Reigning champions, LP Racing has revealed its first Fanatec GT2 European Series Powered by Pirelli Maserati GT2 line-up, with a full-season Pro-Am campaign confirmed for Leonardo Gorini and Carlo Tamburini.
The Italian team clinched the Pro-Am title by a single point last term, Henry Hassid and Anthony Beltoise’s five pole positions, six podium finishes and an outright win proving enough to come out on top of the closest three-way title fight in series history. It sealed back-to-back crowns for the outfit managed by Luca Pirri, having also taken Hassid to the 2022 Am title in the Audi R8 LMS GT2.
Running three full-time Audis last season, the team’s #18 entry with Pierre Kaffer and Michael Doppelmayr further underlined LP Racing’s pace with three additional pole positions and multiple podiums, while the #88 of Stéphane Ratel and Mattia di Giusto came agonisingly close to taking a maiden win with two second-place finishes.
Just five months ago, the team was tasked with giving the Maserati GT2 its global racing debut at Circuit Paul Ricard. There, together with Pirri, Gorini earned the model its first pole position and second-place finish, having previously ranked among the Am title favourites across the past two seasons.
That Pro-Am guest appearance has spurred Gorini’s move into the class to campaign the Maserati full-time in 2024, the Swiss driver’s third term in the series.
Joining Gorini in the Pro-Am Maserati is series newcomer, Tamburini. The 19-year-old moves to Fanatec GT2 off the back of a strong season competing in the Italian GT Championship, notching up Pro-Am GT3 Sprint wins at Mugello and Monza.
Luca Pirri, Team Principal: “I am extremely pleased to announce the LP Racing Maserati Pro-Am line-up for this season. We are delighted to be running the newest car of the Italian Iconic brand. We have worked a lot over the winter in order to be as competitive as possible from the first event in Paul Ricard.
“Car #1 will race for the title in Pro-Am. Leonardo Gorini is among the strongest and fittest non-professional drivers in the field and he will be joined by young gun Carlo Tamburini, who will bring all his enthusiasm and desire to learn in his first European season.”
Leonardo Gorini: “I am extremely pleased to announce my full-season campaign with LP Racing. It will be the third year that I race with the Italian team of Luca Pirri, a great team owner and a dear friend of mine. Both as drivers and as a team, we have high expectations, in line with the pole position in the Maserati on debut at Paul Ricard in 2023.
“My goal is to outperform myself and fight for the title with my young and talented teammate Carlo Tamburini, who comes from the Italian GT3 and will undoubtedly be a great addition to the GT2 European Series.”
Carlo Tamburini: “I feel really grateful for the opportunity to race with LP Racing and my teammate Leonardo in the Fanatec GT2 European Series. It's going to be my first time competing in Europe, but thanks to the professionalism of everyone in the team and my previous experience in GT3 we should aim at excellent results all season long.
“The Maserati MC20 is a brand new car, but it's already super quick and we can't wait to show it. Last but not least, a big thank you to my dad and my sponsors, together with Luca Pirri and Leonardo Gorini they made all this possible. I’m looking forward to some good racing in Paul Ricard!”
The LP Racing crew now look forward to the Fanatec GT2 European Series Powered by Pirrelli season opener at Circuit Paul Ricard, 5-6 April 2024.
