Villadsen and Magnussen ready for GT3 battle at Imola Circuit

Mathias Villadsen teams up with Jan Magnussen once again as the sixth round of the Italian GT Championship takes place with an endurance race at the iconic Imola Circuit.

Danish motorsport talent Mathias Villadsen is back in action after the summer break, ready to compete against some of Europe’s strongest GT3 teams as he lines up alongside his regular coach and teammate, Jan Magnussen, for the sixth round of the Campionato Italiano Gran Turismo.

The Team Spirit Racing BMW duo currently sits fifth in the Endurance Championship standings following a season that has delivered both highs and lows so far. The season opener at Misano World Circuit in the spring produced an impressive second-place finish, while the second round at Monza in June proved more challenging – partly due to the success penalty triggered by their podium result at the opening round.

At Imola Circuit, Villadsen and Magnussen are hoping to bounce back, and with another round at Mugello later this autumn, there is still plenty of opportunity to fight for the coveted championship title. The weekend also represents an interesting milestone for Villadsen, who, for the first time in his debut GT3 season, returns to a circuit where he already has previous experience.

– I’m really looking forward to the weekend at Imola. It’s the first time this year that we’re returning to a circuit we already know, and it will be interesting to feel the difference between where we were at the beginning of the season and where we are now. I feel that both the team and I have made a lot of progress since then, so hopefully we can use that experience to take another step forward. At the same time, it’s going to be an extremely hot weekend with temperatures of up to 36 degrees, so the tyres and how we manage them will play a major role, says Mathias Villadsen.

– We’re fifth in the championship, so this is an important weekend where we need to maximise our points while avoiding mistakes and penalties. With more than 50 cars on track, there will definitely be plenty of traffic and action, but I feel well prepared and I’m looking forward to getting back in the car.

Jan Magnussen is also looking forward to continuing his partnership with the young Danish talent at the Italian Formula 1 circuit, where the four-time Le Mans winner will once again combine his roles as racing driver and mentor.

– I’m looking forward to getting back in the car with Mathias, and we’re still very much in the championship fight. It’s been an exciting season so far – both from a sporting perspective for the team, but also for me as a coach. It’s been great to follow and support Mathias’ development from a GT3 rookie at the opening race of the season to the strong progress he has shown along the way. Now our full focus is on continuing that development at Imola, scoring as many points as possible and hopefully moving up in the championship so that we are in the strongest possible position heading into the finale, says Jan Magnussen.

With no fewer than 51 cars set to line up for this weekend’s three-hour race at Imola, another intense GT3 battle awaits, with heavy traffic and close racing expected throughout the field. Qualifying for the sixth round of the Campionato Italiano Gran Turismo – and the third round of the Endurance Championship – takes place on Saturday, 5 September, while the three-hour race gets underway on Sunday, 6 September at 12:05.