September 7, 2026
IMOLA, ITALY
Rafael Duran delivered the fastest package of the weekend at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, converting a maiden overall pole position into another podium finish at the penultimate round of the Campionato Italiano Gran Turismo Endurance Cup, sharing the #50 Spirit of Race Ferrari 296 GT3 with teammate David Perel.
The weekend belonged to the #50 from the moment the crew hit the track. After topping the timesheets in Friday practice, Duran and Perel carried that speed into qualifying, where Perel dominated his session with a 1m41.046s and Duran backed it up with a 1m41.596s average to seal overall pole position for the three-hour race - the first outright pole of the pairing's career together and a statement of the package Spirit of Race had assembled.
Race day proved harder to control. Albag got the jump on Perel at the start to take the lead, and from there the #50 crew found themselves managing traffic and track position in a tightly-contested three hours. A scrimmage with Rackstraw in traffic cost the Ferrari a shot at the runner-up spot overall, but Duran and Perel held firm to bring the #50 home on the podium - P2 in class and third overall - as Spirit of Race put both of its Ferrari 296 GT3s on the rostrum. Victory went to the #64 AKM Motorsport Mercedes-AMG of Guy Albag and Lorenzo Ferrari.
"P2 in Imola," said Duran. "Fastest package of the weekend, and our first ever overall pole with David dominating his sessions. Little luck for the race, but all good - we will bring it to the next one. Thank you to David and the team for everything."
The result extends an impressive run of form for Duran in the Italian GT Championship and underlines the raw pace of the #50 crew, who have now shown they can put the car on pole against the full field. With the season entering its closing stages, focus turns to the final round, where Duran and Perel will be looking to convert that qualifying speed into a first win of the campaign
Race Results - Spirit of Race #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
Spirit of Race is the gentleman-driver programme operated by AF Corse, one of the most successful Ferrari customer teams in international motorsport. With a strong presence across the Italian GT Championship and other premier GT series, Spirit of Race combines AF Corse's technical expertise with a passion for developing driver talent at the highest level of GT competition.
