The Porsche Carrera Cup Italia got back underway with the opening round of the 2026 season in Imola. Bathed in sunshine from Friday onwards, the weekend at one of the world’s most challenging and iconic circuits featured two thrilling races, with 31 drivers competing in the 911 GT3 Cup cars, representing 11 teams and 24 Porsche Centres from across Italy.

The 20th edition of the Italian one-make series, now heading to the Misano World Circuit on May 8–10 for round two, kicked off at Imola with a win for Gianmarco Quaresmini on Saturday, followed by Senna Van Soelen’s victory in a closely fought Race 2 on Sunday. The 20-year-old Dutch driver from team Target started from pole position in both races. A penalty denied him victory in Race 1, but he bounced back to win Race 2 and becomes the first championship leader of 2026. Van Soelen played a central role throughout the opening round, while a resurgent Quaresmini also stood out, taking victory on Race 1. The two-time champion, now racing for Prima Ghinzani Motorsport, ended a three-year winless streak.

Starting from qualifying, Van Soelen battled with an impressive Pietro Delli Guanti. In fact, it was the 2025 Rookie champion and new Team Q8 Hi Perform driver who initially secured the first pole position of the season, setting a record lap for the series (1'43”350, with the 911 GT3 Cup cars now equipped with ABS). However, a double-yellow flag infringement dropped him to fourth on the grid. In Race 1, Delli Guanti, along with Quaresmini and newcomer Andrea Bristot (Dinamic Motorsport), took advantage of penalties handed to Van Soelen and Lirim Zendeli for safety car restart infringements, resulting in an all-Italian podium, something not seen for some time in Porsche Carrera Cup Italia.

In Race 1, Quaresmini took the win ahead of Delli Guanti and Bristot. The latter, a complete rookie in GT racing, also secured an excellent third place in Race 2, along with the fastest lap, after a long battle fought on pace with Van Soelen and Delli Guanti, who again finished second.

Delli Guanti, Quaresmini and Bristot are therefore the early challengers to Van Soelen, who made up for Saturday’s disappointment, when he lost both pole advantage and fastest lap, by winning on Race 2 on Sunday and taking the championship lead. Whether the title fight will remain between these four drivers will become clearer at the next round (May 8–10) at Misano World Circuit, where, even though the season is only just beginning, Cesare Brusa’s rivals in the Michelin Cup will need to respond to the strong form shown at Imola by Prima Ghinzani Motorsport driver. Brusa is already attempting to pull away in the standings after a dominant double victory from pole position. Stefanelli and Gnemmi joined him on the Race 1 podium, while in Race 2 it was De Giacomi and Stefanelli, currently his closest rival, who completed the top three behind the in-form championship leader.