Ferrari Challenge Europe Round 6

Round 6 of Ferrari Challenge Europe at Spa saw Tom Fleming close the gap to the championship lead to just 19 points, while James Owen had an eventful weekend with some fantastic overtakes but also unplanned finish in race two….

In Saturday’s qualifying session Tom managed to put it on the front row of the grid in 2nd position, 0.5 seconds off pole, and James qualified a solid 5th in class.

Tom got away well at the beginning of race 1 and was alongside his rival into turn 1, but he had the inside line for the corner so Tom had to settle for 2nd, although he almost lost out to ex-Formula 1 driver Adrian Sutil who was also looking up the inside. However, Tom managed to maintain position and tucked in behind Donno. Over the course of the race, Tom opened up the gap to Sutil in 3rd but while he did close the gap to the first place runner, couldn’t quite get move done, so came home over the line in 2nd.

James ran slightly wide on Turn 1 and ran through the gravel but managed to keep going and rejoin the track. This little excursion cost him a few positions and he found himself in 14th overall. James delivered a commendable performance during the race; he passed Eriksen on lap 5 and Bogh-Sorensen on lap 6 to finish 12th overall and 6th in class. His determination was evident as he came tantalizingly close to Del Favero in 5th place, trailing by a mere 0.6 seconds. Owen’s competitive spirit and skill on the track were on full display, showcasing his potential for further success in the racing circuit. His tight battle in Race 1 added an extra layer of excitement to the event and hinted at his ability to climb the ranks in future races. He closes the gap to P3 in the Am championship standings.

Sunday’s qualifying session presented a challenge as the track was wet but drying, and Tom made the bold decision to go out on slick tyres. This proved to be the right choice, as he put the car on pole, a full 2.2 seconds ahead of P2. James opted to qualify on wet tyres on what was a drying track but put in a fantastic time against other on slicks to start him P5 once again.

In race 2, Tom made a clean start and managed to hold a comfortable lead throughout the race, at most produced a gap of 8 seconds over those chasing him, taking both race victory and fastest lap, scoring maximum points. Again, Tom confirmed his status as a formidable force in the world of motorsport – his impressive performance was a testament to his skill and determination. The championship leader, Donno, had to settle for 4th place resulting in Tom closing the points gap in the championship to 19 points – still in with a chance to win the championship at Mugello next month. James had a gained a position during the race having started from 10th overall, but had an excursion at Blanchimont, a 250kph left-hander and unfortunately into the gravel which prematurely ended his race – fortunately unscathed.

The final round takes place at Mugello on 28th and 29th October at the World Finals; the team waits with bated breath to see if Tom can clinch the title in his first year and if James can secure P3 in the AM class, again in his first year….

The final round takes place at Mugello on 28th and 29th October at the World Finals; the team waits with bated breath to find out what the outcome is going to be in the 2023 championship decider.

View the Ferrari Race Report here.

FF Corse Take Four Wins at Silverstone

FF Corse dominated at Silverstone this weekend, with an invitational entry into GT Cup in the GTC class. The Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo, piloted by Tom Fleming and James Owen cruised home to victory in all four races, in a weekend of mixed conditions, made up of two sprint races and two endurance races.

Fleming and Owen, both in their rookie seasons of car racing, put on a spectacular display of speed and car control, first demonstrated by Owen taking Pole Position on Saturday – his first ever! A brave push lap on slick tyres in damp conditions put the Welshman at the front of the grid for the first sprint race.  A rapid start by the championship leading Lamborghini put Owen into P2, but he chased hard, maintained the pressure and closed the gap over the course of the race, surely set to pass before the chequered flag. Before making his move to do so, the Lamborghini slowed up with an issue and Owen passed by to take his maiden victory, only weeks after securing his first ever podium.

Saturday afternoon, a 50-minute pitstop race to be shared by Owen and Fleming saw them start on the second row of the grid. A smooth start by Owen, who held his own in a hard fought battle between the Lamborghini and another 488 Challenge, set the pairing up for the later half of the race for Fleming to take over. A clean and efficient pit stop by the FF Corse crew saw the pairing come out in front, and Fleming cruised home to victory.

