Max Bianchi (overall) and Martin Lanting (Iron Cup) are the champions after the inaugural season of the GT Sports Club. In a wet Misano a second place was enough for both of them, with Mario Cordoni taking the win in the final race of the season.
The wet conditions at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli made it very difficult for the competitors of the GT Sports Club, starting their final race of the season. Championship leader Max Bianchi managed to pass polesitter Mario Cordoni into the first corner, but the driver of the #52 AF Corse Ferrari quickly regained the lead.
The duo soon ran away from the rest of the field, sometimes lapping over five seconds quicker than the competition. Bianchi, who only needed third to claim the title if Cordoni won, paced himself for most of the race, shadowing the white and blue Ferrari all the way. Seven minutes from the end the Kessel Racing driver managed to take the lead, but a determined Cordoni wanted to end the season in style, and by passing Bianchi again, he managed to win his fourth consecutive race. Second was more than enough for Bianchi to become the very first GT Sports Club champion.
Cedric Mezard, duelling for third with Martin Lanting for most of the race, finished over a minute behind, but his fifth podium of the season was enough to take runner-up spot in the final standings.
In the Iron Cup Martin Lanting only needed to finish to take the title, but the AF Corse-driver wanted a third main race win as well. For a long time he looked set to do so, but in the final moments of the race he was overtaken by fellow AF Corse-driver Louis-Philippe Soenen. However, by finishing second Lanting had done more than enough to claim the first Iron Cup title.
Max Bianchi (#23 Kessel Racing Ferrari, overall champion): "A wet race is never easy, especially if it is the deciding race of the season. I managed a good getaway, but I always kept the championship in the back of my head, right until I crossed the finish line. A win was not really necessary. Obviously I am very happy to become the first GT Sports Club Champion."
Martin Lanting (#48 AF Corse Ferrari, Iron Cup champion): "I had a scary moment during the final laps of the race, because the gearbox was stuck in sixth gear. I experienced some technical issues all through the weekend, but this one really slowed me down. I knew I had to finish, otherwise Louis-Philippe would have taken the title. By pushing every button I could I managed to get to the end and take the title. This is a great championship and I will certainly be back next year."
