Imperiale Racing closes its Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS Sprint Cup in fifth place

14.10.2024 – Imperiale Racing’s Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS Sprint Cup, which took place at the Barcelona circuit over the weekend, ended with fifth place in the teams’ standings. The team from Mirandola (MO) looked after a Lamborghini Huracàn GT3 EVO2, driven on track by Ugo de Wilde (BEL) and Dmitry Gvazava (KGZ).

The Imperiale Racing drivers kicked off their weekend on track with a time of 1’42″995 set at the end of the single free practice session, which was needed to prepare the best possible set-up ahead of qualifying and the two races scheduled for the weekend. It was also thanks to that work that de Wilde was able to close the pre-qualifying session by knocking the #85 Lamborghini’s time down to 1’42″513, a time that earned him and Gvazava sixth place in the Bronze Cup class.

Saturday morning’s first qualifying session went even better: a time of 1’40″299 set once again by Ugo de Wilde allowed the crew to start from fifth in class ahead of the race that would be run in the afternoon. The race, however, gave much less than the team could have hoped for: after a good start thanks to which the #85 Lamborghini climbed as high as tenth overall, worsening weather conditions with heavy rain falling heavily on the Catalan circuit led to the Imperiale Racing car spinning into the gravel, causing the crew to retire.

Sunday’s qualifying session, marked by fog, allowed Gvazava to set the seventh best time in the Bronze class with a time of 1’42″665, laying a solid base from which to restart after the great misfortune that had marked the previous day. The two drivers immediately went on the attack in a determined attempt to make up as many positions as possible during the second race of the weekend. Gvazava and de Wilde were able to gain back two positions on the track, but a penalty in the finale forced them to finish seventh in class, picking up the necessary points to maintain fifth place at the end of their Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS Sprint Cup.

Elena Pignatti (Team Owner):
‘We are happy with this fifth place finish, even though we had arrived in Barcelona determined to give our all to aim for the win of this Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS Sprint Cup. All of us gave our best, and this allows us to look with satisfaction at the results we achieved on the track, even if at times these were less than we deserved. Thanks to our drivers, who pushed really hard, and to all our guys in the pit box and on the race wall!’.

Standings Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS Sprint Cup – Bronze Class | Round 4 of 4
1. Paradine Competition pti. 87,5
2. Barwell Motorsport pti. 79,5
3. Rutronik Racing pti. 70
4. SKY Tempesta Racing pti. 65
5. Imperiale Racing pti. 44,5

Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS Sprint Cup 2024 Calendar
Round 1: 17-19 May > Misano
Round 2: 19-21 July > Hockenheim
Round 3: 23-25 August > Magny-Cours
Round 4: 11-13 October > Barcelona