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ilTornante

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Italian GT heads to Imola for decisive Endurance and GT4 rounds
ilT·2 September
Italian GT heads to Imola for decisive Endurance and GT4 rounds
The Italian GT championship returns to Imola's Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari from 4–6 September for a weekend that could reshape the 2026 season. The circuit will host the third of four rounds in the Italian GT Endurance Championship and the penultimate event of the GT4 Italy Series, with both competitions entering their decisive phase. A total of 52 cars are expected in the Endurance race and 17 crews in the GT4 Italy Series. In the GT3 Endurance standings, Edoardo Liberati, Mattia Michelotto and Ignazio Zanon lead the absolute classification with 43 points aboard the VSR Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2, following their victory in the three-hour race at Monza. They hold a ten-point advantage over Balzan-Medler (Ferrari 296 GT3, Rinaldi Racing), winners at Misano, with Donno-Pollini-Segù (Lamborghini, DL Racing) third on 29 points. The margin remains significant but not decisive; Imola's points allocation system means the standings could shift substantially. In the GT4 Italy Series Pro-Am class, Giacomo Maman and Gustavo Sandrucci arrive with 105 points and four consecutive victories on the BMW M4 GT4 Evo (Casals Motorsport), holding a commanding 46-point lead. They have a concrete opportunity to secure the title at Imola, with four rounds remaining before the season finale at Monza. In GT4 Am, Wagner-Trentin (Mercedes AMG GT4, X Motors-Trivellato) lead with 85 points, just six ahead of Anastasopoulos-Ceresoli (Mercedes AMG, CZ Bassano). The GT Cup will field 15 cars across two divisions. In the first division Pro-Am, Barbolini-Al Rifai-Patrinicola command with 62 points on the Ferrari 296 Challenge (Spirit of Racing), while in the Am class Ferrara-Galli lead with 64 points, reinforced at Imola by the addition of Simone Iaquinta. The second division Pro-Am sees Bodellini-Riva-Schofield (Ferrari 488 Challenge, SR&R) ahead by just two points over Benedetti-Lanza-Santi (Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, Apex Competition). Track action begins Friday 4 September with free practice. GT4 Italy Series qualifying takes place Friday at 18:00 and 18:25, with races on Saturday at 12:10 and Sunday at 10:45 (both 50 minutes plus one lap). Endurance qualifying runs Saturday from 14:00, with the three-hour race starting Sunday at 12:05. All key sessions will be broadcast on ACI Sport TV (Sky channel 228, Tivùsat channel 52) and streamed via the Italian GT Championship website and social media.
Island Motorsport fields six drivers at 11th Erice hillclimb
ilT·2 September
Island Motorsport fields six drivers at 11th Erice hillclimb
Island Motorsport, led by Eros Di Prima, will field six competitors at the 11th Salita Storica Monte Erice on 7–8 September 2026 in Sicily. The event serves as the seventh round of the Italian Historic Speed Hillclimb Championship (CIVSA) and will also count towards the Southern Italian Speed Mountain Championship in the modern category. Among the historic division entries, Giuseppe Gulotta returns to competition after a seven-year absence, piloting a Stenger BMW in the 4th Grouping. The former two-time under-23 slalom champion from Buseto Palermo will make his hillclimb debut at Erice. Pierluigi Fullone also competes in the 4th Grouping with his BMW M3 following an extended setup period. In the 3rd Grouping, Ciro Barbaccia will drive a Fiat X1/9 after recovering from an illness sustained during the Coppa Sila event in Calabria, while teammate Alfredo Altopiano switches from his usual Ascona to an Opel Kadett GTE. Beppe D'Anca, a veteran of the discipline, returns after 13 years behind the wheel of an Osella PA20/S BMW in the classic category. In the modern category, Fabrizio La Rocca makes his 2026 debut with a Peugeot 308 GTI entered under Racing Start Plus. The weekend begins with preliminary procedures on Friday 4 September, followed by two reconnaissance runs on Saturday to allow drivers to establish optimal setup and lines. Two official timed runs on Sunday will determine final classifications. Media coverage and live streaming will begin from Saturday's practice sessions.
New Generation Racing dominates 44th Coppa Sila hillclimb
ilT·2 September
New Generation Racing dominates 44th Coppa Sila hillclimb
The New Generation Racing team fielded a strong entry at the 44th Coppa Sila, a prestigious Italian hillclimb held in Calabria. The event, which counts towards the CIVM South championship and the Italian Two-Cylinder Hillclimb Championship, ran from the Cone d'Aria starting point to the Montescuro Pass summit in the Sila mountains. The Catanzaro-based squad delivered multiple podium finishes across several classes. In the E2SC-SS category, Nicola Paola Almirante secured third place in the 1600cc class and fifth overall aboard his Wolf GB08 Thunder, demonstrating consistent pace throughout the event. In Racing Start, Gianluca Rodino claimed third in class on his debut with a Seat Leon ST 2000 Turbo, though the driver expressed frustration with the overall performance. The RS-S Plus category saw strong showings from the team. Saverio Scerbo finished second in group and class with his Renault Clio Williams, narrowly missing victory by one second. Among the 1400cc runners, Giulio Molinaro won his class on a Peugeot 106 and achieved third in group, while Alberto De Gregorio took second place in the same category, also driving a Peugeot 106. New Generation Racing achieved particular success in the Two-Cylinder classes, where three team drivers occupied the podium. Mirko Paletta won the Group 5 category in a Fiat 500, while Luca L'Arocca triumphed in Group 2 on the same model with a narrow margin and a new record. Gianfranco Mercuri finished second in Group 2 driving a Fiat 126, narrowly missing victory. The team now looks ahead to upcoming hillclimbs at Oppido and Erice.
