Maserati Corse believes its GT2 programme has all the ingredients required to challenge consistently for victories during the remainder of the 2026 GT2 European Series season, despite enduring a frustrating weekend of mixed fortunes at Misano.
The Italian manufacturer demonstrated impressive pace throughout the event, with its Maserati GT2 machinery proving competitive in qualifying and race conditions alike. Although an overall victory ultimately slipped away following post-race proceedings, Maserati still departed the Emilia-Romagna circuit encouraged by multiple class podiums and convinced that its development programme is moving firmly in the right direction.
Speaking to Motorsport.com, Maserati Corse Head of Motorsport Vincent Biard reflected on an event that showcased both the highs and lows of endurance racing while reinforcing his confidence in the team’s future prospects.
“They were challenging races during a weekend packed with the kind of thrills that only motorsport can deliver,” Biard said.
“We secured four excellent results across our respective categories, but there were also some negative and difficult moments. It was also fantastic to have the GranTurismo Project GT4 in the paddock.”
Maserati’s Misano Weekend
| Category | Result | Driver(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Pace | Competitive throughout weekend | Maserati GT2 |
| Race 1 Masters | Winner | Philippe Prette |
| Race 1 Pro/Am | Podium | Yu Lee / Luca Pirri |
| Race 2 Masters | Podium | Celia Martin / Luca Pirri |
| Pole Position | Yes | Antoine Potty (i4Race) |
Pace beyond the final result
Although the official results only tell part of the story, Maserati’s pace throughout the weekend suggested the GT2 remains among the benchmark cars in the championship.
One of the clearest examples came during the opening race when Antoine Potty secured pole position for i4Race and established himself at the head of the field. Potty also recorded the race’s fastest lap before his challenge ended prematurely while leading.
While the retirement denied Maserati what appeared to be a genuine opportunity for outright victory, Biard believes the performance itself demonstrated the underlying strength of the package.
“We’re glad Antoine is okay,” Biard said.
“i4Race is a fantastic, highly competitive team that continues to showcase the Maserati GT2’s capabilities while raising the level of competition throughout the grid.”
“The car proved that again in Race 2, performing strongly despite the demanding nature of the Misano circuit.”
A circuit that tests every aspect
Misano is regarded as one of the more technically demanding venues on the GT2 European Series calendar.
Its combination of slow-speed corners, heavy braking zones and traction-sensitive exits places significant emphasis on chassis balance, tyre management and overall mechanical grip. Performing competitively throughout the weekend therefore provided valuable validation of Maserati’s ongoing development work.
Rather than focusing solely on the final results, the team believes the consistency of the GT2’s performance across varying track conditions is an encouraging indicator heading into the second half of the campaign.
Success across multiple classes
Despite the disappointment of missing out on an outright victory, Maserati still celebrated several important achievements.
Veteran driver Philippe Prette claimed another Masters class victory, further strengthening his championship position, while Yu Lee and Luca Pirri secured a valuable podium finish in the Pro/Am category.
The weekend also marked an encouraging debut for Celia Martin, who partnered Pirri.
Although the duo were disqualified following Race 1, they responded impressively in the second contest by fighting back to secure a Masters class podium.
Biard praised Martin’s performance, particularly given the difficult circumstances surrounding her first weekend with the programme.
“Celia performed very well alongside Luca,” he explained.
“Unfortunately they were disqualified after Race 1, but they responded brilliantly in Race 2 and demonstrated their pace by reaching the Masters podium with an outstanding performance.”
Misano Results Summary
| Driver(s) | Category | Weekend Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Philippe Prette | Masters | Class victory |
| Yu Lee / Luca Pirri | Pro/Am | Podium finish |
| Celia Martin / Luca Pirri | Masters | Race 2 podium after Race 1 disqualification |
| Antoine Potty | Overall | Pole position, fastest lap, retired while leading |
Development remains a priority
Alongside its race programme, Maserati also used the Misano weekend to continue developing its wider customer racing activities.
The presence of the GranTurismo Project GT4 in the paddock highlighted the manufacturer’s broader commitment to GT competition, with engineers gathering additional data and strengthening relationships with customer teams.
For Maserati Corse, every race weekend now serves two purposes: competing for victories while simultaneously refining its racing products for future campaigns.
Eyes on Zandvoort and Portimão
Attention now turns to the next rounds at Zandvoort in the Netherlands and Portimão in Portugal.
Biard expects Maserati’s representation on the grid to increase while also anticipating continued improvements in outright competitiveness.
“We certainly expect to have more Maserati GT2s on the grid and to become even more competitive in both qualifying and the races,” he said.
With several rounds still remaining, Maserati believes every championship remains within reach.
“The championship is still completely open.”
“We have Philippe Prette leading the Masters standings, while we’re also confident we can fight for honours in the Pro/Am category.”
Growing confidence
Although Misano ultimately produced mixed emotions, the weekend reinforced Maserati’s belief that its GT2 project is maturing into a genuine title contender.
Strong qualifying performances, race-winning pace and podium finishes across multiple classes demonstrated the car’s potential, even if circumstances prevented the team from fully capitalising on its speed.
With further development planned and additional customer entries expected during the closing stages of the season, Maserati heads to Zandvoort with increasing confidence that outright victories—and potentially championship success—remain well within reach.
