GT2 European Circuit Paul Ricard Race 1
Mičánek Motorsport powered by Buggyra makes winning start as Formanek and Rosina triumph at Circuit Paul Ricard
Czech squad takes Pro-Am spoils from pole with #11 Lamborghini
Prette opens Am title defence with victory aboard #1 LP Racing Maserati
Mičánek Motorsport powered by Buggyra scored an impressive victory on its GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli debut thanks to a faultless performance from Bronek Formanek and Štefan Rosina.
Driving the #11 Lamborghini Huracan, Formanek shared the front row with Philippe Prette, whose #1 LP Racing Maserati also occupied Am pole. The two class-leading cars led the field into Turn 1, but the race was quickly neutralised when the #8 LP Racing Maserati made contact with the inside wall.
Formanek and Prette ran in close quarters, the latter eventually attempting a pass. Formanek was able to repel the move and, as Prette drifted wide, he was passed by Laura Kraihamer (#89 RTR Projects KTM). She closed on to the rear of her Pro-Am rival and the two cars stopped together. The KTM was a fraction quicker in the pits, allowing Mato Homola to exit just ahead of Rosina.
This set up an entertaining battle that culminated in Rosina completing a smart overtake between Signes and Beausset. With clean air ahead of him, Rosina was able to secure a comfortable win. Homola, meanwhile, was caught by fellow KTM runner Simon Birch (#80 Razoon – more than racing), who bagged runner-up spot alongside Thomas Andersen. Nils Montserrat (#15 NM Racing Team Mercedes-AMG) also passed Homola, securing himself and Alberto de Martin third spot.
Having fought the Pro-Am leaders during the opening phase of the race, Prette maintained his Am class advantage throughout the second half. It was not a commanding win, however, as the #53 Akkodis ASP Mercedes-AMG closed to within a second during the latter stages. The #53 crew of Christophe Bourret and Pascal Gibon celebrated a deserved runner-up finish, while Oliver Freymuth completed the podium in his AKF Motorsport Lamborghini.
Race 2
Formanek and Rosina complete perfect weekend at Circuit Paul Ricard to cap dream debut for Mičánek Motorsport powered by Buggyra
Formanek and Rosina dominate Pro-Am aboard #11 Lamborghini
Double celebration for Lamborghini as Freymuth makes winning return in Am
Mičánek Motorsport powered by Buggyra mastered treacherous conditions at Circuit Paul Ricard to complete a perfect debut weekend of GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli competition.
The #11 Lamborghini started from pole with Stefan Rosina at the wheel, the experienced Slovak ace proving a safe pair of hands on a tricky wet track. He resisted early pressure to lead the first stint before handing over to teammate Bronek Formanek.
The Czech was peerless during his time at the wheel, pulling well clear to win the Pro-Am contest by almost 40 seconds. NM Racing Team finished as runner-up with its #115 Mercedes-AMG, giving the all-Spanish duo of Nil Montserrat and Alberto de Martin a second podium of the weekend.
The #7 DINAMIC Motorsport Maserati completed the top three in Pro-Am. The pairing of Roberto Pampanini and Mauro Calamia jumped ahead of the #80 Razoon - more than racing KTM with 20 minutes to go and came within 2.5 seconds of snatching the runner-up spot.
Oliver Freymuth made a winning return in the Am class. The #24 AKF Motorsport Lamborghini emerged in the lead after the mid-race pit stops and cruised to a comfortable victory, his first since a one-off appearance at Hockenheim in 2021.
Mercedes-AMG secured a double Am podium finish, which was led by Christophe Bourret and Pascal Gibon in their Akkodis ASP entry. Bourret made a late pass on the #294 RTR Projects car of Ondrej Rokos, whose teammate Petr Lisa led early on before Philippe Prette (#1 LP Racing Maserati) tipped him into a spin. The reigning class champion was penalised but recovered to finish fourth at the chequered flag.
GT2 Europe returns to action next month when the series makes its maiden trip to Zandvoort. The Dutch track will stage a pair of 60-minute races on 16–18 May, once again sharing the bill with GT World Challenge powered by AWS.
