Excellence in Estoril

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.