In an almost unbelievable turn of events, Robin Knutsson was forced to retire on the opening lap for the third race weekend in a row after the Gothenburg driver’s Porsche 911 GT3 R EVO was once again caught up in a start-line accident — this time with Belgian team-mate Gilles Magnus behind the wheel.
The latest in a string of heartbreaking first-lap incidents came in the third round of the GT World Challenge Europe season at Italy’s Monza circuit, where Knutsson and his team-mates had secured an excellent starting position, qualifying eighth out of 57 cars after a strong performance in qualifying.
That promising grid slot ultimately counted for little, however, as misfortune struck once again. Magnus, who took the start in Boutsen VDS’s #10 Porsche, was eliminated immediately in a massive multi-car pile-up.
Car #10 — shared by Knutsson, Magnus and reigning Porsche Supercup champion Alessandro Ghiretti — has yet to complete a single racing lap in this year’s championship.
“I don’t know what to say,” comments a dejected Robin Knutsson. “It’s completely unbelievable. Three races in a row…
“The worst part is that there was nothing we could have done about any of them. We’ve been taken out in every single race. There was nothing Gilles could have done differently today. At this point, it feels like we’re carrying some kind of curse.”
Knutsson, who was behind the wheel when similar incidents ended the team’s races at Paul Ricard (France) and Brands Hatch (United Kingdom), could only watch from the sidelines as the three-hour contest unfolded at Monza.
“We really needed to get this race under our belts,” Knutsson continues. “Now we’re falling even further behind. It’s tough right now, but I know that setbacks like these are part of any sporting career.
“All I can do is look ahead, and that’s exactly what I’m doing. I’m certainly not giving up. On the contrary, there are a lot of positives to take away from this weekend. That’s what we’re focusing on. The rest is simply bad luck.”
The 24-year-old Knutsson was making his first-ever appearance at the legendary Monza circuit this weekend, but quickly found his pace at the Temple of Speed. A new driving approach, developed through testing and simulator work, paid dividends as Knutsson delivered an impressive qualifying performance, helping secure eighth place on the grid overall — the second-highest placed Porsche and second in the Gold Cup class.
“I’m very pleased with my performance this weekend,” concludes Robin Knutsson. “It was my first time here, and I’m competing against some of the best GT3 drivers in the world, many of whom have been racing at Monza for a decade or more. I was only a couple of tenths away from the fastest Porsche drivers, and that’s something I’m very happy with.
“What happened in the race is difficult to accept, but we’re focused on what we can control. In fact, I’m leaving here with more positive feelings than negative ones.”
Next up on the GT World Challenge Europe calendar is the season’s marquee event: the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. The field will gather in Belgium for the world’s biggest GT3 race on June 24–28.
