Ferrari: Fabienne Wohlwend celebrates twice 🎥

The difficult times are leaving their mark on the Ferrari Challenge. Thus, at the opening round of the Ferrari Challenge Europe in Imola, only 18 drivers from the S (Silver) and S-Am categories turned up for the Coppa Shell. Among the more strongly classified competitors in the Trofeo Pirelli, there were even only four Pro and six Pro-Am drivers.

Effects of the restrictions
Among the loyal Ferrari drivers are usually some Asians and North Americans who are victims of the travel restrictions. The gentleman racers are also often solvent businessmen who are taking a break from racing until 2021 due to the effects of the Corona pandemic.

Both fields started for the first time with the Ferrari 488 Challenge EVO.

First pole position unused
The chance of a podium finish was 75 percent for the pros, and Fabienne Wohlwend was able to take advantage of this. Even though more would have been possible.

In the first qualifying session on Saturday, the Liechtensteiner, who drives with a Swiss license, managed a perfect lap that secured her pole position for the first race at the season opener. However, not everything went smoothly here.

The flying start, in which she set the pace, did not go as she wanted (she had to take her foot off the gas briefly before the light went green), whereupon she was hit by Michelle Gatting, who had started behind her, and lost two places as a result. To excuse her, it must be said that you can never practice the starting procedure beforehand.

Stuttered to the finish
With a great overtaking maneuver, the here can be seen in a TV sequence, she soon fought her way back past her Danish rival into second position. While chasing the leading Italian Emanuele Maria Tabacchi, the fuel pump in her Ferrari stopped working properly on the last lap, probably as a result of the collision, whereupon the fuel pressure dropped.

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Because Thomas Gostner was the fourth Pro pilot to drop out ahead of her, she still rolled to the finish line in third place in her class and sixth in the small field.

Deserved second place
On Sunday Wohlwend was able to improve her lap time in qualifying, but it was still only good enough for second place on the grid. After a good start and nice duels, she drove home second overall behind Tabacchi.

Although she was not able to get the best out of it, especially on Saturday, she was satisfied afterwards.

Fabienne Wohlwend: "A very successful start to the season. The many hours in the gym and in the race simulator over the long break have paid off."

Feller still has to wait
Ricardo Feller, their designated teammate at Octane126 from Wallisellen, will not get into the action until the two events at Spa-Francochamps and Mugello. We can look forward to his Ferrari debut with anticipation.

Niki Hasler and Kessel Racing drivers also on the podium
In addition to Octane126, two Swiss teams were able to celebrate. The Ferrari of Michelle Gatting, who drives in the ELMS under the sponsorship of the women's team Iron Lynx, like Rahel Frey, is entered by Garage Niki Hasler. She was second on the podium after the first race.

In the Coppa Shell, Fons Scheltema scored a second and third place. The Dutchman has been a loyal customer of Kessel Racing for many years.

Classification Trofeo Pirelli Race 1 Classification Trofeo Pirelli Race 2 Classification Coppa Shell Race 1 Classification Coppa Shell Race 2

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