Alex Fontana recorded a second consecutive triumph paired with Matej Knez in the penultimate round of the Italian Gran Turismo Championship (CIGT) GT Cup Sprint season. The Swiss driver, representing the Centri Porsche Ticino team, claimed his second victory of the season in the GT Cup Sprint Pro-AM Division 2 aboard a Porsche 992 GT3 Cup. Along with victory in Race 2, the Fontana-Knez pairing also secured a podium finish in their category in Race 1, for which Fontana had also set a qualifying time good enough for pole position. In the wake of his excellent results at Mugello, but under different conditions, Alex put in a stellar performance at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit over the Imola weekend.
Race 1, lasting 50 minutes + 1 lap, was conditioned by strong winds and a high chance of rain, which in the end only grazed the Santerno hills. Fontana started from 11th place overall and pole position in his class: by the end of the first lap, the he had dropped to 14th place, but with six cars from different categories between the Swiss team’s Porsche and his main rival in the standings. Nonetheless, Fontana's pace was hampered by repeated safety car interruptions – a total of four before the chequered flag – due to cars going off the track and obliging the race director to neutralise the race with the safety car. Fontana and Knez in the #492 Porsche finished the race in 3rd place, but were promoted to 2nd on the podium thanks to a penalty imposed on the crew ahead of them.
The extraordinary comeback at Mugello was repeated in Race 2, in which Fontana took the wheel for the second stint. The Lugano-based driver fought back into the top 10 overall, despite starting from the 16th row on the grid, finally taking the lead in the Pro-AM class among the Porsche Cup cars on the last lap, which ended with a spectacular sprint finish.
This was a crucial victory ahead of the final round of the 2025 CIGT - GT Cup Sprint season, which will take place at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza on 24-26 October. The pairing of Alex Fontana and Slovenian Matej Knez, who honed his skills in the AF Academy, will arrive at the Temple of Speed just six points behind the leaders.
Race 1, lasting 50 minutes + 1 lap, was conditioned by strong winds and a high chance of rain, which in the end only grazed the Santerno hills. Fontana started from 11th place overall and pole position in his class: by the end of the first lap, the he had dropped to 14th place, but with six cars from different categories between the Swiss team’s Porsche and his main rival in the standings. Nonetheless, Fontana's pace was hampered by repeated safety car interruptions – a total of four before the chequered flag – due to cars going off the track and obliging the race director to neutralise the race with the safety car. Fontana and Knez in the #492 Porsche finished the race in 3rd place, but were promoted to 2nd on the podium thanks to a penalty imposed on the crew ahead of them.
The extraordinary comeback at Mugello was repeated in Race 2, in which Fontana took the wheel for the second stint. The Lugano-based driver fought back into the top 10 overall, despite starting from the 16th row on the grid, finally taking the lead in the Pro-AM class among the Porsche Cup cars on the last lap, which ended with a spectacular sprint finish.
This was a crucial victory ahead of the final round of the 2025 CIGT - GT Cup Sprint season, which will take place at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza on 24-26 October. The pairing of Alex Fontana and Slovenian Matej Knez, who honed his skills in the AF Academy, will arrive at the Temple of Speed just six points behind the leaders.
Alex Fontana
“This was such a great weekend, the car was fantastic to drive and it’s always satisfying when the car responds exactly as you expect. For this, I have to thank the whole Centri Porsche Ticino team for their support and immense work this season, not to mention Matej, who is having a great championship, considering that this is only his second competitive season and he is constantly improving and progressing. We came home with a sprint victory, adding to the one at Mugello. We’ll be hoping to keep up this good form at Monza and above all we’re looking forward to welcoming all our friends from the Canton Ticino who will be coming to cheer us on, taking advantage of the geographical proximity.”
“This was such a great weekend, the car was fantastic to drive and it’s always satisfying when the car responds exactly as you expect. For this, I have to thank the whole Centri Porsche Ticino team for their support and immense work this season, not to mention Matej, who is having a great championship, considering that this is only his second competitive season and he is constantly improving and progressing. We came home with a sprint victory, adding to the one at Mugello. We’ll be hoping to keep up this good form at Monza and above all we’re looking forward to welcoming all our friends from the Canton Ticino who will be coming to cheer us on, taking advantage of the geographical proximity.”