Misano delivers spectacular ACI Racing Weekend with Antonelli, Massa and GT action

Misano Adriatico delivered another unforgettable motorsport weekend as the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli hosted the second ACI Racing Weekend of the season. Packed grandstands, a crowded paddock and an electric atmosphere transformed the Romagna circuit into the center of Italian motorsport across an action-filled weekend featuring intense racing, major crowds and several high-profile guests from the world of Formula 1.

The event became even more prestigious thanks to the presence of numerous Formula 1 personalities from both past and present. Among the biggest names in attendance was Andrea Kimi Antonelli, while former Ferrari Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa was also present at Misano to closely follow his son competing on track.

Former Formula 1 driver Vitantonio Liuzzi also played an important role during the weekend, working as a driver coach in the Italian Formula 4 championship. Attention was also focused on Jan Magnussen, who competed in the Italian Gran Turismo Endurance Championship and secured an impressive second-place finish.

The list of special guests also included Riccardo Patrese, attending the event in his role as ACI brand ambassador, as well as legendary team manager Gian Carlo Minardi, another iconic figure from Italian motorsport history.

On track, the Italian Gran Turismo Endurance Championship officially launched its new season and once again confirmed itself as one of the leading GT racing categories in both Italy and Europe. With more than fifty crews on the starting grid, the race immediately delivered excitement and unpredictability.

The challenging weather conditions added even more drama to the weekend, with the race beginning under rain before evolving into a strategic and highly competitive contest. Overtakes, tire strategy decisions and intense battles continued right until the closing laps, keeping fans fully engaged throughout the event.

After a dramatic late-race twist, victory ultimately went to the Ferrari crew of Balzan and Medler, who crossed the finish line ahead of the BMW M4 driven by Magnussen and Villadsen. Completing the podium was the Mercedes entry of Ferrari and Albag after another hard-fought performance.

The weekend also proved extremely important for the Italian F4 Championship, one of the most competitive junior categories in international motorsport and a key development platform for future Formula 1 talent.

Several highly promising young drivers took to the track at Misano, but one of the standout performers was Alp Aksoy, racing for the Italian powerhouse team Prema Racing. The Turkish driver came close to securing a perfect weekend after taking two victories and a third-place finish across the races.

Thanks to those results, Alp Aksoy left the Misano circuit as championship leader with 82 points collected from a possible 90, underlining his impressive consistency and speed at this early stage of the season.

Another driver who attracted attention was Niccolò Maccagnani, who celebrated an excellent victory in Race 3 after a highly competitive performance that further highlighted the strength of the Italian Formula 4 field.

This weekend also marked the official debut of a brand-new racing category: the GT4 Italy Series.

The new championship, launched through a collaboration between ACI Sport and SRO Motorsports Group, immediately showed strong potential by attracting several high-level teams and drivers to a category that is rapidly becoming increasingly competitive and spectacular.

The GT4 machinery delivered entertaining racing from the very beginning, quickly winning over the Misano crowd and adding another major attraction to an already packed racing schedule.

Meanwhile, the Italian Sport Prototypes Championship once again produced races filled with surprises, close wheel-to-wheel action and dramatic moments, confirming the category’s reputation for unpredictable and entertaining competition.

As always, the Porsche Carrera Cup Italia also delivered outstanding racing spectacle across the weekend.

The popular one-make championship thrilled fans once again with a fiercely contested night race that produced nonstop action under the lights at Misano. Race 2 then continued the excitement with numerous overtakes and intense duels throughout the field.

It was Andrea Bristot who emerged victorious once again, strengthening his position at the top of the championship standings after another dominant and highly convincing weekend performance.

With Formula 1 stars in attendance, huge crowds around the circuit and thrilling racing across every category, the second ACI Racing Weekend of the season confirmed why Misano remains one of the most important and beloved destinations on the Italian motorsport calendar.

From GT endurance battles to rising Formula 4 stars and spectacular Porsche racing under the lights, the Misano weekend offered fans a complete motorsport experience and further demonstrated the growing strength of Italian racing competitions on the international stage.