The end of 32nd Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Europe has marked yet another season of excitement, speed, and fierce competition. Battling it out at some of Europe’s most iconic circuits, drivers and teams fought to secure positions in the championship that celebrates Ferrari excellence. Standing out in particular this year was the new Ferrari 296 Challenge. The ninth car in the history of the one-make championship, this model is designed to offer exceptional performance combined with an unprecedented driving experience.
Zanasi Group also played a key role in this year’s championship, confirming its top-level reputation within the paddock with its hospitality facilities. An exclusive space conceived to host customers and partners, the hospitality area also offered enthusiasts the chance to find out more about the different members of the group first hand. from Motor Service, Ferrari Official Service a SCP (Rapid Prototyping), via Peluso Automotive, TURN, CDP a SIM Maranello, which specializes in driving simulators, to Atelier Zanasi, excellence in interior customization and restoration.
The Ferrari Challenge is more than just a competition; it is an experience that combines performance, innovation, and passion. Because of this, Zanasi Group closely followed every leg of the championship, soaking up the excitement of every race weekend with its entire team and cheering on Marco Zanasi. With our focus now trained on the 2025 season, let’s relive together every step of this amazing season.
Mugello: an excellent start to the season for Marco Zanasi at the Trofeo Pirelli Am
The season got off to an exciting start for Marco Zanasi, top-ranking driver in the first round of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Europe 2024 at Mugello. The CDP – Pinetti Motorsport team driver took pole position in Race 1, with an extraordinary lap time of 1:48.745, securing victory after a neck-and-neck finish with Claus Zibrandtsen. In Race 2, Zanasi confirmed his talent, by achieving second place, behind Hendrik Viol.
Balaton: Marco Zanasi triumphs in Race 2 at the Trofeo Pirelli Am
An adrenaline-filled weekend for the Ferrari Challenge in Hungary, where Marco Zanasi earned an impressive victory in Race 2 at the Trofeo Pirelli AM. Capitalising on a mistake by Claus Zibrandtsen, Zanasi kept his cool until the chequered flag fell, earning a place on the top step of the podium. This result put him in second position overall, trailing the leader Hendrik Viol by just two points. Zanasi Group also contributed to this significant event in the season with its hospitality space, confirming its top-level reputation among customers and partners in the Ferrari world.
Jerez: an adrenaline-packed weekend for Marco Zanasi
An excitement-filled weekend at the Jerez circuit, for this Spanish leg of the Ferrari Challenge Europe 2024.
Getting off to a lightning start on Saturday, our very own Marco Zanasi climbed three positions from his grid slot, but finished Race 1 in fifth place after race officials imposed a drive-through for incorrect alignment at the start. Making a swift recovery, Zanasi’s results on Sunday were extremely positive. He got off to a great start, climbing a position in the first lap, and ended in second position on the podium, demonstrating once again his determination and skill on the track.
Portimão: a tricky weekend, but the race for the title continues
Marco Zanasi’s weekend in Portimão did not go quite as expected. After promising pre-race tests, the Maranello driver struggled to set his pace due to temperature changes and the traffic during the qualifying sessions, ending both sessions in fourth place on the grid. In Race 1, Zanasi managed to keep things under control enough to come in fourth, while a chaotic end in Race 2 prevented what could have been a second-place finish. Blocked by Viol after he ignored a black flag, Zanasi quickly lost positions, coming in ninth. A disappointing ending, but the Pirelli Am title was still very much up for grabs.
Le Castellet: despite a series of setbacks, Marco Zanasi keeps sprinting towards his victory
The Le Castellet leg could have been a turning point for Marco Zanasi in the Ferrari Challenge Europe, but the weekend proved to be more challenging than expected. After a strong opening start in free practice and securing a front row start for Race 1, a mistake at the start forced him back to third place. On Sunday, a mechanical failure in the qualifying session relegated him to fourth position on the grid, while in Race 2, compromised aerodynamics of his Ferrari meant he had to settle for fifth place. A tough weekend, but Zanasi was still in the running for the title, despite Zibrandtsen having a large lead.
Nurburgring: after a challenging weekend, eyes trained on Imola
Things don’t always go according to plan. So when a weekend turns out to be tougher than expected, the only thing that really counts is that you gave it your all, fighting to the finish. This was the situation Marco Zanasi found himself facing at the Nürburgring when, during the second-to-last round of the Ferrari Challenge Europe, the Maranello driver was forced to abandon hope of securing the title. Behind the wheel of the Pinetti Motorsport Ferrari 296 Challenge, Zanasi closed the Trofeo Pirelli AM free practice in seventh place, starting a weekend that would prove to be arduous. And the qualifying results confirmed the situation, with Zanasi coming in fifth in Race 1 and seventh in Race G. Stuck behind both Saturday and Sunday, Zanasi found himself caught in a heated brawl, taking hits that slowed down his pace. In Race 1, he finished sixth after a wheel hub issue, while an impaired setup in Race 2 left him forced to settle for seventh place. He remains third in the overall standings, albeit at an unbridgeable distance from Zibrandtsen and Viol.
Imola: Marco Zanasi secures third place in the Ferrari Challenge finals
The Ferrari World Finals in Imola wrapped up an intense season, keeping excitement high through to the last lap. Among the protagonists of the Ferrari Challenge Europe, Marco Zanasi gave it his all to defend the championship podium, battling misfortune in a weekend packed with surprises.
After securing a promising fourth place in free practice on Wednesday, the Pinetti Motorsport driver, behind the wheel of the Ferrari 296 Challenge, was set held by aquaplaning in the qualifying sessions, ending up in the gravel and forced to start from the back in Race 1. Despite these setbacks, he recovered eight positions, almost making it into the top ten. Another spectacular comeback in Race 2 took him up to eleventh overall and sixth in his category and decisive overtaking action at the final turn of the season helped him maintain third place in the Pirelli AM championship. But the weekend wasn’t over yet, as Zanasi came in eighth in the Pirelli Trophy World Final qualifying sessions, second among the Pirelli AM drivers, leaving him set up for a leading role in the race. But the weather turned everything upside down. When the rain started to fall, only the drivers in the last positions had mounted rain tyres and the forced return to the pits for the tyre change shook up the standings, sparking unexpected results.
Marco Zanasi focuses on leading role in Ferrari Challenge 2025
Despite a run of misfortunes that affected the final result, the outcome of the 2024 Ferrari Challenge Europe season for Marco Zanasi remains unquestionably positive. The P inetti Motorsport driver has shown that he can compete at the highest levels of the category, delivering stand-out performances and confirming his position as one of the main contenders in the series.
The experience gained throughout the year, through hard-fought battles, spectacular comebacks, and unexpected twists, will be a valuable asset heading into the 2025 season – where the focus will be on building on past achievements to reach even greater heights. The performances on track and the hard work put in by the team have laid the groundwork for building a new year as a top competitor in the Ferrari Challenge.
