With a Rolex 24 GTD PRO Win and Three GTD Cars in the Top Four, the Italian Marque Is off to a Fast Start in 2024
By Mark Robinson
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Could the Prancing Horse do more strutting this season in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship? If early results are an indication, more Ferrari podium dances may lie ahead in 2024.
Risi Competizione delivered the iconic Italian marque’s first series victory in nearly two years – and first at the Rolex 24 At Daytona in a decade – when the No. 62 Ferrari 296 GT3 won its Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) class two weeks ago. In addition, Ferraris swept the second through fourth finishing positions in the Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) class.
Ferrari’s most recent Rolex 24 win before this year came in 2014 in GTD. The last Ferrari triumph in any WeatherTech Championship event was in 2022 at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, also in GTD. Risi’s victory was all the more gratifying because it was also the first with the brand at Daytona for Ferrari loyalist and team principal Giuseppe Risi.
It was also the second major 24-hour race win for two of the No. 62’s co-drivers. Alessandro Pier Guidi and James Calado were part of the Ferrari lineup that claimed the overall win last June at the 24 Hour of Le Mans.
“It’s even difficult to dream, and we did it,” said Pier Guidi, who logged the fastest GTD PRO race lap at the Rolex 24. “Actually, six months ago, we achieved this amazing historic victory in Le Mans, and now we are back here with Risi and Ferrari to complete another 24, to achieve another amazing success.”
Pier Guidi was part of the GTD-winning lineup for Ferrari in the 2014 Rolex 24. This time around, he teamed with Calado, Daniel Serra and Davide Rigon to reach the top step in GTD PRO.
“It has been a long time that Ferrari has been trying to win this race again,” Pier Guidi added, “and it is quite surprising Risi and Ferrari have never won together. They won so much together but never this race. Finally for Giuseppe and Ferrari together, we achieved this victory; we must be all proud of this.”
Co-driver Calado was equally reflective about the achievement.
“Every time you win in a Ferrari, it’s hard to put into words,” he said. “You get this special feeling. There’s no words really that put it into perspective.”
As was Serra. “This is the race I was missing and really wanted to win,” he said. “This might be the happiest day in my racing career.”
While Risi was the lone Ferrari entered in GTD PRO, there were four in GTD – and all four finished in the top 10 in the 23-car class. The No. 21 AF Corse Ferrari placed second, 2.731 seconds behind the winning No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3. The No. 34 Conquest Racing Ferrari finished third, one spot ahead of the No. 023 Triarsi Competizione Ferrari. The No. 47 Cetilar Racing Ferrari wound up 10th.
Between them, the four GTD Ferraris led 59 laps and were in contention when it counted most. The AF Corse and Conquest entries held down the second and third positions over the final 35 laps, with the Triarsi Ferrari climbing from seventh to fourth in that span.
All five Ferraris are expected back for next month’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, though only the No. 34 Conquest Racing entry is slated for the full season. The remaining four are scheduled for the five IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup events.
Conquest has drivers Albert Costa Balboa and Manny Franco on board for the season, with Cedric Sbirrazzuoli at the endurance races. Alessandro Balzan filled out the roster at the Rolex 24, which the team hopes to use as a springboard.
“Looking ahead to the remainder of the season, this achievement fills us with a great deal of confidence and optimism,” team owner Eric Bachelart said. “… Of course, we still have elements we can improve upon, but we certainly made up for our mistakes and found solutions, so this podium feels like a win for everyone at Conquest Racing.
“The car has been very solid and reliable, and the results also reflect the fantastic job of Ferrari. We’re more motivated than ever to continue striving for success with the aim of replicating and building upon this performance in the races to come.”