Dustin Blattner set the fastest time in a protracted Bronze Test at Monza. A lap of 1m47.788s saw the Kessel Racing driver lead a Ferrari one-two, edging the JMW-entered 296 of series debutant Thomas Kiefer by 0.071s.
However the American was not fastest overall as, for the first time, cars competing in the GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli were eligible to run in the Bronze Test. They locked out the top three positions with Branden Oxley (NM Racing Mercedes-AMG) beating Jay Mo Härtling (SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm) to P1.
Both of these drivers have real aspirations of being on the GT World Challenge grid next year. They are entered in GT2 Europe's SRO GT Academy programme, the winner of which will earn an Endurance Cup seat with a Mercedes-AMG squad in 2027.
The third of the GT2 runners was two-time Am class champion Philippe Prette (LP Racing Maserati). The Monegasque suffered a major crash at the Parabolica halfway through the session, causing significant barrier damage. Prette was not harmed, but the incident caused a red flag and ultimately ended the Bronze Test early.
P3 among the GT World Challenge entrants was Rinat Salikhov in the #87 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG, followed by Carrie Schreiner (#88 Tresor Attempto Racing Audi) and the returning Jonathan Hui (#93 Ziggo Sport Tempesta Racing Porsche). A total of 16 GT3 cars – the full Bronze Cup grid – were on-track during the session.
The next scheduled track action is a two-hour Paid Test session at 16:50 on Friday. This is open to the full 57-car field entered for this weekend's Endurance Cup event at Monza.