ELMS Silverstone 2026: 47 cars, four titles wide open
ilT·2 September
ELMS Silverstone 2026: 47 cars, four titles wide open
The European Le Mans Series reaches a critical juncture on 13 September when the fifth round takes place at Silverstone, with all four championship titles still undecided. The grid will feature 47 cars, 139 drivers, 30 teams and representatives from 30 nations, underlining the depth of competition and the significance of the British round ahead of the season finale. The home contingent will be substantial, with 20 British drivers and five teams competing under the Union Flag. For many crews, Silverstone represents both a home advantage and a pivotal moment in the fight for LMP2, LMP2 Pro/Am, LMP3 and LMGT3 honours. LMP2: Forestier Racing and United Autosports level on points The LMP2 class will field 11 cars with an exceptionally tight championship battle. Defending champions Forestier Racing by Panis and United Autosports arrive at Silverstone tied on 70 points. Oliver Gray, Esteban Masson and Louis Rousset lead the standings in the Forestier Oreca, having claimed victories at Barcelona and Imola, while Ben Hanley, Griffin Peebles and Grégoire Saucy hold an identical points tally with United Autosports after their Le Castellet win. Jamie Chadwick will race at home for IDEC Sport, sharing the Oreca with Valerio Rinicella and Laurents Hörr following their first podium of the season in Belgium. The British driver won the Silverstone four-hour race in 2025. Other notable British entries include Nielsen Racing with Ed Pearson, Roy Nissany and Formula 1 reserve Jack Doohan; Vector Sport fielding Ryan Cullen, Vlad Lomko and Pietro Fittipaldi; and Sebastian Priaulx competing for Proton Competition alongside Mike Rockenfeller and Jonas Ried. Nick Yelloly will race for Inter Europol Competition, the 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours LMP2 champions and recent Spa-Francorchamps winners. Yelloly finished second at Silverstone last year and will aim to convert that into victory. The LMP2 grid is completed by entries from IDEC Sport and CLX Motorsport. LMP2 Pro/Am: Algarve and AF Corse tied at the top The LMP2 Pro/Am category will see 12 cars compete, with Algarve Pro Racing and AF Corse locked together on 61 points. Algarve's Michael Jensen, Enzo Trulli and Malthe Jakobsen lead on countback after victories at Barcelona and two second-place finishes, while AF Corse's François Perrodo, Matthieu Vaxiviere and Antonio Fuoco come off a round-four win. Doriane Pin, Richard Verschoor and Giorgio Roda, the former championship leaders with Duqueine Team, arrive seeking a return to the podium. Nielsen Racing's Kriton Lentoudis, Alex Quinn and James Allen won the class at Silverstone in 2025 and will attempt to repeat on a circuit they know well. AO by TF, the defending champions, arrive after a second podium of the season in Belgium; their car finished just 0.141 seconds behind the winner at Silverstone last year. DKR Engineering will make the only driver change in the category, with Maceo Capietto replacing Julien Andlauer on the Oreca for the second time this season, partnering Jean Glorieux and Marlon Hernandez. LMP3: CLX Motorsport holds 15-point lead The LMP3 field comprises 10 cars, with CLX Motorsport holding a more commanding position than their counterparts in other classes. The defending champions and 2025 Silverstone winners arrive with a 15-point advantage after Paul Lanchère, Alexander Jacoby and Louis Iglesias secured their second victory of the season in Belgium. The Duqueine R-ace GP of Fabien Michal, Pierre-Alexandre Provost and Hugo Schwarze sits second on 50 points, just one point ahead of Rinaldi Racing's Ligier, which was disqualified from the Belgian round for a fuel tank irregularity. Inter Europol Competition, winner at Le Castellet and third at Barcelona, must rebuild momentum in the title fight. British drivers Matthew Richard Bell (Eurointernational), Terrence Woodward (Ultimate) and the two-driver crew of Lenny Ried and Ralph Meichtry (Racing Spirit of Léman, making their first appearance of the season) will also compete. LMGT3: Porsche and Corvette separated by one point The LMGT3 class will be the largest, with 14 cars from six manufacturers and a strong British presence of seven drivers and three teams. Matt Kurzejewski, Thomas Sargent and Richard Lietz lead in the Proton Competition Porsche by just one point over the defending category champions TF Sport's Corvette, driven by Charlie Eastwood, Blake McDonald and Alec Udell. GR Racing will contest the home race with a Ferrari 296 LMGT3 Evo, fresh from their first ELMS victory since 2015 at Spa-Francorchamps. The team fields Mike Wainwright, Lorcan Hanafin and Mex Jansen. United Autosports will run a McLaren 720S LMGT3 Evo with Wayne Boyd, Michael Birch and Garnet Patterson. Proton