The name may have changed, but the result is the same: Philippe Prette wins the Masters Cup with Maserati

Third consecutive title for Philippe Prette of the LP Racing team in the No. 1 Maserati GT2. After two victories in 2024 and 2025 in the Am Class, the Monegasque driver has once again secured the top spot in the standings, this time in the Masters Cup (the new name) at the conclusion of the fourth—and penultimate—round of the GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli, held this past weekend at the Zandvoort circuit.

Prette is thus crowned champion with one round still to go (Portimão, October 17–18) thanks to two class victories and two pole positions secured in the Netherlands, bringing his total to 170 points compared to his closest rival’s 114, with 52 points still up for grabs. The weekend was further highlighted for Maserati with two second-place finishes in the Pro Am Cup: the No. 8 LP Racing Maserati GT2 driven by Niccolò Pirri and Yu Lee Thomas in Race 1, and the No. 7 Dinamic Motorsport car driven by Roberto Pampanini and Mauro Calamia in GRace 2.

Saturday’s race took place at a temperature of about 20 °C under cloudy skies, with light rain falling only intermittently during the final lap. Philippe Prette, driving the Maserati GT2, started from pole position in his class and crossed the finish line in fourth place overall, claiming victory in the Masters class. Behind him was the No. 8 GT2 driven by Niccolò Pirri and Yu Lee Thomas, who thus claimed the second step of the podium in the Pro Am class. The Italian-American duo thus managed to hold onto their starting position.

Eleventh place overall—and sixth in the Pro Am Cup—went to the No. 7 Maserati GT2 driven by Roberto Pampanini and Mauro Calamia of Dinamic Motorsport. The No. 85 car from Iron Dames by SP Racing, driven by Laura van den Hengel and Sara Bovy, was unable to take part in the race: the team was unable to repair the car in time after a technical issue that occurred at the end of qualifying, where they had posted the third-fastest time in the Pro Am class.

Race 2, held at an air temperature of approximately 17 °C, led, as mentioned, to Prette’s victory in the Masters Cup. After starting from the class pole position, Prette maintained his pace, finding himself in second place—behind his main rival—upon returning to the track after the mandatory pit stop. Prette then began to push relentlessly, reclaiming the lead in his class six minutes before the checkered flag, securing the points needed to mathematically clinch the title with one round still to go. Prette crossed the finish line in second place overall, also benefiting from a penalty imposed on a competitor in another class. The team title in the Masters class remains to be decided, a standings in which LP Racing currently leads.

In the Pro Am Cup, Calamia and Pampanini claimed second place on the podium. Starting from sixth position, the Italian-Swiss duo fought their way up to fourth place before managing to climb all the way to second. Pirri and Yu Lee, in the No. 8 Maserati GT2, finished off the podium in fourth place. It was a decidedly unlucky weekend for the duo of van den Hengel and Bovy, who were forced to retire.

“Three consecutive titles represent much more than just a sporting achievement,” noted Vincent Biard, Head of Maserati Corse. “They demonstrate the competitiveness of the Maserati GT2 and its ability to deliver consistent performance season after season. This success—which is especially meaningful because it comes in the year we celebrate the 100th anniversary of our iconic Trident logo and our history in motorsport—confirms the validity of our approach to GT racing and the customer-focused approach that sets us apart. This further enhances the GT2’s appeal to teams and drivers seeking a high-performance, reliable car capable of competing at the highest levels. Seeing the GT2 continue to win is the most concrete demonstration of the value Maserati can offer to those who choose to compete under the Trident banner. Now we look forward to Portimão, where the final race of the championship will take place in a month: it will be the perfect opportunity to wrap up this extraordinary season and celebrate together a result that rewards the hard work, passion, and dedication of Maserati Corse.”

Maserati Corse was active at Zandvoort, as it has been at every other round of the championship, serving—for the second consecutive year—as the official car supplier for the GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS, with the Maserati GT2 Stradale serving as the Safety Car and the MCPURA as the Leading Car.

The GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli season will conclude with the final round scheduled for October 17 and 18 in Portimão.