Round 1, Navarra: 4 unique winners to start the season

Navarra, Spain. Approximately 2000 spectators revelled in high-octane action this weekend as the first round of the 2025 Ferrari Challenge UK Trofeo Pirelli race series kicked off at Navarra Circuit, Spain. Ferrari official driver Miguel Molina served as Race Advisor across the weekend for the first round, which saw four unique winners in the Trofeo Pirelli and Coppa Shell classes in Gilbert Yates (Charles Hurst), Paul Simmerson (Graypaul Birmingham) and Mike Dewhirst (Dick Lovett Swindon) – as well as a first ever win for Pranav Vangala (HR Owen).

The Ferrari Challenge UK Trofeo Pirelli race series kicked off in enthralling style earlier today, as drivers enjoyed their first taste of competitive action behind the wheel of the Ferrari 296 Challenge. The highly anticipated season opener also debuted a new track for the series: Navarra Circuit, a fast and technical 2.444-mile racetrack situated in the heart of Northern Spain.

Gilbert Yates triumphed in the Trofeo Pirelli class. In Coppa Shell, Paul Simmerson was successful in securing his first win of the season.

Windy but dry conditions gave ample opportunity for drivers to post a series of strong qualifying times. 2024 Trofeo Pirelli champion Yates rose to the occasion, posting a 1:45.058 time to secure pole position. In Coppa Shell, it was the returning Simmerson who made his mark mid-way through qualifying, laying down a 1:46.810 to secure the top spot in his class.

Race 1:

Trofeo Pirelli: A flurry of action followed the green light as the Trofeo Pirelli drivers entered the sweeping first corner. Yates took full advantage of pole and masterfully pushed his 296 Challenge to build a gap ahead of the quick-looking Pranav Vangala. Further back, Oscar Ryndziewicz (Graypaul Glasgow) found a way past fellow Ferrari Challenge UK debutant Callum Leathem (Charles Hurst), yet it was 19-year-old Leathem who gave a quick riposte, with the pair battling for the coveted final podium place as the race entered the midpoint.

The emergence of the safety car briefly suspended the tussle, but Leathem continued to ask questions of the Graypaul Glasgow driver in front. Despite Leathem's best efforts, Ryndziewicz defended with skill and poise to keep the Charles Hurst driver at bay. Further down the order, debutants Joseph Dean (Stratstone Colchester) and Bal Sidhu (HR Owen) improved their pace during the latter half of the race as the pair progressed up the order. With yellow flag conditions and less than three minutes remaining on the clock, the threat of rainfall meant the race finished behind the safety car, with Yates crossing the line to take his first win of 2025 ahead of Vangala in P2 and Ryndziewicz in P3.

Coppa Shell: A frantic start to the race excited fans lining the grandstands as the Coppa Shell drivers bravely entered turn 1. Peter Hunter (Stratstone Manchester) produced an inspirational charge to leap up the order and briefly snatch P1 from Simmerson. The Graypaul Birmingham driver reclaimed his top spot a few laps later and put his head down to build a lead, before another yellow flag reunited the Coppa Shell class back together.

As the safety car period finished, Mike Dewhirst found pace and pushed Hunter, eventually finding an opportunity to pass the Stratstone Manchester driver who went wide as the pair entered a hairpin. Further down the order, strong drives from Darren Howell (JCT600 Leeds) and Steven Dopson (Dick Lovett Swindon) saw the pair move up the order, albeit at the expense of the returning Paul Rogers (HR Owen). Simmerson continued to drive well as the race drew to a close, and the Graypaul Birmingham driver was able to celebrate victory in the first race of the season. The final podium positions were taken by Dewhirst in P2 and Hunter in P3.

Sunday 27 April 2025

Qualifying 2:

Fair conditions favoured the drivers on the second day of racing at the circuit. In the Trofeo Pirelli, Gilbert Yates (Charles Hurst) continued his fine form to secure pole with a fastest lap of 1:44.670. In Coppa Shell, Mike Dewhirst made a significant step forward, posting the quickest time of 1:45.800 to secure pole by over half a second.

Race 2:

Trofeo Pirelli: Leading the pack, Yates and Vangala went side-by-side into turn one – with the Charles Hurst driver bravely holding his position to maintain P1. Further back in the order, Fedor Samorukov (HR Owen) made an excellent start, and leapt three places up the order to net fourth position. Further back, contact between Dean and Ryndziewicz forced the Stratstone Colchester rookie to retire from the race under yellow flag conditions. Ryndziewicz, despite sustaining damage to his rear quarter, soldiered on and closed the gap to Samorukov as the pair battled upon the restart.

As the race entered the midpoint, Sidhu rose up the rankings into fifth. Behind him, John Marcar (Graypaul Birmingham) gave no reprieve and overtook to capture the position. Marcar kept pushing and, with seven minutes to go, found a way past Samorukov to secure fourth. Upfront, Yates fought hard to manage the car which was losing grip as the race wore on. Close behind, Vangala sensed the opportunity and relentlessly pushed to close the gap. With just three minutes left, Vangala pounced and slipped his 296 Challenge up the inside as Yates ran wide into a corner. The move stuck, and Vangala powered home to secure his first ever victory in the Ferrari Challenge UK race series. Yates came home second, whilst Leathem secured the final podium position to cap a remarkable racing debut for the 19-year-old.

Coppa Shell: The sun's emergence improved track conditions as the race quickly livened. Simmerson showed immediate focus and demonstrated excellent race-craft to pass Dewhirst around the outside and secure P1. Dewhirst did not take his demotion willingly and kept the Saturday winner firmly in sights to sustain pressure on his rival. A few laps later, Simmerson overshot turn one, which gifted Dewhirst the lead of the race. It also meant that Simmerson had dirty tyres from leaving the racing line, which caused a spin dropping him to fourth place.

As the race entered the midpoint, Dewhirst masterfully solidified his position with a comfortable lead. Behind him, Peter Hunter kept it together and defended P2 well from his rival Simmerson, who had quickly made it past Dopson in third. Simmerson managed to catch Hunter with a few laps to spare, but time was not on his side. As the chequered flag fell, Dewhirst secured his first win of the season. Hunter finished in P2, followed by Simmerson in P3.

Next Round: The Ferrari Challenge UK Trofeo Pirelli race series returns to the UK for the round 2, with the race action resuming at Oulton Park, Cheshire on 16-17 May 2025. For the latest updates on the Ferrari Challenge UK race series, visit: https://www.ferrari.com/en-GB/corse-clienti/uk.

Photo credit: Ferrari
posted on conceptcarz.com

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