•    Ligier JS P325 driver Maxim Dirickx enters record books as race one winner
•    Victory for Aust Motorsport after great battle with BWT Mücke Motorsport
•    Entertaining and competitive start in Italy for new Prototype Cup Europe
•    Race two starts 08.40 local time on Sunday – live at Creventic Motorsports TV

Mugello, Italy (21 March 2026):
Aust Motorsport’s Maxim Dirickx raced to a clear victory at Mugello in Italy this morning at the wheel of the team’s No.3 Ligier JS P325 LMP3 car, making history as the winner of the first ever race of the new Prototype Cup Europe era.

Starting the 55-minute race from second on the grid, the Belgian driver did lose ground initially but soon recovered back into the top two – albeit 15 seconds adrift of the leading No.8 BWT Mücke Motorsport Duqueine D09, in the hands of pole starter Mattis Pluschkell, at the mid-race pit-stops.

As the sole driver in the No.3 Aust entry, Dirickx remained in the car for the second stint while Pluschkell handed over to his 17-year-old team-mate Tobias Bille Clausen. Dirickx was able to rapidly close down the advantage Clausen held, ultimately winning by almost 18 seconds. 

“At the start it was a bit difficult, I was struggling a bit”, said Dirickx, “I stayed calm, I knew the pace was there, I made the best out of it and won so I’m really happy. It was a bit stressful, with dirty air and all [behind Clausen], but I knew I was a bit quicker so I was just waiting for the right opportunity and then just went for it and made it stick.”

Following a couple of formation laps the opening race of the new Prototype Cup Europe era began with pole qualifier Pluschkell holding the lead into Turn One at the rolling start, seeing off the No.11 GMS Team Ligier of Valentino Catalano which had launched very well from third.

As front row starter Dirickx slipped back early on, the Hellberg brothers made hay. Within a few corners the No.48 Allay Racing Ligier with Emil Hellberg aboard grabbed second from Catalano at Materassi, and Linus then followed his sibling through seconds later. 

Around 10 minutes into the race Linus Hellberg was under huge pressure from Dirickx, who had by this point firmly hit his stride and moved ahead of Catalano for fourth. Dirickx took third in short order and Catalano also saw his chance to move back past the No.43 Ligier as well.

Dirickx soon challenged for second, with 20 minutes elapsed, and passed Emil Hellberg at Turn One before disappearing into the distance with a series of fastest laps once in clear air. Catalano also continued his forward progress, passing Hellberg for third out of Arrabbiata 2.

Leader Pluschkell, meanwhile, hadn’t put a wheel wrong to build an excellent advantage of 16 seconds as the pit-stops neared – although as he pushed hard on his in-lap for the driver change, the German racer did run wide through the gravel exiting Arrabbiata 2. 

With 25 minutes to go the leading BWT Mücke car pitted with a 15 second cushion over Dirickx who, of course, remained in the No.3 Ligier as its sole driver. Pluschkell handed over the striking pink No.8 BWT Mücke Duqueine to Clausen with the lead reduced to around 11 seconds when they rejoined.

When all stops were completed Dirickx began to chase down Clausen, while Linus Hellberg lost third position due to a spin through Arrabbiata 1. Jacob Erlbacher, now installed in the GMS Team Ligier, moved past the Swedish driver into the podium placings and with just 15 minutes to run Dirickx had decimated Clausen’s lead. Within a couple of laps he made his move successfully at Turn One.

Motoring into the distance, Dirickx took an ecstatic victory while Clausen was just able to see off Erlbacher by 1.6 seconds at the flag. Linus Hellberg finished fourth, almost caught by Markus Pommer in the No.18 BWT Mücke Duqueine which was started by Mads Kjelde Larsen. Emil Hellberg placed sixth from Team Virage driver Theo Micouris, the latter setting fastest lap of 1m42.776s. 

The second race of the new era Prototype Cup Europe will get underway at 08.40 local time tomorrow, Sunday, 22 March. Watch the race live at Creventic Motorsports TV on YouTube, links for live streaming and live timing will be available at www.prototype-cup-europe.com