June 1, 2026
MONZA, ITALY
Rafael Duran returned to GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup action this weekend at the legendary Autodromo Nazionale Monza, sharing the #45 Rinaldi Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo with teammates Dylan Medler and David Perel for Round 2 of the championship - a race that turned out to be one of the most chaotic outings of Duran's young career.
The Spanish-American driver showed strong pace from the outset of the weekend, helping the trio qualify P6 and putting the #45 entry firmly in the conversation for a podium ahead of the three-hour race. With a competitive grid slot and three quick drivers in the line-up, the squad lined up with serious intent on Sunday afternoon.
Any hope of a clean run evaporated almost immediately. A multi-car crash on the very first lap of the race set the tone for what would unfold as one of the most chaotic events of the 2026 GTWC Europe season so far. From there, the #45 crew had to keep their heads down and execute, with Medler delivering a standout opening stint to keep the Ferrari in contention and bring it through the chaos unscathed. Perel then took over and was credited as the single fastest driver of the entire race in his stint, before Duran brought the car home in a hard-fought P7 finish - a result that, while shy of the podium, reflected the resilience and execution required to convert a punishing afternoon into important championship points.
"P6 in qualifying and P7 at the finish after three intense hours at one of the most chaotic races I've had so far," said Duran. "A multi-car crash on the very first lap was only the start of the chaos. It feels so good to have the pace to fight in this championship, and with a little bit of luck I'm sure we'll get the results. God bless Dylan for his insane first stint and keeping the car alive, and a huge thank you to the legend David for being the fastest driver overall in his stint. Thank you to Rinaldi - now let's go for the big one in Spa."
With Monza now behind him, Duran's attention turns to the crown jewel of the GTWC Europe calendar - the 24 Hours of Spa - where Rinaldi Racing and the #45 crew will be looking to convert the underlying pace shown across the opening rounds into a result worthy of one of endurance racing's most iconic events.
Race Results - Rinaldi Racing #45:
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 Rinaldi Racing
Rinaldi Racing is a long-standing Ferrari customer team with a strong heritage in international endurance and sprint GT racing. The German-based outfit campaigns Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo machinery in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup and other premier series, combining technical know-how, race-winning experience and meticulous preparation to deliver results at the highest level of GT competition.
