After a strong 2026 campaign in the Campionato Italiano Gran Turismo Endurance, Rinaldi Racing was crowned Italian Drivers’ Champion. Alessandro Balzan and Dylan Medler delivered consistently strong performances at the wheel of the #45 Ferrari 296 GT3, highlighted by an important victory at Misano. At the season finale in Mugello, both drivers demonstrated great composure: despite a post-race time penalty that dropped them to third place, they secured the championship title.
Perfect Start to the Season at Misano
The opening round of the Endurance Championship at Misano World Circuit went exactly to plan for Rinaldi Racing. Alessandro Balzan and Dylan Medler shared the driving duties in the #45 Ferrari and delivered a strong performance. After three hours of racing, the duo crossed the finish line in first place, laying the foundations for a successful championship campaign.
Success Handicap Makes Monza Race More Challenging
Following their victory at Misano, Rinaldi Racing was handed a 30-second success handicap for the next race at Monza. This additional burden made the challenge at the historic Autodromo Nazionale Monza considerably more difficult. However, Balzan and Medler remained composed and secured a good result despite the handicap.
Difficult Weekend at Imola
The third round of the season at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola proved less successful for the team. The #45 Ferrari was unable to match the results of the previous rounds and finished the event in 11th place. This left the championship battle open heading into the season finale.
Dramatic Mugello Finale: Championship Secured in Extreme Weather Conditions
The championship was ultimately decided at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello. The three-hour season finale proved to be a major challenge for everyone involved. Persistent, at times heavy rain and temperatures below ten degrees created extremely difficult conditions. The track was slippery, visibility was reduced by spray, and tyre grip was limited. Numerous spins and incidents resulted in repeated Safety Car periods and Full Course Yellow interruptions.
Alessandro Balzan and Dylan Medler kept their composure despite the challenging conditions. Delivering a strong performance, the duo fought their way to the front in the #45 Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO and initially crossed the finish line in first place. It looked as though they had secured another race victory and taken the decisive step towards the championship title.
However, a post-race decision by the stewards changed the result. The duo received a five-second time penalty for an infringement during the restart following the final Safety Car period. As a result, the #45 Ferrari was relegated from first to third place.
Despite this post-race adjustment, the result was enough to secure the ultimate prize: Alessandro Balzan and Dylan Medler were crowned 2026 Campionato Italiano Gran Turismo Endurance Drivers’ Champions. Following a season featuring a victory at Misano, a strong performance despite the success handicap at Monza and a decisive podium finish in the rain-soaked Mugello finale, Rinaldi Racing brought a successful year on the national stage to a fitting conclusion.
