![\"Bathurst](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/monza-gt-europe-shunt-crash.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMaxime Martin was blamed for the first lap GT World Challenge Europe crash at Monza.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMaxime Martin was blamed for the first lap GT World Challenge Europe crash at Monza.<\/p>\n
The three-hour race began with scenes that looked more like an online sim racing lobby than reality.<\/p>\n
According to stewards, the carnage started when the #17 GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG driven by Martin used the excess asphalt on his right before the grass verge.<\/p>\n
Stewards said Martin made a dangerous re-entry, triggering cars to collide with each other.<\/p>\n
Several went spinning on the approach to the Variante del Rettifilo, including the Garage 59 McLaren 720S that collided with the first-placed #54 Haupt Racing Team Ford Mustang.<\/p>\n
More than half a dozen cars were left parked in the grass, and six of them were forced to retire after less than a lap.<\/p>\n
Martin was deemed to be at fault for the incident and was given a 180-second stop-and-go penalty.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the start, car 17 went out of track limits on the RHS of the track and then rejoined in an unsafe manner, causing multiple collisions between several cars,\u201d the stewards report read.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Stewards agreed that car 17 was at fault in this incident and committed a breach of the regulations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking on the broadcast, Martin denied any wrongdoing.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously I don\u2019t know what they\u2019re complaining about because I didn\u2019t touch anyone,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t have contact with anyone. You can see the car, there is not a single scratch on the car, so I don\u2019t know why they are blaming me because I didn\u2019t touch a single car.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I had to go on the right, the Ferrari didn\u2019t let me go so I had to go a bit off track, but I rejoined because there was grass and I rejoined safely.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t touch any car, and now we are [blamed for] this. I\u2019m sorry for everyone, but at the end of the day, I have nothing to say.\u201d<\/p>\n
Large incidents bookended the race, which ended under Safety Car.<\/p>\n
With less than five minutes to go, Kelvin van der Linde in the #32 Team WRT BMW M4 rear-ended Alexey Nesov in the #9 Pure Rxcing Porsche 911 GT3 R approaching the Variante chicane.<\/p>\n
Out of control, the Porsche nailed the #97 Rutronik Racing Porsche and Ezequiel Perez\u00a0 in the #25 Sainteloc Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3.<\/p>\n
The #9 Pure Rxcing Porsche tipped onto its side off the nose of the #97 Rutronik Porsche, sending it upside down through the chicane.<\/p>\n
The #87 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 driven by Marvin Dienst was another innocent victim in the melee after being clipped by the flipping Porsche exiting the chicane.<\/p>\n
Commentators were left bemused by the carnage, likening the incidents to popular indie video game WreckFest.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t believe what I\u2019m watching,\u201d said commentator Joe Osborne.<\/p>\n
\u201cDrivers practice iRacing, Assetto Corsa \u2014 this has been WreckFest here today.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am genuinely speechless at the energy involved there and so happy to hear everyone has walked away from every incident today.<\/p>\n
\u201cWow. What a race.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the clash, the #32 Team WRT BMW M4 was given a 155-second post-race penalty, which relegated them to 32nd.<\/p>\n
Tresor Attempto Racing were the winners with Silver Cup trio Rocco Mazzola, Ariel Levi and Sebastian Ogaard from 29th on the grid.<\/p>\n