Gilbert Yates claimed victory in Ferrari Challenge UK’s first ever race in Spain with an impressive showing in the opening race of the season at Circuito de Navarra this afternoon (Saturday).
The reigning Trofeo Pirelli champion held off a spirited challenge from fellow front row starter Pranav Vangala as the race got underway from a rolling start, but moved into a commanding lead after that. After spending the opening laps a small distance ahead of Vangala, Yates began to control proceedings in his Charles Hurst machine edging away from the rest.
A mid-race safety car period bunched things up after off-track moments for Fedor Samorukov and Sean Ran. But Yates picked things up again after that to pull clear and lead until the end. There was the brief threat of tricky circuit conditions late on with rain, but the safety car was dispatched, ensuring Yates crossed the lead in first.
Vangala was relatively untroubled in his run to second whilst Oscar Ryndziewicz completed the podium positions after holding off race-long rival Calum Leathem. Behind them, Paul Simmerson was fifth outright following an impressive display as the first of the Trofeo Shell class drivers.
Bal Sidhu and Joseph Dean crossed the line sixth and seventh, just in front of Mike Dewhurst and Peter Hunter who finished second and third respectively of the Trofeo Shell runners. John Marcar rounded out the overall top-10.
Ferrari Challenge UK, Race 1, Result
- Gilbert Yates, Charles Hurst
- Pranav Vangala, HR Owen, +0.920s
- Oscar Ryndziewicz, Graypaul Glasgow, +1.923s
- Calum Leathem, Charles Hurst, +2.747s
- Paul Simmerson, Graypaul Birmingham, +3.993s
- Bal Sidhu, HR Owen, +4.893s
- Joseph Dean, Jardine Colchester, +5.180s
- Mike Dewurst, Dick Lovett Swindon, +8.748s
- Peter Hunter, Stratstone Manchester, +9.079s
- John Marcar, Graypaul Birmingham, +9.750s
Click here for full timings.