May 18, 2026
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, BELGIUM
Rafael Duran headed to the iconic Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps this weekend for Round 2 of the International GT Open, taking on the unique GT Open 500 endurance format alongside teammate Tommaso Mosca in the AF Corse #51 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo - a weekend that had all the ingredients of a maiden victory before being undone in the cruelest possible way.
The Spa round of the championship swaps the usual two-sprint format for a single 500-kilometre race (up to 2h55), awarding double points and putting strategy, tyre management and fuel calculations firmly under the microscope. Duran and Mosca arrived in the Ardennes with strong momentum, and the #51 Ferrari showed front-running pace throughout the weekend's free practice sessions and across both qualifying segments.
When the race got underway, Duran took the start in the #51 and immediately had to defend hard in a chaotic opening sequence. The Spanish-American driver settled into a strong rhythm shortly after, working the car back into contention and setting up Mosca to attack later in the race - a recovery that had AF Corse very much back in the fight.
Unfortunately, the result that the weekend's pace promised slipped away in heartbreaking fashion. The #51 Ferrari was forced to retire from the race after running out of fuel - a cruel end to a weekend in which everything else had been in place, ultimately recorded as a DNF and leaving the squad without the result their performance had so clearly merited.
"It's a really tough one to take," said Duran. "I lost a few positions at the start which made the job harder, but we kept our heads down, got back into the fight and Tommy did a brilliant job in his stint to keep us in contention. To not bring it home is gutting, but the pace from the car and the work from the AF Corse crew was outstanding all weekend. We'll regroup, analyse everything with the team, and come back hungry for the next round."
The double-points format means the missed opportunity stings a little more in the standings, but the weekend's underlying pace gives Duran and AF Corse plenty of confidence as the championship rolls on. Focus now shifts to Round 3 of the International GT Open, where the #51 crew will be looking to translate Spa's speed into the silverware it deserved.
Race Results - Spirit of Racing #50:
About Rafael Duran
Born to a Spanish mother and an American father, Rafael Duran grew up surrounded by international motorsport culture. He is part of the Ferrari Corsa Clienti and progressed through the Ferrari Driver Academy, competing in the Ferrari Challenge before stepping up to endurance racing in 2024. Rafael is currently active across multiple international GT championships, marking a decisive step toward a professional career in top-tier GT racing.
About Spirit of Race
AF Corse is one of the most successful Ferrari customer teams in international GT racing. Based in Italy, the squad has built a reputation for technical excellence and a winning culture across endurance and sprint disciplines, fielding a fleet of Ferrari 296 GT3 Evos across the world's leading GT championships in 2026
