Recently resurfaced, the 5.793km of the Monza circuit remains a regular piece of the international calendars. By taking the Ascari Variant or the Parabolic, you'll still have an enchanting moment, but Monza is also a demanding and unforgiving track, especially when 50 cars enter the first chicane...
The free practice sessions set the tone for the weekend. The Matmut Évolution Toyota GR Supra Evo 4 were quickly up to pace. The #9 of Enzo Joulié and Etienne Cheli finished P11 (P9 Silver), while Gabriela Jilkova and Cindy Gudet were P11 Pro-AM in the #66.
In Pre-Qualifying, interrupted by three red flags, the initial scenario was confirmed. The #9 was P10 overall (P9 Silver) and the #66 P9 Pro-AM.
The vibes continued into the Qualifying sessions where a strong pace was adopted under a slightly overcast sky. In Q1, Etienne Cheli (#9) took 8th position in Silver (P11 overall) and Gabriela Jilkova was P8 Pro-AM (P31 overall).
Q2 allowed Cindy Gudet to set 8th place in Pro-AM as well (P35 overall), while in Silver, the gaps were tiny, and Enzo Joulié finished P15 Silver (P17 overall).
RACE 1 – Silver Top 5!
The weather was fine, 24°C and sunny for the first of the two races. There were a lot of people on track. So it wasn’t surprising that the start was quite turbulent, and the first braking was a delicate affair. The second half of the field had the bitter experience of it and the contacts turned into run-offs. In the middle of it all, the first safety car came on track. In the Matmut Évolution clan, Etienne Cheli gained a place (P10) and Gabriela Jilkova four (P27).
The restart with 47 minutes to go increased the pressure and the pace accelerated. Etienne Cheli claimed two more places (P8 and P6 Silver), and Gabriela Jilkova was P8 Pro-AM. There were fights in all three categories and the overtaking manoeuvres, sometimes daring, provided some great clashes. Nothing could hold back the #9’s progression, who was leaving his adversaries behind to find himself in P6 overall, P5 Silver. Nothing, apart from a second safety car that came to interrupt the rhythm with 35 minutes to go.
Five minutes later, the session went green again and the fights restarted. Still on the offensive, Etienne overtook the #78 and took 4th place Silver (P5 overall). Gabriela was still P8 Pro-AM.
After the driver change, Enzo Joulié continued the work started by his teammate and set himself in P3. But with 17 minutes to go, an incident ahead of him incited another Full Course Yellow. This time, the interruption was brief and no safety car was called. Enzo was surprised by the restart and lost two places. In the #66, Cindy Gudet made it to P9 Pro-AM, before being pushed around in the pack and losing three places.
There were only 5 minutes left of racing, but a runoff called out a third safety car. This time, the race was over. Enzo Joulié crossed the line P5 Silver and overall, the #9 having taken 6 places since the start. Cindy Gudet (#66) managed to rejoin the Pro-AM Top 10 as she took the flag.
RACE 2 – Still in the points (P6 Silver and Pro-AM)!
Having started respectively from the 9th and 16th rows on the grid, Enzo Joulié (#9) and Cindy Gudet (#66) each took their turns in the funnel of the first chicane. As with the previous day, there were those who took the escape ramp, and those who couldn’t make it. And, as in the previous day, the first safety car was on track in the first lap.
Thanks to the dexterity and efficiency of the track marshals, they managed to restart quickly. On track, the fight was relatively ‘virile’. Pushing, doors touching, all means were good for overtaking.
Fewer than 15 minutes had passed when the #90 was stuck in the Ascari Variant after making contact with Cindy Gudet. Race control put the incident under investigation, but in the meantime, the second safety car was called. Cindy received a 10s penalty to take during the driver change. At the restart, Enzo was P17 (P15 Silver), and Cindy P7 Pro-AM.
The crew carried out a superb pitstop, allowing Etienne Cheli (#9) to rejoin the track in P9 (P9 Silver). After having taken their penalty, Gabriela Jilkova (#66) was P10 Pro-AM. Still attacking, Etienne, like Gabriela, continued his attacking manoeuvres to move up the rankings.
With 10 minutes to go, another car ran off track and called the safety car out a third time; its presence on track was prolonged by the #60 also ending up in the gravel. The track went green with 3 minutes to go, but at the restart, there was a great crash at the exit of the Parabolic and this time, the race was over. Etienne Cheli (#9) crossed the line 6th overall and Silver, while Gabriela Jilkova finished P6 Pro-AM.
In the Silver championship, the Matmut Évolution duo is 6th and the final podium is still within reach. In Pro-AM, the women are sitting in 7th place. Patience is needed to find out what the end result of both championships will be. The finale will take place on the 29th and 30th of November at the Jeddah circuit in Saudi Arabia.
