The day after the VISTA AF Corse team claimed second place in the FIA WEC LMGT3 Manufacturers’ standings, two young drivers took to the track at the Bahrain International Circuit for the traditional post-season rookie test.

Under clear skies and temperatures reaching 32 °C, Nicola Lacorte and Matías Zagazeta completed their first laps in the FIA World Endurance Championship environment, driving the Ferrari 296 LMGT3 cars fielded by AF Corse

The Italian driver, a promising figure from single seaters, was at the wheel of the #54, while the Peruvian driver, fresh from his participation in the ELMS Rookie Test, drove the #21.

During the morning session, from 10:00am to 12:00pm (local time), Lacorte completed 29 laps at the wheel of the #21 Ferrari 296 LMGT3, while Zagazeta recorded 37 laps, both focusing on familiarization and setup work alongside the AF Corse engineers.

In the afternoon session, held from 13:00pm to 16:00pm (local time), running continued under slightly higher track temperatures. Zagazeta added 27 laps to his tally, while Lacorte’s total for the session was 30 laps. Both drivers concentrated on consistency and longer runs to gain a deeper understanding of the 296 LMGT3’s behavior over a full stint.

For Nicola Lacorte, the test marked his first experience within the World Endurance Championship, following a season focused on learning and progression. During this year, he also participated in several IMSA races at the wheel of the Cetilar Racing Ferrari 296 GT3.

“The Rookie Test in Bahrain went really well. In the morning, I focused on finding my rhythm with the car, the team, and the new tyres, and everything clicked. The car felt great and the pace was strong. In the afternoon, I kept improving, and I even managed to be P1 at the end of one of my laps. Traffic is a big factor in endurance racing, so it was a good lesson to take on board. I’m very happy with this test and I want to thank Ferrari and AF Corse for the opportunity. We really made the most of it.”

Matías Zagazeta, meanwhile, continued his adaptation to GT racing after his recent run in the European Le Mans Series rookie test. The Peruvian driver took full advantage of this opportunity to experience the 296 LMGT3 in a World Endurance Championship context, and on such a demanding circuit:

“I’m really happy with the test day here in Bahrain. The track is very demanding on the tyres, so it was great to work with the team on both hard and medium compounds and to learn a lot. For me, getting more laps and experience in long runs was very valuable. The Ferrari 296 LMGT3 is amazing to drive, it feels great and really makes me feel at home. This is also my first experience in the WEC, which is such an important championship, and I want to thank the entire team for giving me this incredible opportunity.”

The session once again highlighted Ferrari and AF Corse’s commitment to developing the next generation of racing talent, rounding off a successful and hard-fought season in the LMGT3 category.