Ferrari Challenge UK - Bradley Yates takes second win of the weekend, Beighton secures maiden victory

Le Castellet, Sunday 15 March 2026. Dry conditions set the stage for day two in the first round of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli UK series at the legendary Paul Ricard circuit in Le Castellet. Enthusiastic crowds watched on as the drivers took on the high-speed circuit in their Ferrari 296 Challenge race cars during a full day of racing action. Official Ferrari Driver Alessio Rovera served as the Driver Steward, overseeing the race and presenting the podium trophies.

Qualifying 2. Another competitive qualifying session took place at Paul Ricard earlier today in the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli UK series. In Trofeo Pirelli, Bradley Yates (Charles Hurst) secured Pole Position for the second successive day with a time of 2:04:740. Joseph Dean (Stratstone Colchester) (P2) and Gilbert Yates (Charles Hurst) (P3) followed, with less than one second separating the top three.

In Coppa Shell, Ian Morris (Maranello Sales) found his form and posted his fastest qualifying time of 2:06:420 on his final lap, improving on his 3rd grid spot yesterday. Fellow season debutants, Andrea Seminara (HR Owen) and yesterday’s Pole Sitter Christopher Beighton (Graypaul Nottingham) placed second and third respectively. Yesterday’s race winner, Peter Hunter (Stratstone Manchester), qualified in 6th, while fellow podium sitter, Darren Howell (JCT600 Leeds) secured 5th.

Race 2. Trofeo Pirelli. Yesterday’s race winner, B. Yates made a quick getaway from Pole Position, while his father G. Yates, overtook 2nd-placed Dean on the first corner. Gilbert relentlessly pursued Bradley in his first attempt to overtake the younger Yates at Virage du Pont; his son defended expertly but ultimately sacrificed the lead to Gilbert into the first chicane. The tussle between the two Yates’s gave Dean a chance to close the gap to Bradley, but he couldn’t take advantage as the father and son duo started to build a lead. With just five minutes left, Gilbert encountered a technical failure and was forced to retire his car. Bradley extended his lead to nearly 20 seconds as a result, with his sights set firmly on his second race win of the weekend. Gilbert’s retirement also lifted Dean and Manuela Gostner (Ineco) into 2nd and 3rd, respectively. Bradley finished the weekend with another Pole Position and a second race win in his debut season of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli UK series. Dean took a debut podium position with 2nd place, while Gostner, last year’s Coppa Shell European champion and the series’ first female driver, completed the podium in 3rd.

Coppa Shell. Morris took an early lead from his Pole Position start. Series newcomer, but experience racer, Beighton performed an excellent overtake on Seminara to take 2nd position within the first few corners. Howell also started well, accelerating past Sean Ran (HR Owen) and Seminara, to move into 3rd. Beighton found his pace near the halfway point and took 1st from Morris into the chicane before the Mistral straight, and the two leaders managed to build a commanding lead over Howell in 3rd place. In the last few laps, Seminara and Hunter, who had been battling throughout the race, both managed to pass Sert who was struggling for pace, to take 4th and 5th respectively. But it was Beighton who secured his maiden victory in the Coppa Shell class after defending his lead, with fellow series newcomer Morris and the more experienced Howell close behind in 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Next Round. The Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli UK Series returns to the UK for the second round, as the drivers head to Snetterton, Norfolk from 2-3 May 2026. Spectators can watch the race live at the circuit or online at live.ferrari.com.

15 marzo 2026