July 1, 2026
MONZA, ITALY
Rafael Duran turned a nightmare qualifying into a career-defining recovery this weekend at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, converting a last-row start into his first podium of the 2026 season at Round 2 of the Campionato Italiano Gran Turismo Endurance Cup, sharing the #50 Spirit of Race Ferrari 296 GT3 with teammate David Perel.
The weekend began in the worst possible way. Perel was caught out at Parabolica during Qualifying 1 and made contact with the barriers, meaning the #50 Ferrari was unable to set a representative time in the session. That left the pairing with the toughest possible starting position for the three-hour race - dead last on a stacked 54-car grid, with the entire field to hunt down over the course of the afternoon.
What followed was a masterclass in patience, race craft and execution. Duran and Perel put their heads down from lights out, working the #50 Ferrari through the field lap after lap, capitalising on cleaner pit sequences and staying out of trouble in a chaotic race. Steady progress became genuine momentum, and by the closing stages the Spirit of Race entry was fighting on the sharp end of its class, ultimately crossing the line on the podium - a remarkable result given where the weekend had started and the first trophy of the year for both driver and squad.
"Finally! First podium of the year," said Duran. "After all the issues and bad luck we've had so far this season, starting from the very back here in Monza to now finally finishing on the podium - this one feels extra sweet. Grazie to Spirit of Race and to David for their hard work. We keep pushing."
The result rewards a group that has been carrying strong pace all season without the luck to convert it, and provides a huge morale boost as the Italian GT Endurance Championship continues. Duran will now regroup and turn his focus to the next challenges on his packed 2026 programme, riding a wave of confidence and finally with a first podium of the year in his back pocket.
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.
