Ferrari Challenge heads to Hungaroring for penultimate European round
The sixth and penultimate round of the European Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli is underway at Hungaroring from 10–13 September, with 35 drivers competing in Ferrari 296 Challenge machinery. The Hungarian event forms part of the broader Ferrari Racing Days programme and carries significant weight in the championship battle, as only the season finale at Finali Mondiali in Barcelona (17–23 November) remains after this weekend.
In the Trofeo Pirelli class, Sergio Paulet (Ineco – Reparto Corse RAM) leads the standings, with Max Mugelli (CDP – Eureka Competition) in second and among the main title contenders. Returning drivers include Niklas Abrahamsen (Formula Racing) and Hendrik Viol (Scuderia Praha Racing). The Trofeo Pirelli Am category is headed by Michael Verhagen (Ferrari Warszawa), while the Coppa Shell battle remains tight: Fons Scheltema (Kessel Racing) holds 84 points, just two ahead of Sven Schömer (Penske Sportwagen Hamburg). In Coppa Shell Am, Jean Ryu (Kessel Racing) leads with 120 points.
Beyond Ferrari Challenge, the weekend includes track sessions for Club Competizioni GT, XX Programme, F1 Clienti, and Sport Prototipi Clienti. Racing began with test sessions on Thursday 10 September, followed by qualifying on Friday. The first races are scheduled for Saturday 12 September at 10:30 (Coppa Shell classes) and 15:50 (Trofeo Pirelli classes), with a Ferrari owner parade at midday. Sunday 13 September features further races at 10:30 and 14:55.
Ferrari has also announced significant changes for the 2027 season. An endurance format will be introduced to the European Ferrari Challenge, with 40-minute races plus one lap held at three of seven rounds—Misano, Hockenheim, and Valencia. Each endurance race will include a mandatory pit stop between laps 15 and 25, with driver changes permitted. The remaining rounds will retain the traditional sprint format at Donington, Spa-Francorchamps, Misano, and Finali Mondiali. Endurance rounds will carry increased championship weight to emphasise strategy and pit-stop management. Similar changes are planned for the North American Ferrari Challenge from 2027 onwards.