Francorchamps Motors Concludes the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe at Barcelona
The curtain falls on the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe this weekend at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, from 10 to 12 October. The 4.657-kilometre circuit at Montmeló, just north-east of Barcelona, hosts a spectacular 60-car grid for the Festival de la Velocidad, marking the decisive final act of the season.
· Car #50 maintains its established line-up of official Ferrari drivers Antonio Fuoco and Arthur Leclerc, joined by Eliseo Donno.
· Car #51, last year’s championship-winning entry, sees Vincent Abril and Ferrari factory driver Alessio Rovera team up with Yifei Ye, fresh from his victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the #83 AF Corse 499P. Ye replaces Alessandro Pier Guidi, who is competing in the IMSA series this weekend.
Strong Qualifying Performance
Qualifying for the season finale took place on Sunday morning under clear skies and mild conditions, with both air and track temperatures at 20°C. The starting grid was determined by the average of each driver’s best lap across their respective 15-minute sessions.
The #51 AF Corse – Francorchamps Motors Ferrari 296 GT3, shared by Yifei Ye, Alessio Rovera, and Vincent Abril, delivered an impressive performance, securing third place on the grid with an average lap of 1:39.848, earning a second-row start for the final race of the season.
Meanwhile, the #50 Ferrari 296 GT3 of Fuoco, Leclerc, and Donno posted the seventh-fastest average time of 1:40.145, ensuring both Francorchamps Motors entries began the race firmly within the top ten.
Race Recap: Intense Battle in Barcelona
The three-hour finale at Barcelona provided high drama, mechanical challenges, and flashes of brilliance for AF Corse – Francorchamps Motors.
Starting from seventh, the #50 Ferrari 296 GT3 initially dropped back after the first driver change but mounted an impressive recovery thanks to a superb stint from Antonio Fuoco, who charged up to third place. Arthur Leclerc maintained the pressure in the final hour, fighting for second before ultimately crossing the line in fourth overall, a strong finish in one of the season’s most competitive fields.
The #51 car, which started third, also showed strong pace in the early stages but lost ground after a difficult pit stop sequence. A late puncture to the left-rear tyre ended hopes of a top result, leaving the crew 33rd at the flag despite a determined recovery effort.
In the Bronze Cup, the #52 AF Corse – Francorchamps Motors Ferrari 296 GT3, driven by Jef and Louis Machielsalongside Tommaso Mosca, delivered a solid performance, running among the front-runners before a mechanical issue interrupted their progress.
Drivers’ Reactions
Alessio Rovera (#51): : “The race ended a bit like the season: very unlucky. So many things happened, including yet another puncture caused by debris. It’s a shame, because our pace was really strong and we could have achieved a good result.”
Yifei Ye (#51): “I knew this weekend wouldn’t be easy, as it was the final round of the championship. I aimed to learn as much as possible. I think we put in an excellent qualifying performance, finishing third. Then, during the first Safety Car period, we dropped to mid-pack, which made things more challenging. We were gradually working our way back into the top ten, but in the end, we suffered a puncture while Alessio was attempting to pass another car, which was a shame. Nevertheless, it was a great experience for me to be back behind the wheel of the 296 GT3.”
Arthur Leclerc (#50): “I’m not satisfied with the result because I believe we could have finished at least second. Our rivals turned out to be faster than they appeared, forcing me to slow down and allowing those behind to overtake. I put everything I had into my attempt to fend them off, but they got past me. Next time, we’ll have another chance to win.”
Louis Machiels (#52): “It was my last race and it was quite difficult, but we managed to get the car into a fantastic position, unbelievable. We were leading, but then we had a problem with the door, and I had to return to the pits. In the end, though, it was a wonderful race. I’ll be back, definitely to support my son. I want to thank Ferrari, Amato Ferrari, and the entire team for their support over all these years.”
Tommaso Mosca (#52): “Overall, it was quite a positive weekend in that qualifying didn’t go badly anyway. We kept mistakes to an absolute minimum. We then had a problem during the pit stop, but these things can happen. It was still a good stint for me despite the damage the car had sustained.”
Looking Ahead
The 2025 GT World Challenge Europe season concludes on a high note for Francorchamps Motors, with both Pro entries demonstrating strong pace and resilience despite a challenging finale. The team now turns its focus to 2026, with the new season set to open at Circuit Paul Ricard in France from 10 to 12 April.