MOTORSPORT NEWS
MASERATI Secures Victory in Pirelli-Powered GT2 European Series
Philippe Prette secures two overall victories in Valencia, confirming his class championship and solidifying the Trident ' s dominance.
Philippe Prette, driving the number 1 Maserati GT2 for LP Racing, has successfully defended his 2024 title, being crowned the 2025 Am Class champion in the GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli. His triumph was sealed at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain, during Round 5 of the season.
Prette demonstrated his dominance with a double overall victory, securing the title on Saturday by crossing the finish line first and accumulating enough points for mathematical certainty, even beating Pro Am Class riders. He then added another victory on Sunday, finishing third overall and eighth in his class.
Meanwhile, the Dinamic Motorsport Maserati GT2, number 7, with Mauro Calamia and Roberto Pampanini, achieved success in the Pro Am class. The Trident ' s second car, however, was forced to retire from Sunday ' s race after going off track while in the lead.
In Race 1 on Saturday, Prette started from overall pole position and maintained his lead throughout, fending off rivals and establishing a significant 15-second advantage by the pit stop. Despite a penalty from his previous double victory at Misano, Prette regained the lead and held it to the finish.
The Maserati GT2 number 7, driven by Calamia and Pampanini, secured second place and victory in the Pro Am class. Starting from the second row, they advanced one position on the first lap and maintained it until the driver change. After the restart, with Calamia at the wheel, the Trident car briefly dropped to third before an overtake on the central straight moved them back into second, a position they held until the chequered flag.
On Sunday, during Race 2, Calamia, in the number 7 Maserati GT2, started from pole position. Despite a Safety Car deployment, he pushed to gain an advantage over his rivals. However, during the driver change window, light rain made the asphalt slippery, causing Calamia to spin into the gravel and then hit the track wall. This forced him to retire, ending his hopes for the Pro Am Class title. While Calamia and Pampanini ' s victory on Saturday had reopened the championship, the issue in Race 2 secured the title for their opponents.
Prette, conversely, started from fifth position overall( class pole position) and initiated a strong comeback. After the second Safety Car, he made a decisive overtake from second place to take the lead. His superior pace allowed him to cross the finish line first, more than seven seconds ahead of his closest competitor, celebrating his newly won title in the best possible way.
Maserati is a strong supporter of the GT2 European Series championship, particularly its focus on nurturing young talent. The brand has joined the new SRO GT Academy project, first announced in June at Spa- Francorchamps.
Starting in 2026, the GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli will introduce a Silver class. Additionally, an SRO GT Academy award, supported by Maserati and another brand, will be offered. This award will enable Silver drivers to compete in a full season of the GT World Challenge Europe – Endurance Cup, either in the Silver or Pro-Am class, driving a car from Maserati or the collaborating brand, beginning in 2027. The last act of the season is also scheduled to take place on the Iberian Peninsula, from 10 to 12 October at the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit.
WORDS IN ACTION 38 SEPTEMBER 2025