Sunday, it was the turn of Fleming for the sprint race. The young Brit, who completed his first ever car race exactly 12 months prior in a Radical SR1, easily placed the car on pole, despite catching another car on track during his push lap.

At the start of the 25 minute sprint race the rain came, but the decision by the team was to remain on slick tyres while others gambled with a late change to wets, banking on further rain. Others made pit stops to wet tyres, unable to make the most of their slick tyres in the greasy conditions. The rival 488 Challenge made a quick start, slipping ahead of Fleming. As both navigated the dampening circuit, Fleming patiently waited for his chance to pass which he did with ease at Copse before pulling away to overall victory, 25 seconds clear of the second place car. A remarkable achievement and display of talent in very difficult conditions.

For the second endurance race of the weekend, Owen took the start for what was now a very wet circuit with the rain continuing to fall. An impressive drive in the conditions, Owen held on to P3, and maintained a consistent gap over his stint before safely handing over to Fleming in the pit stop. Another slick changeover by the team (just 0.6 seconds clear of the minimum pit stop time) put Fleming out in front, where he hunted down the cars in second and first place. Lapping some 10 seconds faster than his rivals in the conditions, Fleming easily passed into second place with a few laps before passing for first place, with time to spare. Fleming crossed the line to take the fourth win of the weekend for FF Corse, a clean sweep of victories in the GTC class. The team has now gathered an impressive 264 races wins.

James Owen remarked, “What a weekend, claiming my first ever, pole position, first race win in the sprint race, then two more wins with Tom in the endurance races. I only just got my first podium at Estoril a few weeks ago. I’d like to thank the team and Tom for an amazing performance.”

Tom Fleming added, “I don’t think we could have had a better weekend, especially as first-timers to the series. To win all four races against a competitive grid and even claim an overall win feels great. I am so proud of the team and my teammate James Owen, as they performed excellently all weekend – it’s a true testament to how far we have come. I’m pretty pleased with how my first year of racing has gone!”

Team Manager of FF Corse Mark Armstrong said, “What an incredible UK race debut for Tom and James, especially as this was their first shared race which included strategy and driver changes. I can’t wait for the next one and to see what else they can do together.”

Ed Barton-Hilton, Development Manager commented, “I’m delighted for the whole team this weekend – a reward for months of hard work. Working with a pairing like James and Tom is an absolute pleasure. They work so well together and with the team. I’m looking forward to the next chapters of their respective journeys.”

A remarkable performance by the team, and by the drivers who are both in their first year of car racing. Next up, it’s back to Ferrari Challenge Europe at Spa Francorchamps, where Fleming sits P2 in the PRO championship class and Owen P4 in the PRO-AM class.

FF Corse x Caffeine & Machine

On Monday FF Corse welcomed Caffeine and Machine 313 club members again, only this time we were trackside, running numerous customer cars on a trackday. This exciting gathering brought together car aficionados, track enthusiasts, and Ferrari lovers for a day of adrenaline-pumping action, a simulator challenge, delectable catering, and the mesmerizing sight of seven Ferraris blazing around the iconic Silverstone circuit.

Caffeine and Machine are a community of car enthusiasts and petrolheads who share a passion for everything automotive. Members were invited try their hand on the simulator in a bid to post the fastest time to be in with a chance of winning tickets to the United States Grand Prix! The Blade simulator, kindly supplied by Fenz Racing, was a massive hit and in constant use all day.

Guests were able to watch the track-action from the pitwall, or venture off to watch from popular viewing points around the iconic Silverstone circuit. Spending the day with us in the pitlane garages also gave members the opportunity to speak to the various drivers and coaches who joined us for the day. There was also free tea, coffee and snacks available all day, a lounge area with sofas to relax in, and lunch provided by the wonderful Bread and Butter Catering.

