July 1, 2026
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, BELGIUM
Rafael Duran wrote his name into the history books this weekend at the 79th edition of the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, claiming Silver Cup victory alongside teammates David Perel, Dylan Medler and Alessandro Balzan in the Rinaldi Racing #45 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo - the crown jewel of the GT World Challenge Europe calendar and the biggest result of the young Spanish-American driver's career to date.
The 24 Hours of Spa is unlike any other race on the calendar - a round-the-clock battle across the iconic Ardennes rollercoaster that punishes the smallest mistake, rewards the finest preparation, and pushes drivers, cars and crews to the absolute limit. For Duran, tackling the legendary event with a proven crew and a Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo capable of running at the sharp end of its class was a golden opportunity - one the Rinaldi Racing squad was determined to take.
The race lived up to its reputation for drama from the drop of the green flag. The #45 crew navigated 24 hours of everything Spa can throw at a competitor - changing conditions, safety cars, incidents, heavy traffic and relentless pressure from a stacked Silver Cup field - and did so with clinical execution across every stint. Duran took his turns behind the wheel with confidence and control, feeding into a team performance that was defined by consistency, calm under pressure and an unshakeable belief in the strategy.
As the hours ticked down, the #45 Ferrari found itself locked in a tense fight with the #30 Team WRT BMW for Silver Cup honours - a duel that went right down to the final phase of the race before Rinaldi Racing sealed the deal, delivering a class victory of enormous significance for what remains a compact operation up against much larger squads. Overall honours in the race went to Lionspeed GP's Porsche, but the Silver Cup rostrum belonged to Duran and his teammates.
"We did it! We won at the 24 Hours of Spa," said Duran. "This feels surreal after all the struggles we've faced this season so far. An incredibly demanding 24 hours with many ups and downs, but we never stopped fighting. Winning a legendary race like this is a dream come true. Big thanks to everyone at Rinaldi Racing and to my teammates - David, Alessandro and Dylan - for the incredible work and for leaving absolutely everything out on the track. This wouldn't have been possible without you guys."
The result caps a hugely rewarding month for Duran, and confirms his ability to deliver on the biggest stages of international GT racing. With Silver Cup silverware from Spa now on the mantelpiece, the momentum couldn't be stronger as Duran turns his attention to the remainder of a packed 2026 programme across the world's leading GT championships.
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 - as underlined by their Silver Cup triumph at the 2026 24 Hours of Spa.
