A great year for Formula Racing

Ferrari Challenge

Ferrari Challenge Europe in 2024 saw the debut of the brand-new Ferrari 296 Challenge. The new race car was well received by our drivers, particularly by Danish driver Claus Zibrandtsen, who competed in his first full season in the championship. From the very start, Zibrandtsen delivered impressive results, including two podium finishes, which secured him the championship lead after the first round. With consistent driving, remarkable speed, and multiple victories, Claus remained at the top throughout the season and was crowned European Champion in the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli AM class during the final round at Italy’s Imola.

In the Coppa Shell AM class, our Hong Kong-based driver Eric Cheung delivered a strong performance throughout the season. However, the new tracks on the calendar presented challenges, and he had to settle for an overall second-place finish in the championship. Cheung made a powerful comeback in the World Finals, dominating the field to win the legendary Finali Mondiali race.

In the Trofeo Pirelli 488 class, Formula Racing’s Italian driver Fabrizio Fontana dominated the field all season. He secured the championship by the fifth round. Consistent performances earned the fast Italian the European Championship, marking the final official Ferrari Challenge title with the Ferrari 488 Challenge EVO model.

These excellent results, combined with points from our other Challenge drivers, also secured Formula Racing the overall team championship!

ELMS & Le Mans

For the second consecutive year, Formula Racing participated in 2024 in one of the world’s toughest endurance championships, the European Le Mans Series. Our lineup consisted of the trio Nicklas Nielsen, Conrad Laursen, and Johnny Laursen.

The season started brilliantly, with Nielsen, Laursen, and Laursen taking the LMGT3 victory in the opening race at Spain’s Formula 1 circuit, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. It was not only a dream start to the motorsport year but also the first international victory for the brand-new Ferrari 296 GT3.

Throughout the season, Formula Racing drivers consistently demonstrated strength in the LMGT3 field. However, a series of unfortunate incidents and collisions with other participants led to time lost in the pits or outright retirements. Despite these setbacks, the team achieved a podium finish in the penultimate round at Italy’s Mugello, securing third place. Nielsen, Laursen, and Laursen narrowly missed the podium with a fourth-place finish in the season finale at Portimão, ending the season in sixth place overall in the European Le Mans Series standings.

In addition to the European Championship, Formula Racing also competed in the world’s toughest race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France. Here, Nicklas Nielsen—due to his status as a factory driver—competed for Ferrari’s factory team in the Hypercar class, securing an overall victory. He was replaced on the Formula Racing team by American driver Jordan Taylor.

During the first half of the 24-hour race, the Formula Racing team was well positioned at the top of the LMGT3 field. Unfortunately, a collision with another competitor in the late-night hours sent the car into the pits for extensive repairs, costing valuable time. Despite this setback, the team maintained an impressive pace, with Conrad Laursen—just 18 years old and the youngest driver in the field—setting the fastest lap in the LMGT3 class during his debut in the prestigious race.

Conrad, Johnny, and Jordan finished the year’s Le Mans in eighth place in the LMGT3 class.