Bitter end to the International GT Open season for Alex Fontana

21/10/2024
Fortune failed to smile on Alex Fontana in the final round of the International GT Open
2024: despite a promising start the Swiss driver was in fact forced to retire in the GT Open
500 at Monza, the second endurance race of the season following the one at Spa-
Francorchamps. Alex was once again racing with Hash at the wheel of the Porsche 992 GT3
R entered by Car Collection Motorsport, with the pairing harbouring ambitions of returning
to the Pro-Am category podium. Over a weekend characterised by unpredictable weather
conditions, Fontana had shown his potential in qualifying, setting the fifth best time in his
session. Once the average of the times recorded in the two official practice sessions, had
been calculated the Car Collection Motorspor #12 crew found themselves in 22 nd position
overall and 9 th in the Pro-Am class.
The race started on Sunday on a damp track, with Fontana choosing with his team to start
on slick tyres. A risky decision that initially paid off thanks to the driving skills of the Swiss
ace who made up several positions in the first few minutes of the race, taking advantage of
the difficulties suffered by some drivers who were unable to find the limit as easily as the
driver from Lugano. Alex thus found himself fighting for a place in the overall top-10 when
contact with a Lamborghini at the First Chicane sent the blameless Car Collection
Motorsport driver into a spin.
However, despite slipping back to 20 th place, Fontana managed to restart, regain a good race
pace and bring the car into the pits without further damage during the first mandatory pit
stop window. It was then Hash who climbed aboard the #12 Porsche 992 GT3 R during that
first stop, with the American trying to find his rhythm on a track that was still slippery.
Unfortunately, the AF Academy-trained driver lost control of his car a few laps later at the
Roggia chicane, hitting the barriers with just under two hours remaining in the race. The
extensive damage sustained forced the German team’s crew to retire, with Fontana and
Hash therefore prematurely obliged to raise the white flag.
Alex thus ended the championship in 16 th place in the Pro-Am class, hitting the points zone
on five occasions and taking home his best result in the category victory in Race 2 at
Barcelona.
Alex Fontana
“It’s such a shame to end our season like this. Despite the difficulties in qualifying we had a
good feeling, and the gamble of fitting the dry tyres at the start had paid off; unfortunately
we were then hit by another car, which caused us to slip to the back again. The most
important thing is that Hash is OK and I want to thank him for all his hard work this season.
The same goes for Car Collection Motorsport: they are a team that has always showed their
belief in me by following my technical instructions and I’m truly grateful to have had the
opportunity to race with them this year. I can't wait to get back on track for the last races of
the 2024 season.”

NUMBER OFVISITORS

3261196