An unforgettable 2021 that had the icing on the cake in Kyalami in South Africa. With the second place obtained at the end of the 9 Hours of Kyalami, the last round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge 2021, Alessandro Pier Guidi and Côme Ledogar became champions among the drivers of the series organized by SRO dedicated to the most difficult endurance races for GT3 cars. The 2021 competitive season officially ends with the South African appointment Ferrariwas the most successful in its history, thanks to 24 titles, including the two FIA WEC world laurels, won in the main national and international championships.
The race ran smoothly with Ferraris constantly in the top positions, engaged in a duel with the Mercedes by Akka-ASP di Marciello-Gounon-Boguslasvski then winner of the race, until the time of the withdrawal of the 488 GT3 Evo 2020 number 71, which arrived halfway through the race due to a transmission problem. A real shame for Nicklas Nielsen, Antonio Fuoco and Alessio Rovera who, up to that moment, had been the authors of a very convincing proof. The Dane, who in the previous rounds had teamed up with Pier Guidi and Ledogar, was the first to congratulate his teammates at the end of the race, reflecting the splendid climate among the riders.
After a break from the Mercedes towards the fifth hour, the crew of the Ferrari number 51 of AF Corse Francorchamps Motors tried to contain the gap from the leader, while managing the advantage over the two Audi still vying for the title, without running useless. risks on a very demanding track, both for the drivers and for the vehicles. Alessandro Pier Guidi, who shared the Ferrari cockpit with Côme Ledogar and an excellent Miguel Molina, crossed the line in second position after a test embellished by a spectacular overtaking against Drudi, outside the Italian driver, in the early hours of race. With this result, both Pier Guidi and Ledogar they are crowned champions of the Intercontinental GT Challenge for the first time, while Ferrari closes the Constructors’ classification behind Audi. An extraordinary season ends for the Tortona driver, where he won the title of FIA WEC world champion, the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup and two victories at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. For the 488 GT3, in its standard and Evo 2020 configurations, this is the 107th title since its debut, with 429 wins out of 770 starts, an extraordinary result that confirms it as the most successful Ferrari in history.
Alessandro Pier Guidi: “It has been an extraordinary season and I think it will be very difficult to repeat it because, even if we are in 2022, this result is reflected in last year’s. We have won, together with Ferrari and AF Corse, everything we could win. I’m sorry for Nicklas who raced with us all season but Ferrari’s decision to divide us was logical to try and double the chances of success. Thanks to Miguel and Côme for the wonderful race. Today, for the first time, my final stint was uneventful and I was able to manage the advantage and the car. The season took the right turn for us at Spa-Francorchamps and, in the end, we won this title thanks to two excellent overtakes ”.
Antonello Coletta: “The conquest of the drivers’ title for Alessandro and Côme represents the icing on the cake of a memorable season that today we can finally deliver to the archives as the most successful in our history. It has been a memorable year, which will undoubtedly provide the right push and motivation for a 2022 that will be crucial for our future. I am very happy for the champions, they deserved the result thanks to performances of the highest level. I’m sorry for the retirement of Nielsen’s car, because he was having a great race but I was happy to see how all our drivers celebrated together this which, in effect, is our first title in the Intercontinental GT Challenge. . I like to point out, however, the 107th title for the 488 GT3, obtained in just five years of activity: I think it is a historic result to be proud of “.
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