Saturday 14 March 2026. The inaugural race of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli UK season kicked off in the south of France at the legendary Paul Ricard circuit in Le Castellet. In front of a passionate crowd, the drivers tackled the fast-flowing circuit in both wet and dry conditions throughout the day. Official Ferrari Driver, Alessio Rovera, was Driver Steward for the event, and also presented the podium trophies.
Qualifying 1:
Heavy rain in the morning resulted in a wet qualifying session. In Trofeo Pirelli, Bradley Yates (Charles Hurst) claimed pole in his debut season with a time of 2:18:806 following a competitive session with less than one second separating the top four. In Coppa Shell, newcomer Christopher Beighton (Graypaul Nottingham) posted the fastest qualifying lap of 2:20:294 to secure pole position, with the top four in that class separated by less than half-a-second, and six new drivers entering the UK series this year.
Race 1:
Trofeo Pirelli. The front row of the Trofeo Pirelli class featured a new driver to the UK series: B.Yates on Pole Position, and last year’s Coppa Shell champion, Mike Dewhirst (Dick Lovett Swindon) alongside him in 2nd place. Two-time Trofeo Pirelli Champion Gilbert Yates (Charles Hurst) started from the second row.
Although they are father and son, the fight between Gilbert and Bradley was extremely close and fair, with Gilbert gaining the upper hand within the first couple of laps, taking the lead into the first chicane. However, the younger Yates performed an excellent overtake on the inside of his father at the halfway mark, and quickly opened up a 2 second lead, while Manuela Gostner (Ineco) closed the gap to Yates in 2nd place. Dewhirst made a valiant effort to chase down the experienced Gostner but couldn’t gain any ground and finished the race in 4th, only one second ahead of Joseph Dean (Stratstone Colchester).
Bradley Yates clinched the victory to complete a perfect first race, with points for Pole, Fastest Lap and Race Win. His father, however, received a five second penalty for exceeding track limits, allowing Gostner, the series’ first female driver, to leapfrog him onto the 2nd step of the podium.
Coppa Shell. Another series newcomer in 2026, Beighton started from Pole Position in the Coppa Shell class, but it was Darren Howell (JCT600 Leeds) who took the lead into the first corner. Series veteran Peter Hunter (Stratstone Manchester) quickly made up for a disappointing qualifying position (7th) and completed the first lap in a remarkable 2nd position in class, overtaking Beighton and chasing down Howell.
There was a closely fought battle in the mid-field, but ultimately, it was Beighton who secured the last step of the podium, with an impressive drive for his first time in the UK series. Italian driver Andrea Seminara (HR Owen) had a close battle behind Beighton, being chased hard by Sean Ran (HR Owen) and William Bolster (Charles Hurst) for the majority of the race. Huseyn Sert (Maranello Sales) and John Turner (Stratstone Manchester) made up the final positions at the end of the race.
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, Seminara and yesterday’s Pole Sitter Beighton placed second and third respectively. Yesterday’s race winner, Peter Hunter qualified in 6th, while fellow podium sitter, Darren Howell secured 5th.
Race 2:
Trofeo Pirelli. Yesterday’s race winner, Bradley Yates made a quick getaway from Pole Position, while his father Gilbert Yates, last year’s Trofeo Pirelli champion, 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 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, Christopher Beighton (Graypaul Nottingham) performed an excellent overtake on Seminara to take 2nd position within the first few corners. Darren Howell (JCT600 Leeds) also started well, accelerating past Ran and Seminara, to move into 3rd.
Sert, starting from 7th, also made several confident overtakes to take 4th position, however he suffered a puncture and then a spin which meant he visited the pits twice during the race, dropping him right down the order. 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 Race:
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.