This Sunday (19 April) we're going back in time to 2012 to revisit the opening round of the Blancpain Endurance Series.
The race will be screened in full from 14:00 CET on the GT World YouTube channel and GT World Challenge Europe Facebook page – and we want you to follow the action with us.
Entering only its second year, the championship kicked off with its now-traditional three-hour race at Monza. The weather would prove to be a key storyline that day, with the #71 Kessel Racing Ferrari eventually leading away from pole on a soaked circuit.
As is so often the case, challenging conditions allowed the most gifted drivers to demonstrate their skills. In particular, a stunning performance from Maxime Martin saw the Belgian ace lapping up to three seconds faster than his nearest rivals as the Marc VDS Racing BMW charged though the field.
The event featured a bumper 57-car entry list, setting a record at the time for a single-category GT3 contest. Several drivers who remain active in what is now GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS were on the grid, including star-of-the-race Martin, poleman Davide Rigon, and Audi Sport stalwart Christopher Haase.
What's more, MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi contested the event at the wheel of a Kessel Ferrari, making the first of two special guest appearances during the 2012 campaign. With plenty of other storylines running throughout an exciting event, it is the ideal race to revisit.