WEC | Ferrari: the 296 want to use Spa to shine in LMGT3

The curtain rises on the third round of the FIA ​​WEC 2024 scheduled on the iconic Spa-Francorchamps track.

The Belgian circuit will see both Ferrari 296 LMGT3s of the Vista AF Corse team engaged, with crew number 54 made up of Thomas Flohr, Francesco Castellacci and the official Prancing Horse driver Davide Rigon, and number 55 made up of François Heriau, Simon Mann and by the officer Alessio Rovera.

After the fourth place achieved in the last round in Imola by the Ferrari 296 LMGT3 #55 and the twelfth by the #54 car, both crews will try to confirm the good things shown in the first seasonal events – in Qatar and Italy – and to improve further the final result.

The 6 Hours of Spa, one of the most anticipated events of the FIA ​​World Endurance Championship, traditionally precedes the most famous and renowned round in the world championship calendar, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which this year will take place on 15-16 June.

History

Among the oldest circuits still in operation worldwide, Spa-Francorchamps, inaugurated in 1921, is a track that links its name to endurance racing. Suffice it to say that the first edition of the 24 Hours of the same name was held in this facility in 1924.

In over a century of history, Ferrari has achieved numerous triumphs in endurance racing at Spa, including 13 overall victories with Sports cars and Prototypes: the first dates back to 1949 when Luigi Chinetti and Jean Lucas were the first to cross the finish line of the 24 Hours with the 166 MM.

In more recent years the Prancing Horse has signed other important victories on the 7,004 kilometers of the Belgian circuit. Among these, the class victory in the 2023 FIA WEC won by the 488 LMGTE with official drivers Lilou Wadoux and Alessio Rovera, together with Louis Perez-Companc, stands out.

#54 View AF Corse Ferrari 296 LMGT3: Thomas Flohr, Davide Rigon

Photo by: Ferrari

The situation

Thanks to the results obtained at the 1812 Km of Qatar and the 6 Hours of Imola, Heriau-Mann-Rovera occupy sixth position in the Drivers’ standings and Flohr-Castellacci-Rigon seventh; the two crews are 33 and 39 points behind the top respectively, on the eve of a race that awards 25 points to the winners.

Sixth and seventh position for the crews number 55 and 54 of Vista AF Corse, however, in the ranking reserved for the Teams.

Davide Rigon, 296 LMGT3 #54: “I can’t wait to race at Spa, undoubtedly one of my favorite tracks, where the driver can make the difference as well as the balance of the car.”

“We left Imola with a bit of disappointment for the final result in the race, but on the Italian track over the entire weekend we saw how our 296 LMGT3 is an excellent car.”

“We arrive in Belgium, therefore, with a fair amount of optimism and the hope of being able to be competitive. The dream is to get on the podium at the end of this 6 Hours.”

#55 View AF Corse Ferrari 296 LMGT3: Alessio Rovera

Photo by: Alberto Manganaro

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Alessio Rovera, 296 LMGT3 #55: “I expect a positive weekend on a track that I believe can adapt well to the characteristics of our 296 LMGT3″.

“The important thing will be to race without making mistakes and prepare an excellent strategy because, as we know, Spa is a complete and very varied track, where it is necessary to make the most of each driving session from every point of view.”

“Last year I achieved the class victory at the 6 Hours of Spa with the 488 LMGTE: I have excellent memories of that race and this year the hope is to be able to give a good result to the whole team.”