The 2025 GT Sprint Series season got underway at Vallelunga with a spectacular opening round showcasing top-tier action from both GT3 and GT Cup classes. Under sunny skies and warm track conditions, Saturday’s Race 1 delivered drama, comebacks, and commanding performances, setting the stage for a competitive year ahead. BMW Italia-Ceccato Racing and Target Racing emerged as the big winners of the day in GT3 and GT Cup respectively.

Klingmann and Krohn dominate GT3 for Ceccato Racing

In GT3, reigning champion Jens Klingmann and teammate Jesse Krohn executed a textbook race to secure the opening win in their #1 BMW M4 GT3. Klingmann wasted no time moving through the field from the third row and handed the car over in a strong position. Krohn then capitalised on a compromised Lamborghini driven by Ignazio Zanon, who inherited the car from pole-sitter Mattia Michelotto but was hindered by ABS issues. Eduardo Liberati and Andrea Frassineti scored second place for VSR, while the sister BMW of William Alatalo and Leonardo Caglioni finished third overall and first in Pro-Am. The Tresor Attempto Audi of Fabio Rauer and Rocco Mazzola took fourth after an early challenge faded, and Alessio Deledda and Finlay Hutchison completed the top five for VSR.

Nova Race’s Luca Magnoni and Paolo Rocca brought the Honda NSX GT3 to 13th overall and GT3 Am victory, ahead of several entries hampered by contact or technical issues.

Top 5 results GT3 Overall

  1. #1 BMW Ceccato Racing BMW M4 GT3 – Jesse Krohn / Jens Klingmann (1st Pro)
  2. #17 VSR Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo – Edoardo Liberati / Andrea Frassineti (Pro)
  3. #2 BMW Ceccato Racing BMW M4 GT3 – William Alatalo / Leonardo Caglioni (1st Pro-Am)
  4. #55 Tresor Attempto Racing Audi R8 LMS – Fabio Rauer / Rocco Mazzola (Pro)
  5. #19 VSR Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo – Finlay Hutchison / Alessio Deledda (Pro)

Target Racing triumphs in GT Cup after bold strategy call

The GT Cup race, held separately from the GT3 race, saw Target Racing’s Andrea Fontana and Alessandro Mainetti deliver a perfectly managed race. Fontana climbed the order early on, and Mainetti took advantage of a faster pit stop cycle to claim the lead. Despite pressure from DL Racing’s Vittorio Viglietti and Riccardo Ianniello, the #109 Lamborghini Huracán ST Evo2 was untouchable in the closing stages. Third went to AF Corse’s Stefano Gai and Fabrizio Fontana in the Ferrari 296 Challenge after a strong second stint comeback by Gai.

Behind them, Leonardo Arduini and Franco Girolami secured fourth after a promising debut from the young Arduini, with Piergiacomo Randazzo and Gaetano Oliva completing the overall top five and winning the Am Division 1 class after a thrilling duel with Filippo Lancellotti.

Raptor Engineering’s #469 Porsche won the Pro-Am Division 2 category. In Am Division 2, Steven Giacon and Carlo Contessi (#545 Porsche) topped a 12-car field.

Top 5 results GT Cup Overall

  1. #109 Target Racing Lamborghini Huracán ST Evo2 – Andrea Fontana / Alessandro Mainetti (1st Pro-Am)
  2. #172 DL Racing Lamborghini Huracán ST Evo2 – Riccardo Ianniello / Vittorio Viglietti (Pro-Am)
  3. #169 AF Corse Ferrari 296 Challenge – Fabrizio Fontana / Stefano Gai (Pro-Am)
  4. #117 MM Motorsport Lamborghini Huracán ST Evo2 – Franco Girolami / Leonardo Arduini (Pro-Am)
  5. #288 HC Racing Lamborghini Huracán ST Evo2 – Gaetano Oliva / Piergiacomo Randazzo (1st Am)

Momentum builds ahead of Sunday’s showdowns at Vallelunga

With both GT3 and GT Cup races featuring overtakes, penalties, and pit stop strategy, the season opener has lived up to its billing. Race 2 on Sunday promises even more action as championship battles begin to take shape.

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