Midrand, 05th February 2022

Alessandro Pier Guidi and Côme Ledogar claimed the drivers’ title in the last round of the 2021 Intercontinental GT Challenge, with their second place in the 9 Hours of Kyalami. The series organised by SRO features the toughest endurance races for GT3 cars. The 2021 racing season officially concluded with the South African event. It was Ferrari’s most successful ever, with 24 titles, including two FIA WEC world crowns, won in the main national and international championships.

The race progressed smoothly with the Ferraris always in the top positions, engaged in a duel with the eventual winner, the Akka-ASP Mercedes of Marciello-Gounon-Boguslasvski, until the number 71 488 GT3 Evo 2020 retired in mid-race due to a transmission problem.

This was a pity for Nicklas Nielsen, Antonio Fuoco and Alessio Rovera, who had up to then put in a compelling performance. The Dane, who had teamed up with Pier Guidi and Ledogar in previous rounds, was the first to congratulate his teammates at the end of the race, a sign of the positive atmosphere among the drivers.

After the Mercedes pulled away towards the fifth hour, the crew of the number 51 AF Corse Francorchamps Motors Ferrari tried to contain the gap to the leader while at the same time managing their advantage over the two Audis still in contention for the title. All this without taking any unnecessary risks on a very demanding track for drivers and vehicles.

Alessandro Pier Guidi, who shared the Ferrari’s cockpit with Côme Ledogar and an excellent Miguel Molina, crossed the finish line in second after a race embellished in the first hours by a spectacular overtaking on the outside against the Italian Drudi. With this result, both Pier Guidi and Ledogar claimed their first-ever Intercontinental GT Challenge title, while Ferrari finished behind Audi in the Constructors’ standings. The Italian driver closed an extraordinary season. He claimed the FIA WEC World Championship title, the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup, the two victories at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

This is title number 107 for the 488 GT3, in its standard and Evo 2020 configurations, with 429 victories from 770 starts, an extraordinary result that confirms it as the most successful Ferrari in history.


Comments After 9 Hours of Kyalami

Alessandro Pier Guidi, AF Corse Francorchamps Motors number 51
“It has been an extraordinary season, and I think it will be tough to repeat it because, even though it’s now 2022, this result incorporates those of last year. Together with Ferrari and AF Corse, we won everything we could win. I feel bad for Nicklas, who has been racing with us all season, but Ferrari’s choice to split us up was logical to try and double our chances of success. I would like to thank Miguel and Côme for a wonderful race. Today, for the first time, my final stint was uneventful and I was able to manage the lead and the car. The season took the right turn for us at Spa-Francorchamps and, in the end, we won this title thanks to two very good overtakes”.

Côme Ledogar, AF Corse Francorchamps Motors number 51
“I am delighted, but at the moment I can’t be completely happy because I wish Nicklas was here celebrating this title with us. We know that retirement is part of the game, but we also know that he gave everything to try to win, and this season I got to know him up close and appreciate him a lot. We’re happy, but I miss him right now”.

Miguel Molina, AF Corse Francorchamps Motors number 51
“Today’s race was tough because the track is very dark, and you have to get used to these light conditions quickly. However, the car performed superbly, and I am happy to have helped Alessandro and Côme win the title. They did a great job. I am very proud of my performance at Kyalami and to have contributed to their success”.

Nicklas Nielsen, AF Corse Francorchamps Motors number 71
“We were having a very good race, and our pace was really excellent. I am sorry it ended earlier than expected, especially for Alessio and Antonio, who raced extremely well. The problem came on suddenly. I had no traction, but we have to analyse what happened once we get home. However, the season was still positive for me with wins at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, as well as the title in the FIA WEC”.

Antonello Coletta, Head of Ferrari Attività Sportive GT
“The Drivers’ title for Alessandro and Côme is the icing on the cake of a memorable season that we can now finally consign to the records as the most successful in our history. It has been a memorable year, which will undoubtedly provide the necessary impetus and motivation for a 2022 that will be crucial for our future. I am delighted for the champions. They deserved the result due to their consistently high level of performance. I am sorry about Nielsen’s retirement, as he was having a great race. However, I was happy to see all our drivers celebrating together what is, to all intents and purposes, our first Intercontinental GT Challenge title. I would also like to mention the one hundred and seventh title for the 488 GT3, obtained in just five years of activity: I think this is a historic result of which we should be proud”.

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