Pole position and a third-place finish for the team of Marco Zanasi, Hendrik Viol and Michael Verhagen in the three-hour Endurance race at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola.
Three Drivers, One Ferrari
For three days in Imola, Marco Zanasi, Hendrik Viol and Michael Verhagen found themselves on the same side of the garage. After racing against each other in the Ferrari Challenge in previous seasons, this time they shared the Zanasi Racing Ferrari 296 Challenge, with a common goal: to fight at the front of the field in the Endurance round of the Italian Gran Turismo Championship.
From 4 to 6 September, the Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit provided the setting for a very different kind of challenge from the one the three drivers were used to. Pace, strategy and driver changes all demanded a precise team effort, with the car shared between three drivers over the course of the three-hour race.
From Pole Position to the Podium
Saturday at Imola ended with Zanasi Racing’s Ferrari 296 Challenge setting the fastest time in the AM class. Pole position secured the team the front spot on the grid and put the car in an ideal position to fight for the leading places from the very start.
Sunday brought the toughest part of the challenge: three hours of racing in high temperatures, with the pace constantly evolving. Zanasi, Viol and Verhagen shared driving duties, while the team in the pits monitored the race and managed the driver changes and strategy.
The Ferrari remained among the leaders throughout the race, eventually crossing the finish line in third place to secure a podium finish in the AM class.
Marco Zanasi’s Thoughts
For Marco Zanasi, the race also offered a different way to experience competition:
“This year, we are already competing in the Italian Gran Turismo Sprint Championship with four cars, and we decided to add an Endurance race to our programme as well. It’s a very exciting format that requires a different approach and further highlights the work and expertise of the entire team. For me, it was also a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the racing and share the car with two outstanding drivers like Hendrik and Michael. In previous years, we raced against each other many times as rivals in the Ferrari Challenge, so finding ourselves on the same side of the garage this time made the weekend even more special.”
Next Stop: Monza
With the Imola podium now behind them, Zanasi Racing is already looking ahead to its next challenge. The team will return to the Italian Gran Turismo Sprint Championship, with the final round of the season taking place at Monza from 9 to 11 October.
