The fourth chapter of the 2026 GT Cup Europe season at Circuit Paul Ricard pushed Ludovico Longoni and the whole ZRS Motorsport team to the limit. The weekend delivered a constant growth in both pace and results for the Porsche 992 GT3 Cup #22 duo.

With the shadow of the 20-second success penalty to be served during the first race pit stop, due to the double win in Misano, Longoni and the team dedicated both free practice sessions to studying and testing in depth the race pace.

During this event, Ludovico got behind the wheel in the first qualifying practice, in which - fighting against the Pro drivers - he snagged sixth place, despite being in the mix for a place on the second row.

QUALIFYING 1

P6 (P5 in griglia, 1:35.637) / P5 Silver Cup

“Qualifying was relatively good. I made a few mistakes between second and third sector which cost me a place on the second row. I will start from P5, instead of an hypothetical P3, but the race is long, so starting fifth or third does not make a big difference”.

A solid start allowed the Italian 25-year-old to fight for a place among the Top 5 during the opening stages. After the first few laps and with a car that was not performing at its peak, Longoni was a protagonist in the spirited battle for 5th in class, before passing the wheel to his teammate Niccolò Schirò for the second stint. The application of the success penalty reduced the chances to fight for the overall Top 5, leading the ZRS duo to cross the line in P6.

RACE 1

P6 (+46.636) / P5 Silver Cup

“A tougher race than usual, we have been spoiled. We maximised the result considering the 20-second success penalty and that the car was objectively not perfect, as we needed to work on the brake pads when we were on the starting grid. For sure the handicap compromised the good pace we showed. When Niccolò took the wheel, he did what he does best, driving in the traffic and climbing the standings”.

Sunday’s race started under the best conditions as Schirò, when he pitted, left the car to Longoni in P1. Despite a 10-second time handicap, the chances to collect another podium were real.

Ludovico’s stint was affected by a fierce battle against Barros, already penalised for a rule infringement. The massive time loss, resulting from the Portuguese driver’s conduct during his defensive actions against Longoni, prevented the Italian from competing for another podium position, which was not too far when he crossed the line.

RACE 2

P4 (+19.019) / P4 Silver Cup

“After an astonishing first stint from Niccolò, who left me the car while it was in P1, I had the misfortune of finding myself behind Barros, who exited illegally from the pit lane without serving the proper penalty. After all, he defended all my attacks even with illegal maneuvers, and also waving in a dangerous manner.

Once I discovered that he also had a 10-second penalty, it was all a big shame because we could have fought for the podium. At the end fourth place is good, securing another eight points, and in Monza we will not have the success penalty, unlike our rivals”.

In a weekend in which damage limitation was an imperative, Ludovico Longoni closed by maintaining the third position in the standings while staying in the title fight. After the summer break, the ZRS Motorsport Porsche #22 duo will come back to the track for the second event on home soil, in Monza, from September 25th to 27th.