ACI CIGT3 Sprint 2026: Ruggiero Wins on Debut in an Intense Race at Paul Ricard
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The 2026 ACI Italian GT3 Sprint Championship on Assetto Corsa Competizione opened at the Circuit Paul Ricard with a race that immediately made the level of the season clear. Forty-two drivers on the grid, minimal gaps, and palpable tension from the very first moments defined a season opener that was as spectacular as it was demanding from a sporting point of view.
In qualifying, Edoardo Ruggiero sent the first strong message, stopping the clock at 1:51.842 and securing pole position with the only lap time under 1:52. Behind him, the grid remained extremely compact, setting the stage for a race in which every detail could have shifted the balance.
When the lights went out, the start was aggressive yet fair, and the fight for the lead ignited immediately in the opening meters. Marco Lomi managed to take the lead of the race, showing great determination and decisiveness in the very early stages. However, an unfortunate contact at the first corner radically changed his fate, forcing him to lose ground and turning his race into a long recovery drive.
That incident was only the first in a series of borderline situations that made the evening particularly intense. In a race marked by multiple contacts and delicate decisions, the work of Race Direction proved decisive. The stewards were called upon to carefully assess each incident, intervening promptly to ensure balance and respect for the regulations in a context that, given the level of the championship, would likely have required greater on-track cleanliness.
Meanwhile, Ruggiero was able to capitalize on the situation, imposing a solid and consistent pace. Without pushing beyond what was necessary, he managed the most hectic phases with maturity and gradually built a margin sufficient to control the race all the way to the checkered flag. After 40 laps, he finished in 1:16:39.549, opening the championship with a clear and significant victory in terms of the standings.
Behind him, Matteo Cinotti and Tommaso Zavaglia completed the podium after a solid race free of major mistakes, while Emanuele Cardinale finished fourth, enhancing his performance by setting the fastest lap of the race in 1:53.030—a clear sign of potential that could emerge strongly in the upcoming rounds.
Despite the early incident, Lomi showed resilience by fighting back to eighth position, limiting the damage and confirming himself as one of the protagonists of the season.
The opening round of the 2026 ACI GT3 Sprint Championship delivered excitement and twists, but also highlighted how crucial it will be to maintain a level of on-track discipline befitting the competition. The season is only just beginning, yet all the ingredients for a hard-fought and thrilling championship are already on the table.