Image Gallery

Photos by Charlie B Photography

Interested in being involved? Get in touch to learn more:


Excellence in Estoril

The Ferrari Challenge at Estoril witnessed an incredible display of skill and determination from both Tom Fleming and James Owen. Throughout the weekend, they showcased their prowess on the track, delivering impressive performances.

In race one, James demonstrated his relentless determination, finishing an impressive 2nd in the PRO-AM class. This marked his first podium appearance, a fantastic achievement which has made the team extremely proud. James started the race from 9th place, lost a few positions at the start but managed to work his way back up to 10th place by lap four. James continued to climb up through the field throughout the race, and on the penultimate lap, following a lengthy safety car period, James managed to pass Laskowski and Rosi to finish a fantastic 5th overall, claiming 2nd in class. James’s remarkable growth and ability to deliver under pressure showcased his immense potential as a rising star in the Ferrari Challenge. James demonstrated his growing prowess as a driver, executing precise overtakes and displaying impressive racecraft throughout the demanding race. His achievement is a testament to his dedication and hard work, as he consistently improved his skills to match the formidable competition in the Ferrari Challenge series. The joy and elation on Owen’s face as he stepped onto the podium illustrated the significance of this milestone in his racing career.

Tom, driving with sheer precision, proved to be unstoppable. On both race days, he emerged as the undeniable victor, claiming first place in both races. Starting from P2 in race one, Tom managed to stay with the polesitter, Donno until half way through the race where Tom put him under immense pressure and went for a move around the outside, as result of being heavily run wide by his rival. There was contact between the two which resulted in Tom rally-crossing through the gravel. He re-emerged on track, but he was several seconds behind Donno, now carrying a failure to his differential and traction control. However, moments later the safety car was deployed following an incident further down the field, which enabled Tom to close back up to Donno. The safety car remained on track until there were just four minutes remaining, meaning drivers only had a small window of opportunity to make up for lost time. Following a steward’s enquiry, Donno was issued with a drive-through penalty, which he took with just one lap remaining. Despite being backed up by the leader, Tom did well to hold off the pressure from Ladniak who was looking as though he was going to try to make a move to pass Tom, and so Tom took the chequered flag first.

Not only did Tom excel in the races, but he also made a statement during qualifying on Sunday by securing pole position. Tom got a great start in race two, and lap-by-lap he increased his lead over Donno. By the end of the race, Tom had almost a 9 second advantage over his rivals, so not only did he take the win but also set the fastest lap of the race. His remarkable performance solidified his status as a force to be reckoned with.

James started race two from 9th position overall, and immediately engaged in a riveting battle with Zanasi and Viol. He managed to pass both of them on lap one to work his way up to 7th, and as the three-way duel continued throughout the race, James eventually crossed the line in a hard-fought 8th overall, and 5th in class.

FF Corse, as a team, demonstrated their unwavering commitment to excellence throughout the weekend. Tom and James exemplified the spirit of competition, pushing boundaries and embracing every opportunity to shine on the track. As the champagne sprayed and the cheers resounded, both Tom and James embraced their well-deserved victories. These two wonderful teammates also embraced one another, their heartwarming support for each other a real joy to see.

Tom remains P2 in the PRO standings, having narrowed the points gap and James moves up to P4 in PRO-AM class.

We would like to thank the dealerships and sponsors for their ongoing support:

 

Photo Credits: Ferrari & Filipe Rosa Photography

Supercar Driver Secret Meet wows guests with billion-pound hypercar parade

The Supercar Driver Secret Meet returned to Donington Park this week, bringing together a world-class gathering of supercars and hypercars. The event, which is only open to SCD members, event partners, and select guests, is a celebration of motoring like no other.

This year’s event saw a record number of cars on display, with over 500 supercars and hypercars from all over the world. The line-up included some of the most iconic and rare cars ever made, such as the Ferrari F40, McLaren F1, Mercedes AMG CLK, TVR Cerbera Speed 12, Maserati MC12, Lamborghini Diablo, and Porsche 911. There were also a number of new and upcoming models on display, including the new 750S supercar and the new hybrid sportscar, the Artura, from McLaren Automotive.

