The fascination of an Italian Icon: A race weekend with the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Europe
- Italian flair: The Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Europe will be held at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg on 24 and 25 May
- Power festival: the drivers in their approximately 700 hp Ferrari 296 Challenge compete against each other in four different classes
Regardless of individual preferences, the Ferrari brand leaves no true motorsport fan unmoved. Whether Formula 1, the hypercars from the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans or the cars from the international GT3 racing series – the fascination that emanates from the ‘Cavallino Rampante’ and the company founder Enzo Ferrari, who died in 1988, has been unbroken for decades. And so the guest appearance of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Europe on 24 and 25 May is another highlight in the colourful racing calendar of the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg.
The Ferrari Challenge – this year, the single-brand championship, one of the longest-running in the world, has reached its 33rd edition – has always been aimed at ambitious private drivers and young talents who are naturally not in the public eye to the same extent as Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen, or Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi (protagonists in the top class of endurance racing with the 499Ps entered in the FIA WEC). But the car alone, which is used in the four classes of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Europe, makes connoisseurs click their tongues because of its impressive key data.
The Ferrari 296 Challenge has a 2.9-litre V6 turbo engine that delivers an impressive 700 hp peak power and a maximum torque of a powerful 740 Newton metres. This enables the beguiling sounding and looking racing cars to reach a top speed of over 260 km/h on the Hockenheim Grand Prix circuit. A total of six races are on the programme on Saturday and Sunday.
The ‘premier class’ of the Ferrari Challenge is the Trofeo Pirelli, in which the semi-professionals and young stars sit behind the wheel. The top category was firmly in Swiss hands during the first two events of the year on the Italian circuits of Monza and Misano. With his recent double victory in Misano, Felix Hirsiger from the Ineco – Repato Corse RAM team has closed the gap to his leading compatriot Jasin Ferati to six points. Ferati’s team-mate from Emil Frey Racing, Qwin Wietlisbach, is third, ten points behind the championship leader.
The Trofeo Pirelli Am, which is reserved for amateur drivers and is much more international at the top, also starts in the same field. Italian Marco Zanasi (Motor Service – Pinetti Motorsport) will be travelling to Baden as the front runner ahead of Dutchman Michael Verhagen (Ferrari Warszawa). Third is the Czech Hendrik Viol.
The Coppa Shell and Coppa Shell Am will each have their own race. With two wins this season, Italian Fabrizio Fontana from Team Formula Racing leads the Coppa Shell ahead of Greek Zois Skrimpias (Inexo – Repato Corse RAM) and Swede Christian Kinch (Formula Racing). In the amateur category, the German ‘Boris Gideon’, who races under a pseudonym, is just ahead of his compatriot Sven Schömer.
In addition to the four racing classes, the ‘Passione Ferrari’ event will also take on the 4.5-kilometre Grand Prix circuit just outside Heidelberg. These are Ferrari customers who want to put their own automotive treasures through their paces on a closed-off, modern racetrack equipped with all safety precautions.
‘Hockenheim occupies a prominent place in the history of our championship, as several rounds of the Ferrari Challenge have already been held there. We are delighted to be returning to such a legendary venue,’ explains Andrea Mladosic, Head of the Ferrari Challenge and Corso Pilota.
Motorsport fans can expect a packed programme on Saturday and Sunday. The qualifying sessions will start at 9am, with the first of three races starting at 2pm. Admission on both race days costs 15 euros, the weekend ticket 25 euros.
Further information about the event can be found here…
Picture: © Ferrari S.p.A.
