The Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli has been named the official Single Make series for the FIA Motorsport Games, boosting the total number of competitive categories to 27 for the 2024 event, which will be held in Valencia from October 23 to 27.
Ferrari Challenge, inaugurated 32 years ago, is regarded as one of the most prestigious and long-lasting single-make championships, allowing more than 1,000 drivers to race on some of the world’s most renowned tracks.
Ferrari Challenge consists of two international series, Europe and North America, as well as extra national series in the United Kingdom and Japan, with action aired in 90 countries across the world. It is also the first to receive continental-wide ISO 20121 accreditation for its sustainable event management system.
The introduction of the Single Make series will attract Ferrari Challenge drivers from around the world to compete at Circuit Ricardo Tormo for the honour of winning a gold, silver or bronze medal for their home nation.
The format will feature two 45-minute practice sessions, followed by 30-minutes of Qualifying. A 30-minute Qualifying Race will then determine the starting grid for the 30-minute Main Race to decide the medal winners.
Competitors representing their National Sporting Authority (ASN) will drive the brand-new Ferrari 296 Challenge. Unveiled at the 2023 Ferrari Finali Mondiali, the 296 Challenge marks the championship’s first use of a six-cylinder engine and sets a new standard in performance and driving enjoyment. With more than 234 hp per litre of specific power and a downforce of 870 kg at 250 km/h, it benefits from sophisticated technical solutions like the S-Duct. As is traditional, the 296 Challenge comes with Pirelli tyres specially developed for this model.
More than 200 drivers will compete across the four Ferrari Challenge series this season. North America’s terms started last weekend at Circuit of The Americas, while Europe’s first round takes place at Mugello, Italy, May 2-5.
Andrea Mladosic, Head of Ferrari Challenge & Corso Pilota, expressed delight over the Ferrari Challenge’s selection as the representative Single Make series within the FIA Motorsport Games: “We are very satisfied with this recognition because it testifies, once again, to the level of the Ferrari Challenge. I am confident that the fans will really appreciate the spectacle the races provide.”
Antonello Coletta, Head of Endurance and Corse Clienti, commented, “I thank SRO Motorsports Group and the FIA for selecting the Ferrari Challenge for this significant event. For over 30 years, our series has provided highly talented drivers, both men and women, who have made significant marks in the major GT car championships. It has also provided thousands of our sporting clients with a professional and familial environment, offering the perfect stage for their racing passion.”
Stéphane Ratel, SRO Motorsports Group Founder and CEO, commented: “The addition of Ferrari Challenge as the Single Make series for the FIA Motorsport Games brings another exciting level of competition to the 2024 event in Spain. The best Ferrari Challenge drivers from across the globe competing for medal glory under the colours of their nation’s flag will be quite a spectacle. This increases the number of motorsport categories to 27 for Valencia, which further demonstrates the incredible growth of the FIA Motorsport Games since the inaugural edition and six categories hosted in Rome 2019.”