Barberini wins Mugello opener as Imberti secures 2026 TCR Italy title

Pole sitter Cosimo Barberini controlled the first race of the TCR Italy season finale weekend at Mugello while Michele Imberti finished second to secure the 2026 drivers’ title.

Imberti’s title challenger Matteo Poloni almost ended his race on the formation lap as the lost control while warming tyres, sending his Audi into a spectacular slide which he saved at the last moment.

Barberini and Imberti were neck and neck into the first corner as the lights went out, but Cupra driver Barberini got out ahead and never looked back.

Imberti meanwhile had Aikoa Racing driver Giacomo Prandelli close behind throughout the race.

Poloni’s troubles continued as he dropped down to eighth place after the opening lap from fifth place on the grid.

MM Motorsport driver Marco Pellegrini tried to pass Denis Babuin of Planet Motorsport for sixth place on lap three but went too deep, cutting across the grass and dropped down to eighth.

Babuin started to make progress in the second half of the race, passing Paolo Rocca for fifth place and then set his sights on Cupra driver Sandro Pelatti in fourth place.

Babuin made a late move into Turn 1 with four minutes left of the race, hitting Pelatti hard into a half-spin.

The incident dropped Pelatti down to finish eighth while Babuin crossed the finishing line in fourth, only for the stewards to hand him a 25-second penalty which dropped him to 12th place.

Barberini won the race in style, heading Imberti by more than ten seconds over the finishing line.

Second place was enough for the Kombat Motorsport driver who secured the drivers’ title over main rival Poloni who recovered to fourth place.

The Aikoa Raccing duo of Prandelli and Rocca finished third and fourth.

Carlo Alberto Bocca came home in sixth ahead of Pellegrini and Pelatti.

The second race of the weekend and the final race of the year starts at 10:20 CET on Sunday.