In addition to the static displays, the Secret Meet also featured a number of track activities, including a billion-pound hypercar parade, motorsport demos and demonstrations from Ignition GP, and the event was rounded off with a timed shootout. The event was also a chance for supercar owners to meet and greet each other, and to share their passion for cars.

FF Corse were situated in garage 21, where we demonstrated our race and trackday garage setup with garage boarding, TV, kitchen, and sofa for guests to relax. On display were two of our Ferrari 488 Challenge Evos, one of which was our hire car which is available for test drives, track days and even for racing. Learn more here. Fenz Racing also joined us with Base Performance Simulators’ Blade simulator, which offered guests the opportunity at trying their hand around the Silverstone GP circuit in a bid to set the fastest time of the day to win a bottle of champagne and two tickets to Ferrari Racing Days at Silverstone in September. The garage also offered the perfect place to shelter when the British weather inevitably tried it’s best to dampen our spirits!

The Supercar Driver Secret Meet is one of the most exclusive and sought-after events in the automotive calendar that is sure to appeal to any fan of supercars. If you are lucky enough to be invited to the event, be sure to make the most of it!

Live Stream

Image Gallery

Click an image to enlarge it. Separate Hypercar gallery to follow shortly!

SCD Secret Meet

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FF Corse are very excited to be attending this years Supercar Driver Secret Meet.

The Secret Meet is a celebration of motoring like no other, with 1,000+ Supercar owners, track demontrations including the Ignition GP F1 demo and a £100,000,000 Hypercar parade.

Find us in Garage 21 where you can check out the cars we have on display and chat to us to find out how we can help you achieve your Ferrari driving ambitions. We will be running a simulator competition (Tuesday only) – fastest time of the day wins a bottle of champagne and 2 tickets to Ferrari Racing Days at Silverstone, 1st – 3rd September 2023.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Photo Credit: SCD Secret Meet

Coffee Morning with Caffeine and Machine

 

Last week we had the pleasure of welcoming Caffeine and Machine 313 Club Members to visit our workshop for a coffee morning, with a wonderful breakfast provided by Bread & Butter catering.

We look forward to seeing the 313 members again on 24th July, where they will not only join us for breakfast in the workshop but will also be invited trackside to spectate the trackday  taking place here at Silverstone, where we have seven cars running! Click here to learn more.

Ferrari Challenge at Le Mans

Round 4 of Ferrari Challenge Europe took place at the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe, in support of the Le Mans 24 hour race. This was an incredible opportunity for our drivers to race Le Mans circuit, with a total of 71 Challenge cars from all around the globe.

The chances to race at Le Mans are few; saved only for the annual 24 hour race, the Le Mans Classic or featuring in a support race to the 24 hours, as we were. There is no option to conduct testing as the circuit is largely set out on the local roads of the town. Circuit de la Sarthe is the pinnacle of motorsport – a dream for any racer and a mecca to motorsport fans worldwide. It’s a special event to witness and a true privilege to drive.

Free practice on Wednesday and Thursday started out very strong for both drivers, who quickly adapted to the circuit, with Tom topping the timesheets both days and James a very respectable 13th in class (26th overall) from the 71 cars field.

Qualifying

As qualifying begun on Friday morning, the team was hopeful for pole given Tom’s pace in free practice and despite improving on his times he finished P3 overall. Tom was hoping for more, but as with so many of the qualifying sessions this season, yellow flags and slow zones meant he couldn’t hook a clean lap together and ultimately a red flag ended the session early.

James qualified a solid 16th in class (32nd overall) but was frustrated to not get a clean lap in too and being blocked by a slower car ahead. Clearly there was more out there for both but luck wasn’t on our side.

The Race

As the 71 Ferrari 488 Challenge Evos passed through the Ford Chicane to take the start of the race, it was almost inevitable there would be incidents throughout the 35 minute race, so capitalising on the start was crucial. James didn’t waste any time, with a fantastic first lap he made up 5 places showing his superior speed and racecraft over those around him. Tom had a less fortunate start, getting squeezed into turn one to drop to P4.

