In the year Maserati is celebrating its first centenary in motorsport, the Monegasque driver won his third title running at the end of the Zandvoort event. Two second placings in the Pro Am Cup for the House of the Trident as well.
Zandvoort – 20 September 2026 – The third title running for Philippe Prette from the LP Racing team, in the number 1 Maserati GT2. After two victories in the Am Class in 2024 and 2025, the Monegasque driver has once again confirmed his lead in the standings, this time in the Masters Cup (its new name) at the end of the fourth – penultimate – round of the GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli championship, held over the weekend at the Zandvoort track.
Prette has thus been crowned champion with one round still to go (Portimão, 17-18 October), courtesy of the two class victories and two poles he scored on Dutch soil, reaching 170 points against 114 for his closest rival, with 52 still available. The House of the Trident’s weekend was also boosted by two second placings in the Pro Am Cup, for LP Racing's Maserati GT2 number 8 with Niccolò Pirri and Yu Lee Thomas in Race 1, and the Dinamic Motorsport car number 7 under Roberto Pampanini and Mauro Calamia in Race 2.
Saturday's race was held at an ambient temperature of approximately 20°C under cloudy skies, with light rain falling only at times during the last lap. Philippe Prette, in a Maserati GT2 that started from pole position in the category, crossed the finish line in fourth overall, taking victory in the Masters class. Close behind him was the GT2 number 8 with Niccolò Pirri and Yu Lee Thomas, who took the second step on the podium in Pro Am. The Italian-American pairing therefore managed to confirm their starting position.
Eleventh place overall – and sixth in the Pro Am Cup – for the Dinamic Motorsport’s number 7 Maserati GT2 with Roberto Pampanini and Mauro Calamia. The Iron Dames by SP Racing no. 85, driven by Laura van den Hengel and Sara Bovy, was unable to take part in the race: the team was unsuccessful in repairing the car in time after a technical issue at the end of the qualifiers, where they took the third best time in the Pro Am class.
As mentioned above, Race 2 – run at an ambient temperature of approximately 17°C – gave Prette his title in the Masters Cup. After starting from class pole position, Prette maintained his pace in second place behind his main rival, when he returned to the track after the mandatory pit stop. Prette then began to push ahead stubbornly, returning to the lead in his class six minutes from the chequered flag and taking the points he needed for mathematical certainty of the title with one round still to go. Prette crossed the finish line as the runner-up overall, including by taking advantage of a penalty meted out on an opponent from another category. The teams title as part of the Masters class is still to be decided, with LP Racing currently leading the standings.
In the Pro Am Cup, Calamia/Pampanini climbed to the second step of the podium. Starting from sixth, the Italian-Swiss pairing recovered to fourth place, then managed to rise back up to second. Pirri and Yu Lee, in the number 8 Maserati GT2, finished without a podium placing, in fourth. A decidedly unlucky weekend for the van den Hengel and Bovy duo, who were forced to retire.
Vincent Biard, Head of Maserati Corse: “Three titles running represent so much more than a sporting achievement: they demonstrate the competitiveness of the Maserati GT2 and its ability to guarantee consistent performance season after season. This success, so special because it comes in the year we are celebrating 100 years of our iconic Trident logo and our history in motorsport, confirms the validity of our approach to GT racing and our characteristic customer focus. This strengthens the appeal of GT2 for teams and drivers seeking a reliable, high-performance car that can compete at the highest level. Seeing the GT2 continue its winning streak is the most concrete demonstration of the value Maserati can offer to those who choose to compete with the Trident.
We're now looking forward to Portimão, where the last race of the championship will be held in a month's time: it will be the perfect opportunity to finish off this extraordinary season and jointly celebrate a result that rewards the work, passion and commitment of Maserati Corse”.
At Zandvoort – as in all the other rounds of the championship – Maserati Corse’s commitment was strengthened by its appointment, for the second year running, as official car supplier of the GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS, with the Maserati GT2 Stradale as Safety Car and the MCPURA as Leading Car.
The GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli season will finish off with its final round, due to take place in Portimão on 17 and 18 October.
