Mathias Villadsen battles through chaotic GT3 season finale

The young Danish racing talent concluded his debut season in GT3 racing with a ninth-place finish in a rain-soaked finale at Mugello alongside Jan Magnussen and Charles Weerts. The result secured Villadsen sixth place overall in the Italian GT Championship.

Mathias Villadsen brought his first season in GT3 racing to a close on Sunday as the final round of Campionato Italiano Gran Turismo took place at Mugello Circuit. Alongside Jan Magnussen and BMW factory driver Charles Weerts, the Dane battled through a chaotic three-hour race, with heavy rain and numerous interruptions making conditions difficult for the 51 competing teams.

The Team Spirit Racing trio had struggled to find the right setup during practice. Despite these challenges, they managed to secure tenth place in qualifying, but Sunday's race proved to be a very different challenge than expected.

The weather forecast had predicted mostly dry conditions, but instead Mugello was hit by heavy rain and temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius. This made for a difficult start to the race, with Villadsen taking the opening stint behind the wheel of the team's BMW M4 GT3.

“We were completely unprepared for the weather we had on Sunday. My first stint was really difficult, and I lost quite a few seconds because we simply didn't have the right setup for the conditions. Looking back, we should have approached things differently, but the weather caught us by surprise. At the same time, there were constant interruptions, and I think I only managed four or five laps under green flag conditions during my entire stint,” explains Mathias Villadsen.

The three-hour race featured no fewer than ten Safety Car periods and four Full Course Yellow periods, with several competitors struggling on the slippery track. The numerous interruptions and restarts made it difficult to establish a rhythm, but Villadsen, Magnussen and Weerts managed to make it through the race and crossed the finish line in ninth place.

The result also secured Villadsen sixth place overall in the Pro class standings, combining the Italian GT Championship's Endurance and Sprint competitions. The Dane therefore concludes his debut season with two podium finishes, having claimed second place alongside Jan Magnussen in the Endurance race at Misano earlier this year before repeating the result with Charles Weerts during the most recent Sprint weekend at Monza.

“Although the season finale was a little disappointing, I think we can be proud of our season. This was our first year in GT3 racing, and before the season started, none of us imagined we'd end up with two podium finishes and actually be in contention for the championship. We've taken some big steps forward along the way, and it's been a fantastic experience to be part of,” says Mathias Villadsen.

For the young Dane, the move from GT4 to GT3 has also involved a steep learning curve, with the support of his experienced teammates and the Italian BMW team playing an important role in his development.

“I'm extremely grateful for all the help I've received from both Jan (Magnussen, ed.) and Charles (Weerts, ed.), but especially for the efforts of everyone at Team Spirit Racing. The entire team has worked incredibly hard throughout the season to give us the best possible opportunities, and together we've achieved results we can be proud of. We've gained a lot of valuable experience to build on, and I'm looking forward to continuing my development in 2027,” concludes Villadsen.