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AF Corse Poised for Blancpain GT Pro Cup Entries in 2017

AF Corse poised to run two Pro Cup Ferrari 488s in Blancpain GT…

Photo: Vision Sport Agency

Photo: Vision Sport Agency

The Ferrari 488 GT3 car is set to be represented in the Pro Cup class of the Blancpain GT Series next year, with AF Corse poised to run two of the turbocharged Prancing Horses.

Sportscar365 has learned that the Amato Ferrari-owned team is finalizing efforts that would see a car each entered under the Kaspersky Motorsport and SMP Racing banners, potentially with a factory driver in both lineups.

It’s understood Giancarlo Fisichella, who took part in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup in a Pro-Am Cup-entered AF Corse Ferrari, has already been allocated for the increased effort.

A formal announcement from Kaspersky is expected to be made next week in Rome, while the Russian-backed SMP squad is set to shift its GT3 efforts back to the SRO Motorsports Group-run championship following a season in the ACO’s Michelin GT3 Le Mans Challenge.

News of Ferrari’s increased Blancpain GT effort came during last weekend’s FIA World Endurance Championship round in Shanghai, where the Italian manufacturer disputed the current Balance of Performance in the GTE-Pro class.

It’s understood both Pro Cup entries were already in the works prior to the latest developments in the WEC, although additional factory support could instead be shifted to Blancpain GT amid rumors of a possible reduced effort in the World Championship next year.

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John

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