Four drivers are still in points contention, including last season’s champion James Baldwin, but it is Dáire McCormack of Munster Rugby Gaming who holds a slender five-point lead over the championship.
The young Irishman has taken two wins and a third so far this season, with a no-score in Round 4 the only blip in a terrific campaign. If it were not for this DNF McCormack would likely have required just a modest points haul from Round 5 to claim the title.
McCormack holds a slender five point advantage over Baldwin
Baldwin also won the Zandvoort round of this year’s GTWC Europe series and has notched up consistent points-scoring finishes to ensure he heads into the winner-takes-all final round five points short of McCormack.
Both drivers sit 16 and 18 points behind the leader respectively and require a stellar performance at Monza combined with some misfortune for the top two to take the overall win.
Last year’s runner-up Tonizza will require a slice of good fortune to take the championship
Gronewald’s Mercedes-Benz AMG and Tonizza’s Ferrari 488 should go well around Monza, with the McLaren 720S of Baldwin and McCormack’s Bentley Continental historically less quick around the Italian circuit but still evenly matched.
Gronewald has enjoyed a solidly consistent campaign, with a low score in Hungary being the only blip. Similarly, Tonizza is another driver to rue the Budapest round, as he, like McCormack, failed to score. Baldwin on the other hand has scored points in every round this season – a feat he also accomplished on his way to the championship last year.
McCormack anticipates a tough race but is primed for a fight through the pack: “I am excited for the race because with the rain there’s the chance for many mistakes, so I may have the chance to do something and make up places”.
Baldwin is aiming to defend his title at Monza
In the new-for-2022 Silver class, TRITON Racing’s Dominik Blajer has been the dominant force with three wins and a second-placed finish giving him a 25-point lead over young Englishman Robbie Stapleford in the G2 Esports BMW M4.
The pair have regularly mixed it with the top Pro class cars this season, but Blajer’s Bentley has been in imperious form. It would require a major shock for the Pole not to walk away with Silver class honours this evening before he and Stapleford undoubtedly make the step up into the Pro class for 2023.
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