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Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta October 10-13, 2024

Mitch DeFrancis

Volume 49 Issue 21

Nov 10, 2024

October at Road Atlanta means the Motul Petit Le Mans. For ten hours manufacturers battle. Ferrari has competed in every edition.

     Since 1998, the Petit Le Mans has been held at Road Atlanta. It is an incredible event that draws race teams, fantastic race cars and spectators from across the globe.


     Ferrari has always participated in the Petit Le Mans and a Risi Racing 333 SP was the overall winner in the first race. This year was no exception with seven different teams running the amazing Ferrari 296 GT3.


     Risi Competizione ran the #62 Pennzoil sponsored 296 GT3 in the GT Daytona Pro class. Drivers were Daniel Serra, Davide Rigon and Alessandro Pier Guidi. This car finished in 2nd place.

 


     DragonSpeed ran the #82 10Star and Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale sponsored 296 GT3 in GT Daytona Pro class. Drivers were Toni Vilander, Vincent Abril and Thomas Neubauer.


     Triarsi Competizione ran the #23 Ferrari of Central Florida sponsored 296 GT3 in GT Daytona class. Drivers were Alessio Rovera, Charlie Scardina and Onofrio Triarsi.


     AF Corse ran the #21 296 GT3 in GT Daytona class with drivers Francois Heriau, Simon Mann and Miguel Molina.


     Conquest Racing ran the #34 Corsa Horizon sponsored 296 GT3 in the GT Daytona class. Drivers were Manny Franco, Albert Costa Balboa and Cedric Sbirrazzouli.


     Cetilar Racing ran the #47 Cetilar sponsored 296 GT3 in GT Daytona class. Drivers were Roberto Lacorte, Giorgio Sernagiotti and Antonio Fuoco.


     Inception Racing ran the #70 296 GT3 in GT Daytona class. Drivers were Brendan Iribe, Frederick Schandorff and Ollie Millroy.


     “Ferrari took a dramatic victory in Saturday’s Petit Le Mans, with Conquest Racing wrapping up its full-season campaign by winning Road Atlanta’s 10-hour classic that closed out both the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and Endurance Cup.


     “Albert Costa took the GTD lead in the #34 Corsa Horizon Ferrari 296 GT3 with 31 minutes remaining to join teammates Manny Franco and Cedric Sbirrazzouli in the winner’s circle after taking the checkered flag with a 0.718 second advantage.


     “Risi Competizione put their 296 GT3 on the GTD Pro podium with a 2nd place finish all while Triarsi Competizione, AF Corse and Inception Racing taking top 10 finishes in GTD” said Ferrari.


     The Ferraris that ran in this event were the most advanced racing cars this side of Formula One the factory has ever created.


     The 296 race cars are absolutely amazing. I was able to inspect a brand new, yet to be delivered, 296 Challenge S/N 311600 at Ferrari of Atlanta during the very popular Atlanta Italian Car Day.

 


     The way this car cheats and manipulates the air is truly mind boggling.


     I wanted to know more about the Ferraris that ran in the Petit Le Mans since 1998. The very first Petit Le Mans, held on October 11, 1998, was won by the amazing Doyle-Risi Racing Ferrari 333 SP.


     Of course Risi Competizione is still racing and winning podiums in the 2024 Petit Le Mans. Twenty-six years of racing Ferraris just in the Petit Le Mans series alone. That is impressive. Congratulations to Guiseppe Risi and his team.


     Factory and privately entered Ferraris at the Petit Le Mans:


     1998-1999 had 333 SPs with a 4.0 liter V12.


     2001-2003 the 550 GTS with a 5.9 liter V12 and the  360 GT with its  3.6 liter V8.


     2004 the modified 360 GTC 3.6 liter V8.


     2005 the debut of the Enzo powered Maserati MC12 with its amazing 6.0 liter V12.


     2006 the F430 GT2, which became the F430 GT in 2007-2009, both had the 4.0 liter V8s.


     2010 the F430 GT morphed into the F430 GTE with the 4.0 liter V8.


     2011 the 458 GT2 and 458 GT3 debuted and ran through 2015 with the 4.5 liter V8s.


     2016 the turbocharged era begins with the formidable 488 GTE and 458 GT3 with it’s 3.9 liter twin turbocharged V8. The 488s ran through 2022 as the 488 GT3 Evoluzione.


     2023-2024 was the debut year for the 296 GT3 with a completely new twin-turbocharged 3.0 liter V6.


     The Ferrari factory always showcases their newest road-going cars with their successful racing technology. That is exactly how Enzo wanted to do business.


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