Ferrari at Paul Ricard for opening round of 2025 GT World Challenge Europe

The iconic Le Castellet circuit in the south of France hosts the opening round of the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe, which features seven Ferrari 296 GT3s in the Endurance Cup. Four teams and six official drivers for the Maranello-based manufacturer will represent the Prancing Horse. The season kicks off at Paul Ricard with a six-hour race on Saturday, 12 April, starting at 6 p.m. (local time).

One hundred and thirty-three days after the 2024 season finale in Jeddah – which saw Alessandro Pier Guidi and Alessio Rovera crowned Endurance Cup Pro class Drivers’ champions, and AF Corse – Francorchamps Motors claim the Teams’ title – the European series returns to the spotlight on the 5.842-kilometre French circuit.

Pro Class. AF Corse – Francorchamps Motors will field two Ferraris in the class reserved for professional drivers. Official drivers Antonio Fuoco and Arthur Leclerc will share the red-and-yellow liveried Ferrari 296 GT3 number 50 with Eliseo Donno. Vincent Abril joins official drivers Alessio Rovera and Alessandro Pier Guidi in car number 51 for the Endurance Cup campaign.

Bronze Class. The remaining five Maranello-brand entries will compete in the category for mixed crews of professional and gentleman drivers. The number 52 Ferrari of AF Corse – Francorchamps Motors features a retained line-up of official driver Andrea Bertolini alongside Jef and Louis Machiels. New entries for 2025 include the crew of Rinaldi Racing’s Ferrari number 12, with official driver Davide Rigon – a standout performer in last season’s Pro class – teaming up with Christian Hook and David Perel.

Kessel Racing will race two Ferrari 296 GT3s: car number 8, crewed by Nicolò Rosi, Niccolò Schirò, and David Fumanelli, and car number 74, driven by Dustin Blattner, Dennis Marschall, and Conrad Laursen. Ziggo Sport Tempesta Racing returns to the starting grid with the Ferrari 296 GT3 number 93, featuring Chris Froggatt, Eddie Cheever III, and Marco Pulcini behind the wheel.

The season. Five of the cars entered at Paul Ricard will also contest the 2025 Sprint Cup and will therefore compete in the combined standings. These include the three Ferraris of AF Corse – Francorchamps Motors, Kessel Racing’s number 74, and Ziggo Sport Tempesta Racing’s number 93. Following the French season-opener, the Endurance Cup calendar continues with the 3 Hours of Monza (1 June), the 24 Hours of Spa (28–29 June), the 3 Hours of Nürburgring (31 August), and the 3 Hours of Barcelona (13 October).