Rinaldi Confirms Two-Car Endurance Cup Program

Photo: Rinaldi Racing

Rinaldi Racing will enter two Ferrari 488 GT3s in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup this season, with one in the Pro-Am class and another in the Am category.

It is part of a busy program for the German team, which also includes entries in VLN, International GT Open and ADAC GT Masters.

Alexander Mattschull, Rinat Salikhov and Dominik Schwager will drive the No. 333 Ferrari in the Pro-Am class for the five Blancpain GT Endurance Cup races.

The team won both the Blancpain GT Sprint Cup and overall Blancpain GT titles in the Pro-Am category last year.

Pierre Ehret will return to the Am Cup with currently unannounced teammates, meanwhile.

“We are looking forward to a great 2018 season,” said team owner Michele Rinaldi. “The potential with the driver lineups 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 GT3s. The team is highly motivated to begin with the 2018 season.”

Rinaldi to Run Total of Six Ferrari 488 GT3s in Extensive Program

In addition to its Blancpain GT entries, Rinaldi will also enter Ferrari GT3s in a variety of other series, amounting to a total of six cars competing across Europe.

The team will manage Wochenspiegel Team Monschau’s pair of cars in VLN and one car for the Nürburgring 24, while also planning on running a car in the 24 Hours of Barcelona in September, part of the 24H Series.

Christian Hook and Steve Parrow will drive a Rinaldi Ferrari in the Am class of the International GT Open, while a second car will be driven by Vadim Kogay and second driver who will determine whether the entry is classified as Pro-Am or Am.

Finally, Rinaldi is set to support HB Racing’s ADAC GT Masters entry with the team running one Ferrari as the 488 GT3 makes its debut in the series. 

Jake Kilshaw

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.