Italian GT Imola: Dimitrov and Riccitelli win chaotic Race 1 for VSR Lamborghini

The 2026 Italian GT Championship (CIGT) Sprint got underway at Imola with an action-packed opening GT3 race, as Georgi Dimitrov and Simone Riccitelli converted their qualifying performance into a convincing victory with their #63 VSR Lamborghini Huracán GT3.

Start crash and restarts define opening race

Simone Riccitelli in the #63 VSR Lamborghini Huracán GT3 and Jens Klingmann in the #7 BMW Italia-Ceccato Racing BMW M4 GT3 had a clean getaway from the front row, leading into Tamburello ahead of Franck Perera (#72 DL Racing Lamborghini Huracán GT3), Pedro Ebrahim (#55 Nova Race BMW M4 GT3), Jef Machiels (#51 Spirit of Racing Ferrari 296 GT3) and Guy Albag (#64 Antonelli Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3).

However, further back, Artem Petrov in the #34 Oregon Team Lamborghini Huracán GT3 and Rafael Duran in the #50 Spirit of Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 were involved in a heavy opening-lap incident with significant contact into the barriers, also collecting Mathias Villadsen in the #23 Gino Scuderia BMW M4 GT3 and triggering an immediate safety car intervention, while Ignazio Zanon in the #66 VSR Lamborghini Huracán GT3 spun further around Tamburello.

The neutralisation was extended further when Michael Fischbaum stopped on track in the #18 Star Performance Lamborghini Huracán GT3.

Dimitrov secures win under pressure

At the restart, Riccitelli retained the lead, managing the pace while the order behind began to take shape. Klingmann was slow to the green, allowing Perera to muscle past through Tamburello and opening the door for Ebrahim to move into third ahead of the #7 BMW, before Klingmann stabilised his position.

Through the pit window, VSR remained in control, with Georgi Dimitrov taking over the #63 Lamborghini and rejoining still in the lead. Behind, Raffaele Marciello brought the #7 BMW back into contention during the second stint, closing in on Luca Segù ahead in the #72 DL Racing Lamborghini.

With just over 12 minutes to go, Marciello made an initial move on the inside into Acque Minerali to take second place, but Segù was able to retake the position shortly after.

Marciello remained close and, with around eight minutes to go, made a second, more decisive move — again on the inside at Acque Minerali — to move back into second.

A late safety car was then triggered when Jasin Ferati was spun off in the #55 Nova Race BMW M4 GT3 following contact with Harry King in the #57 Herberth Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R at the Variante Villeneuve chicane. The field was closed up for a final lap sprint to the flag, with the midfield going all-in to gain positions. Marciello applied the pressure, but Dimitrov held on to secure the win for VSR.

Behind them, Luca Segù and Franck Perera secured third in the #72 DL Racing Lamborghini, holding position in the final-lap dash after running consistently in the lead group throughout the race. Ian Rodriguez and Giuseppe Forenzi followed in fourth with the #77 BMW M4 GT3 for FAEMS Team, while Ariel Levi and Rocco Mazzola completed the top five in the #9 Tresor Attempto Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 after a steady run through the field.

Ogawa and King charge through, Randazzo and Tribaudini take Am

Francesco Braschi and Jef Machiels took the GT3 Pro-Am win in the #51 Spirit of Racing Ferrari 296 GT3, finishing sixth overall after the #57 Herberth Motorsport Porsche dropped back following a late-race penalty. Piergiacomo Randazzo and Stephane Tribaudini secured victory in GT3 Am with the #68 DL Racing Lamborghini Huracán GT3 after a consistent run through the race.

GT Cup: Frassineti and Pegoraro come through from sixth to win

The GT Cup race was interrupted by multiple neutralisations, breaking up the race. Alex Frassineti and Lorenzo Pegoraro came through from sixth on the grid to take victory in the #111 Best Lap Ferrari 296 Challenge.

They finished ahead of the #106 Pollini Racing Lamborghini Huracán ST of Giacomo and Matteo Pollini, with the #112 MRNC12 Ferrari 296 Challenge of Filippo Croccolino and Riccardo Paniccià completing the podium.

Pole sitters Pietro Alessi and Mattia Lancellotti led early in the #184 SF Squadra Corse Lamborghini Huracán ST, but dropped back to fourth by the finish, followed by Vito Postiglione and Stefano Comandini in the #101 Best Lap Ferrari 296 Challenge, who moved up to fifth after a late penalty for the #151 Spirit of Racing Ferrari.