Representing India in the 2025 Italian Gran Turismo Championship, Mahaveer Raghunathan, driving for AF Corse, finished fourth in the Pro-Am category and sixth overall at the season-opening race held at the Misano World Circuit. The result came after a competitive outing in the #51 Ferrari 296 GT3, narrowly missing a Pro-Am podium by 1.2 seconds.
Raghunathan’s teammate started the race and quickly moved into second place in the Pro-Am class by the end of the first lap. However, an early incident involving contact from another competitor led to minor damage and a drop in position.
Raghunathan took over the car during the second stint, approximately 30 minutes into the race. The team adopted a steady approach, making use of safety car periods and executing their race strategy effectively to rejoin the top 10. In the final stages, the #51 Ferrari was part of the lead pack in Pro-Am, but traffic from slower cars influenced the closing laps, preventing a podium finish.
Following the race, Raghunathan noted that the team had expected a stronger result based on pace but still considered the outcome to be valuable for championship points. He also stated that the experience gained would be beneficial for upcoming rounds.
This year’s Italian GT Championship features a grid of 36 cars, up from 30 in 2024. The field includes entries from the GT World Challenge and drivers from the FIA World Endurance Championship, contributing to a competitive season ahead. Raghunathan is the sole Indian driver participating in the series this year.