Lap two and as predicted, safety car. A large incident lower down the field littered debris over the track and heavily damaged the Armco barriers. Ultimately, too much damaged to be repaired and send the race green again. The safety car came in with just one racing lap left but a slow zone remained in place for the damaged barrier. This didn’t give Tom any opportunity to fight back for a podium place, finishing P4. Although James did manage to pick up another place to finish a superb 10th in class and 16th overall.

Tom said, “what a privilege to race here at Le Mans – it’s such a special event. I felt we lacked a bit of top end speed compared to our rivals but it’s something we can work on moving onto Estoril next month. I’ve had an amazing week”. James commented “This is the best circuit ever. It’s amazing and I can’t believe I’ve just raced at Le Mans. An incredible weekend I will cherish forever.”

Tom and James sit P2 and P8 in their respective classes for the championship. The team is proud of what they have achieve so far and the results are quite incredible given they are both in their rookie seasons.

Next up, Estoril – 14th and 15th July. Stay tuned!

Photography: Jakob Ebrey and Ferrari

Ferrari Challenge at Spielberg

 

Ferrari Challenge Europe headed to Austria’s Spielberg circuit a few weeks ago, for the season’s third round. Between the Tropheo Pirelli and Coppa Shell classes, over 50 Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo cars lined up on the grid for what was a thrilling weekend in very changeable conditions.

While other competitors had the benefit of multiple days testing, diary clashes resulted in both Tom and James having had no running prior to the weekend. Less than ideal, but both are always able to quickly learn a new circuit, pick up the skills required and provide essential feedback to the team.

Ferrari Challenge Spielberg

Race 1

James put in a very impressive qualifying result, putting him 6th in class on the grid for the start of race one. He felt like he had more to give and we were certain this may be his time to pick up his first podium. Having to take avoiding action into turn one at the start, James dropped back 4 places, sadly making a podium unlikely this time. The ‘comeback king’ was on fine form and managed to pull off a series of impressive manoeuvres, the last of which was on the last corner of the last lap to bring him home to finish 5th in the PRO-AM class.

Tom qualified 4th on the grid and managed to steer clear of the first corner incident which forced the pack to scatter to avoid a spinning car. Tom came out the other side of the chaos in P3, and soon managed to build a gap between himself and P4. Another podium and great points haul for Tom’s championship fight in the PRO class.

Following the race, Tom said “It was a tough race, especially for tyre management. Apart from a small collision, I made a good start. In general, I think I can say that the race was challenging for everyone, especially to not exceed the track limits and, because of this, our times were a little higher than usual. Anyway, it’s a positive day, with more points won for my team.”

Race 2

James again qualified 6th in the PRO-AM class for race 2, perhaps now he can bag a podium place… Tom also repeated his race 1 qualifying performance, starting P4. Qualifying, as is now a theme of this years’ championship, was plagued by yellow flags and stoppages, ultimately cutting short both Tom and James’ session with both feeling they could have extracted more from the session.

The heavens opened for race 2, and James started the race from P6 in class but he dropped a few places initially.  However, he skillfully picked his way through the pack to return with another 5th place in the PRO-AM class.

Tom made an excellent start from 4th on the grid, immediately making up a place round the outside of the first corner to put himself ahead of former Formula One driver, Adrian Sutil. Tom pushed hard to gain on the car in P2 when the safety car came out due a car in the gravel. On the restart, Tom was again challenging for P2 but try as he may, he couldn’t find a way past. Tom then came under pressure from Sutil, after doing a sterling job to hold him off for several laps, Sutil eventually managed to pass Tom. In the closing stages of the race, Tom kept his tyres fresh and mounted an attack on Sutil to reclaim third. But he just couldn’t quite find a way past to secure that final podium place, so had to settle for 4th. A fantastic performance against a vastly more experienced driver!

James, in his first ever season of racing, currently sits equal 6th in the PRO-AM class, and Tom P2 in the PRO class in his first season of ‘big car’ racing. The fight is on and next up, Le Mans!

Photo Credit: Ferrari