super GT3 Constructors Trophy went to Lamborghini, that lead Ferrari and Audi, while Ferrari won GT3 Trophy leading Porsche and Lamborghini.

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