Finali Mondiali Mugello Race Report

Wednesday – Ferrari Challenge Europe Round 7 Qualifying

In wet conditions, Tom secured double-pole in qualifying by setting the fastest and second-fastest times, meaning he would start from the front of the field for both Thursday’s and Friday’s races. James would start from 15th overall for both races, a solid qualifying result on the 37 car grid.

Thursday – Ferrari Challenge Europe Round 7 Race 1

Again, the Italian weather was not so kind on Thursday although the conditions suited Tom as he managed to get away at the front and open up a gap to second place within a few corners. Unfortunately, the wet weather also caused a few cars to spin; James was tangled up in an incident on the opening lap which prematurely ended his race due to damage. Tom rapidly extended his advantage but this was eradicated again with the appearance of the safety car. Tom made an excellent job of the restart and quickly opened up a gap to second place once again; with just 7 minutes remaining Tom had a 10 second advantage but the safety car was called out again, meaning that Tom’s hard work was undone once more. The safety car pulled in with just 1 lap remaining and it was ex Formula 1 driver Adrian Sutil hot on his tail. After swapping paint for a few corners, Sutil managed to gain the advantage on track and Donno, who had been running in third, followed him through, dropping Tom down to 3rd place.Donno’s points haul was sufficient to seal the drivers’ championship for 2023 meaning Tom finished second overall – a fantastic achievement in his debut season!

Friday – Ferrari Challenge Europe Round 7 Race 2

Determined to put the disappointment of Thursday behind him, Tom once again started from the front of the grid for Friday’s race and pulled out a 7 second lead during the first half of the race. Unfortunately, it was to be his team mate, James, who would bring out the safety car with 13 minutes remaining, after spinning out and becoming beached in the gravel trap. Tom once again found his mirrors full of Adrian Sutil, but he kept calm under the immense pressure and nailed the restart. The race came a slightly bizarre premature end by being red-flagged on the final lap, due to debris on the track which turned out the be banner that had broken loose in the windy conditions. This sealed the win for Tom – a wonderful way to round off the season by standing on the top step of the podium!

Saturday – Finali Mondiali Qualifying and Superpole

Saturday’s Superpole qualifying consisted of two sessions, where the top six from the first session went through to the second session in a bid to set the fastest time. Tom topped the timesheets in the second session, putting him on pole for Sunday’s race. James also put in a sterling effort, qualifying 17th overall on the 37-car grid, and 8th in class.

Sunday – WORLD FINAL

The race got off to a dramatic start with Tom being sandwiched and squeezed down to third position going into the first corner, but he managed to get the switchback and regain the lead coming out of the corner. There were then three separate incidents further down the field, resulting in a total of five cars finding themselves in the gravel or the barriers. Thankfully James made it through unscathed. After a few laps behind the safety car, the red flag was brought out to allow the marshals time to repair the barriers. After 40 minutes in pitlane awaiting the restart, the cars returned to the track behind the safety car once more, and Tom once again managed the restart perfectly to maintain the lead. Unfortunately, shortly afterwards the safety car was called out yet again, meaning the pressure was on for Tom to produce yet another superlative restart, which he did successfully. Whilst all of this was going on, James was putting in a sensational drive to avoid all the chaos occurring around him and climb up to 9th place overall. Astonishingly, with just under 7 minutes remaining, the safety car was brought out for a fourth time. Following yet another perfect restart, Tom had to keep the field behind him for 2 nail-biting laps to the chequered flag. Tom and the team could finally breathe a massive sigh of relief when Tom took the chequered flag to emerge victorious and become Ferrari Challenge World Champion! James put in an incredibly impressive drive to maintain 9th place overall following the restarts, meaning he rounded off his season with a hard-fought 4th in class.

The FF Corse team are incredibly proud of what James and Tom have both achieved in their debut season in car racing, having obtained their race licenses just a matter weeks before the season started. James had no previous racing experience of any sort, and yet he has consistently managed to finish ahead of far more experienced drivers, giving him a really solid foundation to head into the 2024 season with. Tom had raced karts previously, but has quickly adapted to his 488 and shown the motorsport world that he means business.

In our only two appearances at the World Finals, FF Corse has emerged victorious on both occasions! Our previous triumph was in 2019 with Adam Carroll behind the wheel.

We would like to thank the sponsors, our team members and our extended FF Corse family for all their support, and we can’t wait to do it all again next year!

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2023 World Champions!

After a hard-fought and intense race, FF Corse won the Finali Mondiali in Mugello this weekend to become the 2023 Trofeo Pirelli Ferrari Challenge World Champion!

After securing SuperPole on Saturday, Tom Fleming held the lead throughout the race to clinch a resounding victory, despite multiple safety car restarts.

The FF Corse team are incredibly proud of Tom’s achievement, making it the second time in the last two attempts that an FF Corse driver has lifted the coveted title.

And so, that’s the 2023 Ferrari Challenge season over. What we have achieved this year with James Owen and Thomas Fleming is remarkable. A little over 12 months ago, neither even had their race licences and just 3 weeks before the first round of Ferrari Challenge they were eligible to race. We’ve been through Mazda MX5s, Radicals, Porsche Boxsters, been from Anglesey and Mallory Park to Spa Francorchamps and Le Mans.

Their respective journeys have been so impressive and we thank them for their support, guidance, trust and faith in the team. They have made us better and they have done us proud. Tom and James, you are part of your team and we’ve loved every minute. Thank you. And thank you to all their family, friends and sponsors for the continued support of them and the team throughout.

And also we thank every member of the FF Corse team that took us through the season from those back at base keeping it all running smoothly to those who have spent many late nights and early mornings, doing their absolute best for Tom and James. It’s been emotional. Let’s go again. Forza!

Come and join us in 2024 in the new 296 Challenge!

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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 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.

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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

GT Winter Series – Valencia

GT Winter Series Valencia

The Dream Team! Congratulations to Tom, James and Bobby for their results in the GT Winter Series in Valencia at the weekend – Tom did a sterling job to secure another three class wins, and James fought his way impressively through the field in the first two races to finish 4th in class in both. Bobby then joined James for the endurance race and they achieved a fantastic 2nd in class.

And as always, a massive thank you to our amazing team who have worked tirelessly in the run-up to this weekend, and throughout the event in order to make sure everything ran smoothly.

Now onward to Ferrari Challenge Europe, we’re very excited to see what the guys can do! We are back at Valencia for the first round of the season, 24th – 26th March.

📷 Daniel Buergin