Bradley Ellis and Alex Mortimer returned to their stylish winning ways in the FIA GT3 European Championship to take a double victory - their first wins - in the premier series at Monza.

The Italian GP venue marked the first time the pair had raced together on the international stage - as well as the first time since their 2007 Avon Tyres British GT Championship crown-clinching double win at Rockingham - but their form provided the best possible start to the championship campaign.

Ellis and Mortimer settled effortlessly back into a winning groove and, unfazed by having to make his first qualifying run in the Matech Ford GT in the wet on Saturday morning, Mortimer clinched third on the grid for round three, before Ellis followed up with a similar slot for Sunday's fourth round.

Starting on new tyres on a damp track, Mortimer made a great start from the second row of the grid to defend his position into turn one, with Johan Charpilienne in the Corvette and David Loix in the Porsche already clear away.

Once settled over the opening laps, Mortimer pushed to catch the Porsche but, advancing from fourth was the sister Matech Ford GT of Ian Khan who, due to Mortimer being held up by Loix outbraking himself, joined the fight for second. It was Khan that made a move from fourth at the Ascari bends, but the Ford went wide at the exit and consequently collected the Porsche, taking both cars out of the race and leaving Mortimer to claim second. Better still, the safety car was called upon to clear the track on lap eleven, playing into Mortimer's favour and greatly reducing Charpilienne's lead.

Although racing resumed with 37 minutes to go, Mortimer followed the safety car into the pits in a shrewdly timed handover to Ellis. Rejoining the race in second, the car made the most of a clear track to post consistently impressive lap times, substantially closing on the leading Corvette which, with Marc Sourd now at the wheel, had rejoined the fray with Ellis in its mirrors. The Briton pushed relentlessly while Sourd showed signs of feeling the pressure and started to make mistakes.

Ellis was patient and waited for the Corvette to run wide at the Parabolica to allow his Ford GT to ease alongside down the pit straight, taking the lead on the inside of turn one. Although the Corvette stayed close at hand, the 20-year old kept his cool for the remaining 15 minutes to pull out a two-second lead at the chequered flag.

With Thomas Mutsch serving a grid penalty in the sister Matech Ford, Ellis made a blinding start from the front row on Sunday, before outbraking Bruce Lorgeré-Roux into turn one. But, with a wet track and the Ferrari boasting better traction, Lorgeré-Roux retook the lead on the exit and proved to have good pace in the opening laps.

Mutsch, meanwhile, was making his way through the field and was soon in third, joining Ellis in the lead fight. The German passed Ellis for position before the two Matech Fords worked together to limit the leading Ferrari's advantage.