A Strong Start to the Championship
The new ACI Esport Touring Masters, organised by Sim Racing League on the iRacing platform, got off to the perfect start for SIM Maranello. At Imola, venue for the opening round of the championship, 49 cars took to the grid, with GT4 and TCR competitors battling for the first points of the season.
Taking centre stage in GT4 was Alessio Centonze, representing SIM Maranello, who delivered a composed and intelligent drive at the wheel of his Mercedes.
Centonze Builds His Race with Patience
After qualifying fourth, Centonze remained firmly within the leading group during the opening stages of the race. The GT4 field ran extremely close together, with the top nine drivers separated by just a few seconds for several laps, making race management and timing crucial.
Centonze quickly moved up one position to take third, before the race began to turn during the middle stages, as pit strategy started to play a decisive role.
The Decisive Pit Stop
The key moment of the race came in the pits. Lorenzo Cheli made his stop one lap earlier than Centonze, a strategy call that ultimately proved decisive.
When the SIM Maranello driver completed his pit stop and returned to the track, he emerged ahead of his direct rival with a lead of around three seconds.
From there, Centonze set the pace, gradually extending his advantage over the chasing pack and putting the victory firmly within reach.
A Controlled Victory
In the closing stages, Alessio Centonze managed his advantage with confidence, crossing the finish line in first place ahead of the two Mercedes entries of Lorenzo Cheli and Matteo Infanti, both driving for Dinamic E-Motorsport.
The final winning margin was 11 seconds, underlining the consistency and control shown by the SIM Maranello driver throughout the race.
It was a victory built not only on pace, but also on racecraft, strategic execution and the ability to make the most of the decisive moment.
SIM Maranello Leads the Championship
With his victory at Imola, Alessio Centonze immediately moves to the top of the GT4 standings with 30 points, making the perfect start to his Touring Masters campaign.
For SIM Maranello, the result marks an important achievement, putting the team at the forefront from the very first round and highlighting the quality of the work carried out both on and off the virtual track.
Next Stop: Donington Park
The Touring Masters returns to action on 30 September, when the championship heads to the iconic British circuit of Donington Park.
Following the Imola victory, SIM Maranello and Alessio Centonze arrive at the next round as GT4 championship leaders, ready to build on a highly successful opening round and continue their campaign in style.
