Catanzani finally crowned European 1:8 GT Champions

Having led with 3-minutes to go in 2024 only to lose 2nd gear and the win, then crossed the line in 1st place only to have his fuel tank fail post tech in 2025, Serpent’s Andrea Catanzani is now finally the new EFRA 1:8 GT European Champion.  Racing at the Vila Real track in Portugal, the rapid Italian would become the fourth champion of the nitro category with victory over the Genius racing team-mates of outgoing champion Filippo Beretta and two time champion Bernard-Alain Arnaldi.  In qualifying it was the Raptor of World Champion Alessio Mazzeo who took the TQ honours ahead of World Championship Top Qualifier Catanzani, both drivers recording two TQ runs each but Mazzeo getting the tie-breaker with his Q5 time.  Joining them directly onto the A-Main grid, Arnaldi secured 3rd, with the Q3 TQ run, ahead of Beretta.  In the 45-minute final Mazzeo led them away and was leading at the half way mark when he broke a tyre and spinning out he was collected by another car which resulted in a broken servo ending his race.  While Beretta took over the lead for a number of laps, it was Catazani, who set the fastest lap of the race, who led them home winning by a lap and a half.  With 2024 Champion Natanaele Senesi finishing P4, it meant Catanzani’s win came ahead of all previous three champions.  In GTE, Mazzeo would completed the perfect campaign securing the TQ and wrapping up the title with straight wins in A1 & A2.  He was joined on the podium by the similar car of Burak Kilic, winner of A3, and Senesi.  Xray’s defending Champion Adam Izsay would finish P5.

Image: Filippo Beretta [Facebook]