GTWCEU - Round 4 : Monza

At the revamped Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, which welcomed over 35,000 spectators over the weekend, Alessandro Pier Guidi, Alessio Rovera, and Vincent Abril, at the wheel of the AF Corse – Francorchamps Motors number 51 296 GT3, secured third place overall and second in the Pro class after a closely fought contest in the fourth round of the GT World Challenge Europe – Endurance Cup. The two official Prancing Horse drivers now sit second in the overall Endurance Cup standings, just three points off the top ahead of the final event in Jeddah at the end of November.
Unfortunately, the sister car, number 71, driven by official drivers Yifei Ye, Thomas Neubauer, and David Vidales, was compromised by an exhaust manifold issue before reaching the grid, finishing in 34th place.

With a stunning comeback in the final laps, Alessandro Pier Guidi took the number 51 Ferrari 296 GT3 to the third step of the overall podium, following an exciting race that was affected by numerous Full Course Yellow and Safety Car periods, which put the team strategies to the test. Starting from pole position, the AF Corse – Francorchamps Motors car maintained the lead throughout the first stint, driven by a determined Alessio Rovera, and during the second stint with Vincent Abril at the wheel. In the chaotic final phase, after the final pit stop, Pier Guidi found himself chasing, but thanks to a brilliant recovery, he finished just behind the top two, securing second place in the Pro class and setting the fastest lap of the race with a time of 1’44”593 on lap 85 of the 87 completed.
After a difficult start due to the exhaust manifold issue, which kept the number 71 296 GT3 in the pits for the first 15 minutes, Ye, Neubauer, and Vidales managed a consistent race, finishing 34th overall and 17th in the Pro class.

The next and final race will be the 6 hours of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.