The Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup starts at Imola

The first race of the 2016 season will be under the sign of diversity. With no less than 6 manufacturers with Audi, Aston Martin, Lamborghini, McLaren, Porsche and of course Ferrari, the grid promises to be competitive for this first round on the technical circuit of Imola.

Among the 11 crews, we will be able to count 12 nations, and Italy will be well represented since we will be able to admire no less than 6 Ferraris (four F458 Italia GT3s and two F488s) belonging to five Italian teams.  

Four drivers will be on home soil, Luigi Lucchini and Matteo Cressoni from BMS Scuderia Italy. Andrea Caldarelli will drive the only Lamborghini on the grid belonging to FFF Racing team by ACM with the Chinese Fu Songyang at his side. Finally, former FIA GT3 European champion Francesco Castellacci will be at the wheel of the AF Corse Ferrari F488 with Thomas Fohr. Three cars will race under the colors of the British flag, the Audi R8 from Tockwith Motorsports driven by the young Phillip Hanson and Nigel Moore, the Ferrari F488 from AF Corse with Ivor Dunbar and Johnny Mowlem and finally, the Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 the Turkish pilot Salih Yoluc and the British Euan Hankey.

The grid will also be made up of 2 cars belonging to the Chinese FFF Racing team by ACM, a Lamborghini Hurican and a McLaren 650S driven by the Japanese Hiroshio Hamagushi and Adrian Qualife-Hobbs. The very first race of the Michelin GT3 championship Le Mans Cup will take place at the Enzo e Dino Ferrari international circuit located in Imola. The track is one of the few where the cars turn counterclockwise. The route is made up of 9 right turns and 12 left turns and requires great driving skills.

The start of the first round of the Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup will be given on Saturday May 14 at 17:00 p.m. with qualifying the same day at 11:20 a.m.

This new championship will be made up of 6 races, including 5 of 2 hours during the European Le Mans Series weekends. The sixth race will take place at the opening of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, this 55-minute round is undoubtedly the most anticipated on the calendar by the drivers and teams. The European Le Mans Series weekend in Imola will also be an opportunity to discover 3 races Renault Sport Trophy and of course to attend the 2nd round of the European Le Mans Series championship.