Engines Rev Up for the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Europe at Jerez
Following the exhilarating races at Balaton, the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Europe heads to the Circuito de Jerez in southern Spain for the third round this weekend, marking a return to the venue after an eight-year hiatus. The 4,423-metre Iberian track will host the new Ferrari 296 Challenge cars competing across the traditional four classes of the Prancing Horse’s single-marque series, alongside the 488 Challenge Evo class. There is great anticipation for the Spanish round, which is expected to better define the championship standings as the season approaches its halfway mark.
Trofeo Pirelli
At the Hungarian event, Italian driver Giacomo Altoè (Emil Frey Racing) shone with two victories, two fastest laps, and a pole position, propelling him to third in the standings, just 12 points behind current leader Bence Valint (Ferrari Budapest – Rossocorsa). Between these promising young drivers is Philipp Baron (Gohm Motorsport – Baron Racing Team), only two points off the top, with a pair of second-place finishes at Balaton and two pole positions this season. Returning after missing Hungary is the German Luca Ludwig (MERTEL Motorsport), who impressed at Mugello.
In the Am class, a tight duel is unfolding, with Hendrik Viol (Scuderia Praha Racing) leading on 53 points, having achieved 4 podium finishes in 4 races, ahead of an on-form Marco Zanasi (CDP – Pinetti Motorsport), the winner of Race-2 at Balaton, on 51 points. The British driver Andrew Morrow (Charles Hurst) and Claus Zibrandtsen (Formula Racing) remain in contention despite being hampered by bad luck in Hungary.
Coppa Shell
A five-second penalty in the second race at Balaton thwarted Henry Hassid (Kessel Racing) from claiming his second win of the season, but the Frenchman still leads the standings with 49 points. Following closely are the consistent John Dhillon (Graypaul Nottingham), Tibor Valint (Ferrari Budapest – Rossocorsa), Alexander Nussbaumer (Gohm Motorsport – Haupt Racing Team), and Andreas Ritzi (CDP – D&C Racing), who each clinched a victory in the two Hungarian races.
In Coppa Shell Am, newcomer Zois Skrimpias (Ineco – Reparto Corse RAM), with two wins under his belt, has built an 11-point lead over his nearest rival, Italian driver Andrea Levy (Rossocorsa). Levy heads a closely packed group including Andreas König (Gohm Motorsport – Haupt Racing Team), Eric Cheung (Formula Racing), Henrik Kamstrup (Formula Racing), and Paolo Scudieri (Sa.Mo.Car), all separated by a few points.
Trofeo Pirelli 488
In the class reserved for drivers at the wheel of the Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo, Fabrizio Fontana (Formula Racing) extends his lead in the overall standings ahead of Tommy Lindroth (Gohm Motorsport – Baron Racing Team) and Pino Frascaro (Rossocorsa), thanks to his two victories at Balaton.
Programme
The third round of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Europe will feature the first qualifying session on Saturday, 22 June at 9 a.m. for Coppa Shell and Trofeo Pirelli 488, at 10 a.m. for Trofeo Pirelli and Trofeo Pirelli Am, and at 11 a.m. for Coppa Shell Am. The first races will start in the same order as the qualifying at 2 p.m., 3.15 p.m., and 4.30 p.m. The schedule remains the same for Sunday, 23 June. The qualifying sessions and races will be streamed with free access and English commentary on the live.ferrari.com website and the official Ferrari YouTube page.
