International GT Open Monza 2026

The "Temple of Speed" never fails to live up to its reputation. Whenever the International GT Open grid takes to the asphalt at Monza, it’s an unmissable spectacle; the weekend of September 25–27 transformed the Italian circuit into the epicenter of European GT racing for the seventh and penultimate round of the season.

But what drives this intense fascination with the Monza event? The combination of long straights requiring low-drag setups and heavy, aggressive braking zones consistently delivers incredibly tight, hard-fought racing. The series provides a top-tier stage for GT3 machinery, putting both the cars' mechanical limits and the drivers' ability to find the edge, while navigating the curbs, to the ultimate test.

At Monza, motorsport is pushed to the extreme in every respect. The Autodromo Nazionale with its Prima Variante, the Lesmo corners, and the legendary banked oval (*Sopraelevata*) serving as a striking backdrop demands a vehicle setup with minimal downforce. Watching cars reach blistering top speeds before attacking the kerbs sets this track apart from any other modern circuit. Constant overtaking, the strategic use of slipstreaming, and the balance ensured by the Balance of Performance (BoP) keep the battle intense, bringing the most prestigious GT3 cars from Ferrari, Porsche, Audi, Mercedes-AMG, McLaren, and Lamborghini into a wheel-to-wheel contest. From the early hours of the morning through to the decisive races on Sunday, the frantic activity in the pits, the rapid-fire driver changes, and the grime accumulating on the cars' noses by the end of the day capture the true essence of endurance racing.

The weekend was further enriched by an extensive supporting program, which saw the GT Cup Europe, Euroformula Open, and TCR Europe take to the track, ensuring a continuous flow of action throughout the day.

In the TCR Europe series, there was no shortage of excitement, with two sprint races defined by aggressive, door-to-door duels and the delicate task of managing tires during the most demanding braking zones. In Race 1, South Korea’s Junui Park took the win behind the wheel of his Hyundai Elantra N TCR, fending off a challenge from Adam Shepherd and Italy’s own Marco Butti. Race 2 saw a turnaround, with British driver Alex Ley claiming victory, closely followed by a strong performance from Marco Butti, who secured crucial points for his continental title campaign.

The sporting narrative of Sunday’s grueling 500 km endurance race was filled with twists and turns right up to the checkered flag. Emerging victorious at the Brianza-based circuit was the Scuderia Villorba Corse Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2, driven to success by Leonardo Moncini and Rodrigo Testa; the pair executed their pit stops flawlessly and did an excellent job fending off challenges in the final stages. Taking the second step on the podium was the Greystone GT McLaren 720S GT3 Evo, driven by Dean MacDonald and Zac Meakin, who crossed the finish line just a fraction behind after a duel that lasted more than three hours.

Large crowds in the grandstands, narrow margins at the finish line, and impressive average speeds confirm Monza as the most anticipated event on the entire GT Open calendar.

A heartfelt thank you to the organizers and the Autodromo Nazionale Monza for their hospitality and for managing the event.

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