Post-race comments from 3 Hours of Monza

Round two of the GT World Challenge Europe – Endurance Cup, held at Monza, proved challenging for the seven Ferrari 296 GT3s participating in the event. At the end of the three-hour race, we heard the drivers’ reflections, particularly those of official driver Andrea Bertolini, after the final race of his extraordinary career.

Andrea Bertolini, 296 GT3 #52 AF Corse – Francorchamps Motors: “I asked our engineer to let me know when the final lap came around because I really wanted to savour it. Sometimes, emotions are hard to put into words, but I was lucky enough to be able to share them, as I also said at yesterday’s press conference. Seeing the team, the mechanics, the other drivers, my family, and everyone who had supported me throughout my career all waiting in the pit lane with the commemorative shirt when I came in was truly moving. I think that’s the real secret behind all the success I’ve had in my career. When you’re a Ferrari official driver, you carry a huge responsibility. It’s not enough to just be fast or successful – it’s an honour and a privilege reserved for a few, and I’m very proud of everything this career has given me.”

Alessio Rovera, 296 GT3 #51 AF Corse – Francorchamps Motors: “In qualifying, I didn’t do anything special. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time and made the most of the slipstream to set the fastest lap. The race pace was consistent, even if we weren’t as fast as we would have liked.” 

Arthur Leclerc, 296 GT3 #50 AF Corse – Francorchamps Motors: “We didn’t have the pace, and that made everything more difficult. Additionally, we made a few mistakes during the pit stops. It’s a shame. We really wanted to do better at Monza, especially in front of so many fans.”

Davide Rigon, 296 GT3 #12 Rinaldi Racing: “At Monza, we celebrated Andrea Bertolini. It’s a shame he didn’t manage to climb the podium in his final race. Our team gave everything, but the Balance of Performance limited us. We lacked pace and were slower than all the other manufacturers. Here, at Monza, the Temple of Speed, if you’re not fast, you don’t stand a chance. I worked well with the other drivers, David Perel and Christian Hook. Let’s hope something changes and we can be more competitive at the upcoming 24 Hours of Spa.”

Dennis Marschall, 296 GT3 #74 Kessel Racing: “In the end, the positive thing is that we picked up two championship points, but it was a tough weekend overall. We did our best. Now we’ve got a big race coming up at the end of the month, where there’ll be plenty of points at stake. Our goal is to pick up as many as possible. The circuit will be very different from Monza, and we’re hoping to find our pace there.”