Also this year, Rinaldi Racing hits again the international racing stage. With a total of six Ferrari 488 GT3, the team from Mendig wants to go about the ProAm and Am championships in different racing series.
The commitment in the Blancpain GT Series persists. This year, the team will concentrate on the Blancpain Endurance Series. After the two championship titles in 2017 in the Blancpain GT Series ProAm and the Blancpain Sprint Series ProAm, it is time to fight for the Blancpain Endurance Series ProAm. With the starting number 333 in the ProAm class, Alexander Mattschull, Rinat Salikhov, and Dominik Schwager will start. Mattschull: „After the win of the ProAm overall and the Sprint Series ProAm, this year’s focus will be on the Blancpain Endurance Series ProAm. Together with the team, I am looking forward to the championship and I am confident to achieve it successfully.“ Rinaldi Racing also wants to fight for the Am championship. In this class, Pierre Ehret will be again behind the steering wheel of the Italian sports car. Ehret: „I am pleased to compete together with Michele and the team in the Blancpain Endurance Series. Of course, I hope, that the target Am class will have more competitors than last year.“ His teammates will be announced soon.
This year, Rinaldi Racing will manage the commitment of the Wochenspiegel Team Monschau in the VLN. After the good collaboration of last year, where the team achieved one win, the Wochenspiegel Team Monschau decided to participate with a second Ferrari 488 GT3. On the Wochenspiegel Ferrari #22 Georg Weiss, Oliver Kainz, and Jochen Krumbach will take place. The sister car with the starting number 11 will be driven by Leonard Weiss, Nico Menzel, and Christian Menzel. The team will start again with Michelin tires. Rinaldi: „We are glad, that the very good collaboration with Michelin will continue this year.“
Besides, Rinaldi Racing together with the Wochenspiegel Team Monschau will take part in the 24 hours Nürburgring with one Ferrari 488 GT3. After the excellent first position in the ProAm class and the seventh position overall last year, everybody wants to repeat this highlight. Next to Georg Weiss, Oliver Kainz, and Jochen Krumbach, one professional driver will complete the line-up.
After the second position overall at the 24 hours Portimao last year, the Wochenspiegel Team Monschau wants to participate in one race of the 24h Series by Creventic. The choice fell on the 24 hours Barcelona at the beginning of September. One Ferrari 488 GT3 will compete in this endurance race. The whole driver line-up will be announced before the event.
Also on the agenda of Rinaldi Racing the International GT Open with two Ferrari 488 GT3. Two familiar faces will start in the Am class with the starting number 33: Christian Hook and Steve Parrow. After having taken part in the Blancpain GT Series in 2016, they want to face a new challenge. Hook: „We are excited about the GT Open. Of course, we hope to be competitive with the Ferrari 488 GT3 and to finish some races on the podium.“ Parrow: „After having reached several podiums in the Blancpain GT Series, we are thrilled to compete in this wonderful competitive GT Open. The highlight, of course, is to drive with a brand-new Ferrari 488 GT3. Especially, we cannot wait to race in Monza. To drive there with such a beauty is the highlight of each Ferraristi.“ On the second car with the starting number 333, Vadim Kogay will be behind the steering wheel. The second driver will decide if the car will start in the ProAm class or in the Am class.
Furthermore, Rinaldi Racing will also be involved in the ADAC GT Masters. The team will support HB-Racing on the technical side for the commitment of one Ferrari 488 GT3. Rinaldi: „It is positive, that Ferrari is represented in the ADAC GT Masters. With HB-Racing we have a strong team that will achieve good results in the league of super sports cars.“
Michele Rinaldi: „We are looking forward to a great 2018 season. The potential with the driver line-ups in the different racing series is huge and we hope to repeat the success of the last year. Our collaboration with Ferrari and Michelotto will be pursued – the car is in a class of its own. We will be busy with six Ferrari 488 GT3. The team is highly motivated to begin with the 2018 season.“
