October 15, 2026
HOCKENHEIM, GERMANY
Rafael Duran took on Round 6 of the International GT Open this weekend at the Hockenheimring, sharing the AF Corse #51 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo with teammate Tommaso Mosca - a weekend that opened with a podium on Saturday before a rain-hit Race 2 turned a genuine shot at victory into a deeply frustrating afternoon.
Hockenheim marked the start of a decisive three-round stretch in the 2026 championship, and the #51 crew delivered immediately. Race 1 on Saturday saw Duran and Mosca run at the sharp end throughout, executing cleanly to bring the Ferrari home in P3 and add another podium to the pairing's 2026 tally. Victory went to Leonardo Moncini and Rodrigo Testa in the Scuderia Villorba Corse Lamborghini, but the AF Corse crew left Saturday with every reason for optimism heading into Sunday.
Race 2 promised even more. Rain swept across parts of the circuit, concentrating in Sector 2 while the final sector stayed dry, turning the race into a judgement call on every lap. When a full-course yellow period and a pit-stop handicap served by championship leaders Elite Motorsport reshuffled the order, Duran found himself at the head of the field - leading an International GT Open race outright with the biggest result of his campaign suddenly within reach.
Holding it proved to be the hard part. Elite's Tom Lebbon retook the lead into Turn 6, and shortly afterwards Greystone GT's Cresswell moved the #44 McLaren past the #51 as well. The afternoon then unravelled when the AF Corse Ferrari was handed a five-second time penalty for contact with the #11 Fach Auto Tech Porsche - a decisive blow in a frantic five-minute sprint to the flag that dropped the #51 all the way down to P14 at the finish. Emson and Lebbon went on to seal the win for Elite Motorsport and extend their championship advantage.
"Tricky conditions and penalties - not the weekend we were aiming for," said Duran. "We take the positives and focus on the next one. Thanks to Tommaso and everyone at AF Corse for the massive effort all weekend."
Despite the bitter end to Sunday, the weekend still delivered a podium and confirmed once again that the #51 crew have the pace to lead races outright when the opportunity presents itself. Attention now turns to the GT Open 500 at Monza - an endurance-format round awarding double points, and the perfect chance for Duran and AF Corse to make up the ground lost in Germany.
Race Results - AF Corse #51:
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 AF Corse
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.
