The inaugural season of the GT4 European Series has been completed with thrilling races on the Autodromo Nazionale Monza. After Ricardo van der Ende (NED) and Bernhard van Oranje (NED) took the GT4 Pro Class title on Saturday, Racing Team Holland by Ekris Motorsport claimed the teams’ title as well with Simon Knap (NED) and temporary team mate Jörg Viebahn (GER) winning in their category while Van der Ende / Van Oranje were classified second. Frenchman André Grammatico secured the win in the GT4 Am Class and was crowned as champion in his division. Manuel Lasagni (ITA) crossed the finish line first with the Ginetta G50.
The race started sensationally with several drivers racing nose to tail coming out of the first chicane, with Marcel Nooren (NED) damaging the front of his Camaro. In lap four Nooren took the lead and was holding off the Ginetta’s of Lasagni and Jesse Anttila (FIN) before he retired three laps later with a leaking radiator. After losing the race win on Saturday, Luc Braams (NED) also parked his damaged Camaro in the pit lane. V8 Racing therefore wasn’t able to win the teams’ championship title.
Meanwhile Haken Ricknas (SWE) and Grammatico battled for the lead in the GT4 Am Class before Ricknas handed over the Porsche 911 GT4 to Peter Larsen (SWE). Grammatico took the lead and drove to victory, claiming the GT4 Am Class title in style. Ricknas and Larsen finished second in front of Saturday’s winners Liesette Braams (NED) and Rob Severs (NED).
“I’m very happy as I wanted to win the title in our division with a victory,” said Grammatico. “It has been a great season with the BMW Espace Bienvenue M3 GT4 with racing at great tracks like Spa-Francorchamps and Monza. Battling with my main rivals Braams and Severs was fun too.”
Lasagni was able to hold off Knap who took over the BMW M3 GT4 from Viebahn. Started from tenth on the grid, the two BMW drivers passed their opponents one by one and drove to victory in the GT4 Pro Class, ranking second overall. “Fortunately this race went well after yesterday when we were hit by one of the Ginetta drivers”, said Knap. “I was handed over the car with a major advantage over Daniel Roos. I knew that he was trying to catch me, but I could easily drive to victory. We claimed the teams’ championship as well, which is a great achievement.”
“This was a great race with a great car,” said Lasagni after taking the overall win. “I knew this was going to be a great day when I woke up this morning. I’m so happy with winning the final race of the GT4 European Series today.” Anttila and Tineo Salvador (ESP) finished second in the Ginetta G50 Cup, while Stefano Stefanelli (ITA) and Lorenzo Marcucci (ITA) – the winners of Saturday’s race – took third.
Max Braams, coordinator of the GT4 European Series, announced that the Ginetta G50 Cup drivers will, in addition to their own Cup trophy, also be incorporated in next year’s GT4 Pro and Am championships. A provisional 2015 calendar will be revealed shortly. “The inaugural season has been beyond expectations. We’ve seen thrilling races on famous circuits throughout Europe with various makes and many international participants taking part,” said Braams. “In the coming week we will announce next year’s calendar and it promises to be exciting with possible venues in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden.”