Competition will see Harry King return to the Porsche in place of Alessio Picariello, joining Martin Berry and Huub Van Eijndhoven. Other changes include Benjamin Paque replacing Anders Fjordbach at High Class Racing, and François Hériau taking over from Tony McIntosh at Racing Spirit of Léman, with Valentin Hasse Clot returning after missing Spa. Ralf Aron, Estonian former Team Manager champion with Prema Racing in 2022, makes his ELMS driving debut in the Team Qatar by Iron Lynx Mercedes-AMG, replacing Maxime Martin alongside Abdulla Ali Al-Khelaifi and Julian Hanses. The 2025 Silverstone LMGT3 winners—Custodio Toledo, Lilou Wadoux and Riccardo Agostini—return with Richard Mille AF Corse's Ferrari. Kessel Racing fields two Ferrari 296s, including the Le Castellet winner with Takeshi Kimura, Daniel Serra and Mathys Jaubert. Silverstone as a turning point With all four championships finely balanced—LMP2 and LMP2 Pro/Am both featuring tied leaders, CLX Motorsport holding a narrow LMP3 advantage, and Porsche leading LMGT3 by a single point—the Silverstone round promises to be decisive. Traffic management, strategic execution and consistency over four hours will prove as important as outright pace on a circuit where the championship picture could shift significantly.
Monte Erice hillclimb sets historic entry record for 2026
ilT·1 September
Monte Erice hillclimb sets historic entry record for 2026
The 2026 edition of the Monte Erice hillclimb has attracted 260 registered competitors, underscoring the enduring appeal of the event organised by the Automobile Club Trapani. The entry list comprises 153 modern cars and 107 historic vehicles, with the latter figure marking a milestone: the first time the historic category has exceeded 100 entries, surpassing the previous record of 97 competitors. The Monte Erice event counts towards three Italian national championships: the Italian Historic Car Speed Hillclimb Championship (CIVSA), the Italian Mountain Speed Championship (CIVM), and the Italian Classic Car Speed Hillclimb Championship (CIVSAC). The 5.7-kilometre course climbs 410 metres from the base to the summit at Erice, demanding precision and advanced driving technique through every corner. Automobile Club Trapani president Giovanni Pellegrino commented on the milestone: "We are proud of these extraordinary numbers, which reward the teamwork and commitment of the Automobile Club Trapani. Breaking the 100-entry barrier for historic vehicles and reaching a total of 260 participants is an achievement that reflects the dedication of our team and demonstrates how deeply Monte Erice resonates with drivers across Italy. This record is more than a statistic—it is tangible proof that our event remains a benchmark in Italian motorsport. We thank all the drivers, mechanics and others who make this spectacle possible."
44th Coppa Sila hillclimb set for decisive single run
ilT·29 August
44th Coppa Sila hillclimb set for decisive single run
The 44th Coppa Sila hillclimb, organised by the Automobile Club Cosenza, enters its decisive phase with the race scheduled for Sunday, 30 August at 10:00. Competitors will tackle the demanding 9.5-kilometre Silan course in a single timed ascent, with no opportunity for a second attempt. Two reconnaissance runs on Saturday allowed drivers and teams to study the selective Calabrian track and refine their setups ahead of the main event. Low grip conditions during the morning sessions made interpretation of the course particularly challenging, placing emphasis on driving precision, chassis setup and the ability to find the optimal pace quickly. Samuele Cassibba set the day's fastest time of 5'05.16 in the second reconnaissance run, piloting a Nova Proto V8 3000. Francesco Leogrande followed closely in an Osella PA, drawing on his familiarity with the track's most treacherous sections, including the dramatic forest straight. Ettore Bassi in a Nova Proto NP 03 described the course as one of Italy's most selective challenges. The event forms the 12th round of the Italian Mountain Speed Championship South and carries the Domenico Scola Trophy. Competition spans multiple categories: Gabry Driver impressed in the GT class aboard a Ferrari 458, while Antonio Aquila showed strong pace in the Racing Start group in a Seat Leon. Domenico Tomaselli (Peugeot 106 R, E1 class), Felice Romano (Osella PA21, CN group) and Adolfo Eusebio (Audi SR3, TCR) also featured among the standout performers. The Italian Two-Cylinder Championship will see Angelo Mercuri and Mirko Paletta, both in Fiat 500s, competing for honours, while historic cars included Ciro Barbaccia in an Osella PA9 and Luigi Perrotta in a Citroën Saxo. Race start is at 10:00 on Sunday. Prize presentations will take place in the closed park 30 minutes after the final competitor in each class crosses the finish line.