Balzan and Medler win Italian GT Endurance Championship after Mugello finale

Alessandro Balzan and Dylan Medler sealed the 2026 Italian GT Endurance Championship with a win at Mugello after three hours of rain, hail and ten safety car periods. The Rinaldi Racing duo also leaned on a Spa victory earlier in the season to complete a comeback title run.

Why it matters: - Alessandro Balzan and Dylan Medler finished the season as Italian GT Endurance champions, turning a difficult finale into the result that secured the title. - The Mugello win capped a year that also included victory at the 24 Hours of Spa, strengthening Rinaldi Racing’s standing in European GT competition.

What happened: - Balzan and Medler won the Italian GT Endurance Championship after taking first place in the season finale at Mugello on Nov. 6, 2026. - The pair drove the Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo in a three-hour race marked by relentless rain, intermittent hail and ten safety car interventions. - Rinaldi Racing said the result completed an extraordinary comeback in the battle for the overall Italian title.

The details: - The race opened under treacherous conditions, with rain intensifying into light hail early in the event. - Visibility dropped and grip disappeared as multiple cars spun or went off track. - Safety cars repeatedly neutralized the race to clear stranded or damaged vehicles. - Ten safety car periods disrupted the three-hour contest. - The Mercedes AMG GT3 of AKM Motorsport, driven by Lorenzo Ferrari, was hit by Guido Luchetti’s Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2 and lost ground. - The Mercedes later had further gravel excursions and eventually retired, removing a major title threat. - Balzan and Medler kept their Ferrari stable and fast through the changing conditions. - Their pace and strategy let them move steadily into the lead. - The duo’s Spa victory earlier in the season set the tone for a year built on precision driving and strategic execution. - Across the championship, the Italian American pairing collected podiums, victories and key points in both dry and wet conditions.

Between the lines: - Mugello rewarded consistency more than outright speed, and Balzan and Medler handled the race’s chaos better than their rivals. - The title reflects a broader pattern in endurance racing, where strategy, weather management and mistake-free driving can matter as much as raw pace. - Balzan said winning the championship with Rinaldi Racing is "really special," underscoring the team bond behind the result.

What's next: - Balzan and Medler close 2026 as one of the most successful pairings in European GT racing. - Rinaldi Racing will likely use the championship and Spa win as a platform for future endurance campaigns. - The team did not announce additional racing plans in the release.

The bottom line: - Balzan and Medler won the title by surviving Mugello’s worst conditions and turning a chaotic finale into a championship-clinching victory.