Perfect start to weekend for Gilbert Yates and Beighton at Snetterton

Snetterton, Saturday 2 May 2026 -The Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli UK championship returned this weekend for the second round at Snetterton Circuit, Norfolk. Favourable conditions greeted excited spectators, as the Ferrari 296 Challenge drivers tackled a 3-mile ‘300’ circuit configuration well-known for its long straights, heavy braking zones and technical infield sections. 

Qualification 1. In Trofeo Pirelli, the Yates duo topped the order. Reigning champion Gilbert Yates (Charles Hurst) continued his excellent Free Practice 1 form securing Pole Position with a time of 1:47:717, with Bradley Yates (Charles Hurst) just 0.5-sec behind. In Coppa Shell, season newcomer Christopher Beighton (Graypaul Nottingham) claimed Pole Position with a time of 1:50:949. Darren Howell (JCT600 Leeds) earned 2nd, posting 1:51:334 to secure his place on the front row. 

Race 1. Trofeo Pirelli. G.Yates made a flying getaway from Pole Position and extended a commanding lead. Further back, Mike Dewhirst (Dick Lovett Swindon) seized an overtaking opportunity on Manuela Gostner (Ineco) to claim 4th. Fellow Podium Sitters B.Yates and Joseph Dean (Stratstone Colchester) pressed on, consolidating 2nd and 3rd position respectively. 

As the race progressed, Gostner retaliated and pressed Dewhirst to reclaim the lost place, forcing a mistake from the Dick Lovett driver as the pair entered Bomb Hole to re-enter 4th. Ahead, Dean and B. Yates never looked in any danger, with both driving impressively secure their podium places. Dominating from the start, G. Yates crossed the finish line first with a perfect first race, some 15-secs ahead of B. Yates in 2nd. Dean completed the podium, continuing his strong start to the season. 

Coppa Shell. Beighton started excellently and quickly set about building an impressive lead. At the other end of the grid, Sean Ran (HR Owen) charged up the inside of Riches to claim 2nd from Howell – a spectacular move that gained him four places up the order. By the halfway mark, Howell had found his pace and caught up to Ran – but pushed too hard in an attempt to regain his position as the pair entered Agostini, resulting in a spin that demoted both drivers down the order. The mishap allowed Steve Dopson (Maranello Sales) and William Bolster (Charles Hurst) to move up to 2nd and 3rd respectively. Beighton took the chequered flag in a flawless display, delivering an equally commanding victory of that set by G. Yates in Trofeo Pirelli class. Dopson and Bolster rounded off the top three in 2nd and 3rd respectively. A final push from Andrea Seminara (HR Owen) on the last lap saw him overtake Ran to clinch 4th.

Next Race. The racing action resumes tomorrow at Snetterton in the final race of the weekend. Qualifying 2 takes place at 11:05, with Race 2 commencing at 15:00. Spectators can watch the race in person or online at live.ferrari.com. For the latest updates on the Ferrari Challenge UK race series, visit: https://www.ferrari.com/en-GB/corse-clienti/uk.

02 maggio 2026