Weekend preview: trips to the Netherlands and Germany for Ferrari

From Friday, 6 to Sunday, 8 June, Ferrari will be on track at Zandvoort in the Netherlands for the DTM championship with the three 296 GT3 cars fielded by Emil Frey Racing. Meanwhile, in Germany, at Hockenheim, six Prancing Horse cars will be taking part in the International GT Open.

DTM. The DTM championship ventures beyond Germany’s borders, heading to the Dutch circuit of Zandvoort for the third round, taking place from 6 to 8 June. Three Ferrari 296 GT3 cars will be entered in this round by Emil Frey Racing, with local driver Thierry Vermeulen at the wheel of number 69, doing his utmost to impress in front of his home fans.

Riding the momentum of his Race-2 win just a few weeks ago at the Lausitzring circuit, Jack Aitken, in the Ferrari 296 GT3 number 14, will be looking to stay at the top on the Dutch circuit where he took the chequered flag first in the opening race last year. Completing the Ferrari line-up is Ben Green in the number 10 296 GT3, aiming for his first podium of the season. 

The first race gets underway at the usual time of 1.30 p.m. on Saturday, while Sunday’s event will begin at 4.30 p.m. 

International GT Open. Hockenheim, in Germany, hosts the third round of the International GT Open, confirming the format that features two races, one lasting 70 minutes and the other 60. 

On the iconic 4,574-metre circuit, the entry list features 29 cars, including six representing the Maranello-based manufacturer. In the Am class, AF Corse’s number 21 296 GT3 will be driven by Gino Forgione and Michele Rugolo, who lie second in the standings on 32 points, just 6 points behind the leaders. Also competing in the same category is the number 5 296 GT3 of Olimp Racing with Stanislaw Jedliński and Krystian Korzeniowski. Two more 296 GT3 cars will take on the Pro class: number 17 of Elite Motorsport with Entire Race Engineering with Tom Lebbon and Tom Emson, and number 51 of AF Corse with Carl Bennett and Tommaso Mosca. Also racing is the number 80 488 GT3 Evo of MERTEL Motorsport with Luca Ludwig and Andrea Montermini. Finally, in the Pro Am class, AF Corse fields the number 55 296 GT3 with Laurent De Meeus and Jamie Stanley.

Following Friday’s free practice sessions, qualifying is scheduled for Saturday from 10.25 to 10.50 a.m., determining the grid for Race-1 at 2.25 p.m. On Sunday, after the qualifying session from 9.10 to 9.35 a.m., Race-2 will kick off at 1.10 p.m.

All times are local.