Second in class for the 296 GT3 at Paul Ricard

Overcast skies accompanied qualifying for the 6 Hours of Paul Ricard, the race that kicks off the 2025 season of the GT World Challenge Europe – Endurance Cup.

The best of the seven 296 GT3 cars competing on the French circuit was the number 51 entered by AF Corse–Francorchamps Motors, driven by official drivers – and reigning champions – Alessio Rovera and Alessandro Pier Guidi, alongside Vincent Abril, who will start from 14th place overall. It was a solid performance in the Bronze Cup for the number 74 296 GT3 of Kessel Racing with Dustin Blattner, Dennis Marschall, and Conrad Laursen, which finished second in class.

Overall, qualifying proved challenging for the cars of the Maranello-based manufacturer. Nonetheless, the drivers and teams sought to maximise the available potential ahead of a race – getting underway today at 6 p.m. local time – that promises to be far from straightforward. The times recorded reflect the average of the qualifying laps set by each of the three drivers taking turns at the wheel of the respective cars. During the session, a light rain fell during the second stint, although it did not force the teams to change tyres.

Pro Class. The two entries from AF Corse – Francorchamps Motors, number 51 with Rovera, Pier Guidi and Abril, and number 50 with Fuoco, Leclerc and Donno, will line up 14th and 15th respectively. The best time for the former crew was 1’54’’472, while Fuoco, Leclerc and Donno posted a time of 1’54’’483.

Bronze Class. In the category for mixed crews – made up of professional and gentleman drivers – the stand-out result was the second place secured by the number 74 Kessel Racing car driven by Blattner, Marschall and Laursen. The Swiss team's second entry in the Bronze Cup, the number 8 driven by Nicolò Rosi, Niccolò Schirò and David Fumanelli, set the seventh-fastest time, while the number 12 of Rinaldi Racing, featuring official driver Davide Rigon alongside Christian Hook and David Perel, qualified ninth. The number 93 of Ziggo Sport Tempesta Racing with Chris Froggatt, Eddie Cheever III and Marco Pulcini will start 11th, while the number 52 of AF Corse – Francorchamps Motors with official driver Andrea Bertolini sharing the car with Jef and Louis Machiels will start 13th.