Daily Notebook: Masson set for WEC debut
19-year-old Esteban Masson is set to make its FIA WEC debut this weekend as part of Kessel Racing’s GTE Am driver line-up.
Masson, who has been competing in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine season with Saintéloc Racing, will share the #57 Ferrari with Daniel Serra and Takeshi Kimura. He replaces Scott Huffaker in the car.
Another driver change ahead of this weekend’s race is at AF Corse, where Franck Dezoteux will drive the #21 Ferrari alongside Kei Cozzolino and Simon Mann.
The latest version of the 8H Bahrain entry list can be found HERE >>>
Fleming triumphs at Mugello
21-year-old Thomas Fleming has become only the second British overall winner of the Ferrari Challenge World Final, matching the effort in 2019 from Adam Carroll in his #73 HR Owen – FF Corse Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo.
The final 30-minute race at Mugello on Sunday was a scrappy affair from the 36-car field with the Safety Car called upon even after an early red flag for barrier repairs after multiple first-lap collisions.
Fleming though was unflustered and was not headed in the final after setting pole in Superpole on Saturday.
He came home a second clear of Elisio Donino with ex-F1 driver Adrian Sutil completing the podium
A fine fifth overall was the Pro-Am winning driver Franz Engstler.
DSC will be catching up with Thomas in due course. He’ll be one of the first takers for the new Ferrari 296 Challenge in 2024 we understand, returning with FF Corse for an effort to underpin his 2023 success.
MissionH24 at Ballon d’Or
Yesterday the H24, the electric hydrogen prototype from the MissionH24 programme, paraded one of the most prestigious sports trophies in the world, the Ballon d’Or (awarded to the best male and female footballers each year), through the streets of Paris in the run-up to the international footballers’ annual prize-giving ceremony.
MissionH24 played a starring role in the Ballon d’Or celebrations, as the H24 completed the final stretch of the trophies’ journey through the streets of Paris to the red carpet outside the Théâtre du Châtelet, the venue for the event.
The H24, the first electric hydrogen racing prototype, was driven by Stéphane Richelmi, who delivered the trophies to the hosts of the gala event.
“I have to admit that of all the passengers I’ve taken on board my electric hydrogen prototype, these two Ballons d’Or trophies were the most surprising and perhaps the most spectacular,” said Richelmi.
“A few minor adjustments and maximum concentration were required to drive through the streets of Paris at this pace. As we pulled up at the venue, the H24 drew admiring glances from the world’s leading male and female footballers and no doubt piqued the curiosity of the hundreds of millions of TV viewers waiting to hear the names of the 2023 winners. It was a privilege to have been entrusted with the sustainable, zero-emission delivery of these two coveted awards!”
Corvette Z06. GT3 R progress report
Marshall Pruett and Pratt Miller Motorsport’s Ben Johnson provide an in-depth update on Corvette’s new Z06.R GT3, which is currently still in its testing and development phase ahead of its global race debut in 2024.
Image credits: Dutch Photo Agency, ACO & Ferrari
