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.
