•    Nail-biting race one qualifying at Monza goes the way of Valentino Catalano
•    GMS Team driver leaves it late to grab pole position by a mere 0.018 seconds
•    BWT Mücke Motorsport’s Mattis Pluschkell and Larea GT1's Zino Fahlke just miss out 
•    Watch this afternoon’s race live at Creventic Motorsports TV on YouTube 

Monza, Italy (1 August 2026):
Prototype Cup Europe fans were treated to a sensational opening qualifying session at ultra-fast Monza this morning, where Valentino Catalano secured pole position for race one of the weekend by the tiniest of margins – just 0.018 seconds.

There or thereabouts throughout the entire 15 minute session at the legendary Italian track, the GMS Team Ligier JS P325 driver had it all to do going onto his final lap with BWT Mücke Motorsport’s Mattis Pluschkell and Larea GT1 Racing’s Zino Fahlke having each moved ahead of him.

Redoubling his efforts and producing a superb effort Catalano, who is second in the Prototype Cup Europe standings coming into the third event of the 2026 season, delivered a time of 1m43.607 seconds to leap back to the top of the timing screens and seal pole.

Pluschkell’s best of 1m43.625 seconds ensured the No.8 BWT Mücke Duqueine D09 ended the session second quickest, but as a result of a penalty for him it will actually be the Duqueine of Fahlke which lines up on the front row alongside Catalano for this afternoon’s race. Fahlke enjoyed an excellent session in the No.49 Larea GT1 car, his time of 1m43.928s helping secure a season best.

Championship leader Maxim Dirickx was fourth quickest in the Aust Motorsport Ligier, a late effort of 1m44.525s moving him back up to the second row at the expense of Emil Helberg’s No.48 Allay Racing Ligier. 

With less than half of qualifying one remaining Dirick was sixth on the times, but his best time meant he just pipped the quickest of the Hellberg brothers by a tenth of a second. The top six qualifiers were completed by series newcomer Maximilian Kammerlander in the No.77 Team Virage Ligier. 

Race one of the weekend will take place at 14.10 local time this afternoon and will be streamed live online at YouTube through the Creventic Motorsports TV channel. Qualifying for race two will follow on Sunday, 2 August, at 09.30 local time with the race itself, live online, from 14.05. 

Find the links to race coverage and live timing at www.prototype-cup-europe.com