Triumph & Disappointment at the 24 hours of Spa
Posted: 28.07.2013
Source: Ferrari
Maranello 28 July – After a grueling 24 hours of racing in the penultimate round of the Blancpain Endurance series it was Ferrari that triumphed in the Pro-Am and gentleman’s class.
Despite a valiant attempt in the Pro class the Kessel Racing car fought for the podium until the penultimate hour of the race when the car driven by series points leaders Davide Rigon, Daniele Zampieri and Cesar Ramos caught fire and was forced to retire.
The AF Corse car driven by Duncan Cameron, Matt Griffin, Alex Mortimer and Toni Vilander completed 557 laps in the 24 Hours around the challenging Spa Francorchamps circuit, finishing fifth overall and winning the Pro-Am class. The SMP Racing car of Mika Salo, Kirill Ladygin, Victor Shaitar and Luc Persiani followed them home completing a total of 556 and finishing sixth overall and second in class.
Ferrari also triumphed in the Gentleman’s class with the Sofrev Autosport car driven by Jean-Luc Blanchemain, Jean-Luc Beaubelique, Patrice Goueslard and Fred Bouvy who completed 539 to win the class. The crowds for this ever popular event were estimated at 60,000.
The final round of the Blancpain endurance championship takes place on the 22nd September with the 1000km of the Nurburgring.
Spa Francorchamps preview
Posted: 25.07.2013
Source: Ferrari
Spa-Francorchamps : 25 July – The Blancpain endurance series moves to spa this weekend for its annual 24 hour event at this legendary circuit deep in the Belgian forests.
Of course the legendary Prancing Horse is well represented with 16 cars across the 3 classes. In the Pro category there is one car entered by Kessel Racing for Cesar Ramos, Davide Rigon and Daniele Zampieri.
In the Pro-Am Cup Ferrari is represented by eight cars: two are entered by AF Corse Mortimer and Cameron are joined by experts Matt Griffin and Toni Vilander. The second car see’s Machiels and Hommerson paired with pro’s Andrea Bertolini and Marco Cioci. SMP Racing have four cars, driven by Russian and Italian drivers and with the addition of Mika Salo. One car each from Team Ukraine and Insight Racing complete the Ferrari line up in this class. The race is completed by seven cars in the Gentleman’s category. We start with two cars from AF Corse piloted by many Ferrari regular racers including Peter Mann, Felipe Barreiros, Yannick Mallegol and American Howard Blank. Sofrev ASP field a French & Belgian lineup in its car and Kessel has a Venezuelan and Italian line up. Sport Garage completes the line up with three cars. Despite the glorious weather bathing Europe at the moment, the drivers will no doubt have to contend with the changeable weather this area is notorious for. The race is flagged away at 16:30 On Saturday.