The second-to-last round of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Europe takes place at Spa-Francorchamps, one of the most iconic and thrilling circuits in motorsport, known for its unique sections and turns that have made history, such as Raidillon and Eau Rouge. The 296 Challenge cars will race on the Belgian track for the first time, as the one-make series returns after a two-year break when the 488 Challenge Evos competed on the seven-kilometre-plus circuit.

FRD. The Ferrari Challenge is part of the highly anticipated Ferrari Racing Days, an event that showcases all of Corse Clienti’s exclusive activities and non-competitive programmes at the track. Special cars of the XX Programme, celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year, will appear alongside the historic single-seaters of F1 Clienti and the 499P Modificata from the Sport Prototipi Clienti programme launched last year, alternating with time trials and one-make series championship races. The Maranello manufacturer’s special clients experience the thrill of the track with the valuable support of Ferrari coaches and engineers, who accompany the drivers during testing.

Viol Campione. Last year, the Trofeo Pirelli title was the last to be awarded in the European series, during the Finali Mondiali at Imola. However, this season it is the first title to be decided – with one round still to go before the end-of-October meeting at Mugello. Hendrik Viol (Scuderia Praha Racing) claimed the title after a remarkable campaign featuring 11 podiums and five wins, including a one-two in Barcelona that proved decisive in propelling the Czech driver towards final victory.
After three second-place finishes in four races between Monza and Misano, which put him in a fierce battle with Michael Verhagen (Ferrari Warszawa) and Marco Zanasi (Motor Service – Pinetti Motorsport), Viol, who also secured pole position in Barcelona and set three fastest laps, was able to extend his lead progressively with some consistent performances. Now his focus turns to the Finali Mondiali and to next season, which will likely see him enter the Trofeo Pirelli.

Challenge continues. While one class has already crowned its champion, the contest remains open in the other three, with the results at Spa only adding to the unpredictability of the standings.
The most intense and uncertain contest is undoubtedly in the Trofeo Pirelli, where the exciting duel between Swiss drivers Felix Hirsiger (Ineco – Reparto Corse RAM) and Jasin Ferati (Emil Frey Racing) ended with the latter recovering a few points. He now sits just eight points behind the leader. After winning the first race at Spa, Hirsiger had to retire from Race-2 after contact, while Ferati couldn’t fully capitalise on the opportunity because a penalty dropped him to fourth place.
With 34 points still available, Manuela Gostner (Ineco – Reparto Corse RAM) is the favourite for the Coppa Shell, leading by 27 and 29 points over her closest rivals, John Dhillon (Formula Racing) and Oscar Ryndziewicz (Kessel Racing), who showed no signs of giving up as they shared the two Belgian wins.
With two victories at Spa, Jan Sandmann (Kessel Racing) has reduced the gap to the top of the Coppa Shell Am standings to 10 points behind leader Sven Schömer (Penske Hamburg Motorsport). Mathematically, Andreas König (Emil Frey Racing) remains in the running, although he is 30 points behind.

Fast 296 Challenge. Two years ago, the September round at Spa-Francorchamps – held alongside the final round of the Ferrari Challenge UK – featured the 488 Challenge Evo cars, with a battle at the front of the Trofeo Pirelli between Eliseo Donno and Thomas Fleming, both of whom are now regulars in GT racing championships.
The Italian won Race-1 with the best lap of 2’24”274 and started from pole position, secured on a dry track with a time of 2’21”346. This year, Felix Hirsiger was the fastest in both qualifying sessions, with times of 2’16”385 and 2’15”751, almost six seconds quicker than the 488 Challenge Evo. The Swiss driver also set the fastest lap in both races, with a best time of 2’19”084 in the first, around five seconds faster than two years ago.