Challenging Saturday for 296 GT3s at Monza

The Autodromo Nazionale Monza hosted day two of the second round of the GT World Challenge – Endurance Cup, featuring the Pre-Qualifying session in advance of tomorrow morning's Qualifying. It was a challenging outing for the Prancing Horse cars, which were limited in power by Balance of Performance regulations and struggled on the long, high-speed stretches of the Monza circuit. 

The Kessel Racing number 8 car was the top performer among the seven Ferrari 296 GT3s entered this weekend. It set the 16th fastest overall time and placed third in the Bronze class, with Nicolò Rosi, Niccolò Schirò, and David Fumanelli behind the wheel.

Pro Class. Among the professional entries, the AF Corse – Francorchamps Motors number 51 car, crewed by official drivers Alessio Rovera and Alessandro Pier Guidi alongside Vincent Abril, posted the 37th fastest time. The other red-and-yellow liveried 296 GT3, number 50, with official drivers Antonio Fuoco and Arthur Leclerc, along with Eliseo Donno, finished in 49th place. Ten minutes from the end of the session, the Monegasque driver went off at the Alboreto curve, bringing Pre-Qualifying to an early close.

Bronze class. Fumanelli clocked the 16th fastest overall time in the number 8 car, securing third place in the Bronze class. The Swiss team's second entry, number 74, featuring Dustin Blattner, Dennis Marschall, and Conrad Laursen, finished in 11th. The provisional class leaders narrowly edged out the Ziggo Sport Tempesta Racing number 93 car, driven by Chris Froggatt, Eddie Cheever III, and Jonathan Hui. Thirteenth place went to the AF Corse – Francorchamps Motors number 52, with Jef and Louis Machiels and factory driver Andrea Bertolini, who at Monza is contesting his final race in a highly decorated motorsport career. Following them was the Ferrari 296 GT3 number 12 of Rinaldi Racing, with official driver Davide Rigon alongside Christian Hook and David Perel.

Tomorrow, Sunday, 1 June, will kick off with Qualifying from 9:50 a.m. to 10:35 a.m., determining the starting grid for the three-hour race scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.