The 2026 Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli UK season roared into life at the legendary Paul Ricard circuit in Le Castellet, France, where drivers faced a dramatic opening weekend defined by mixed weather, fierce competition and standout performances across both Trofeo Pirelli and Coppa Shell classes. In front of a passionate crowd, the fast-flowing circuit provided the perfect stage for the first round of the championship, with official Ferrari driver Alessio Rovera serving as Driver Steward and presenting the podium trophies.
Saturday’s opening qualifying session took place in heavy rain, demanding precision and confidence from the grid of Ferrari 296 Challenge race cars. In Trofeo Pirelli, Bradley Yates of Charles Hurst delivered an impressive debut performance to secure pole position with a time of 2:18.806, with less than a second separating the top four drivers in a tightly contested session. In Coppa Shell, series newcomer Christopher Beighton from Graypaul Nottingham also made a strong first impression, claiming pole with a lap of 2:20.294 as six new drivers joined the UK series for the 2026 season.
The first race of the weekend produced immediate drama in the Trofeo Pirelli class. Bradley Yates lined up on pole alongside last year’s Coppa Shell champion Mike Dewhirst of Dick Lovett Swindon, while two-time Trofeo Pirelli champion Gilbert Yates started from the second row. The race soon developed into a compelling family duel between father and son. Gilbert seized the lead in the opening laps, taking advantage of an opportunity into the first chicane. Bradley responded midway through the race with a decisive inside move, reclaiming the lead and quickly opening a two-second advantage.
Behind them, Manuela Gostner of Ineco steadily closed in on the leading pair, while Dewhirst fought hard to maintain pressure but ultimately finished fourth after an intense chase. Bradley Yates completed a flawless debut race, securing victory along with points for pole position and fastest lap. Gilbert Yates initially crossed the line in second but was handed a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits, promoting Gostner to second place and marking an important podium result for the series’ first female driver.
The Coppa Shell contest was equally intense. Although Beighton started from pole, Darren Howell of JCT600 Leeds surged ahead into the opening corner to take the lead. Series veteran Peter Hunter from Stratstone Manchester recovered brilliantly from a difficult qualifying session, climbing from seventh to second by the end of the opening lap as he set his sights on the race lead. The midfield produced a tightly contested battle throughout the race, but Beighton ultimately secured the final podium position in his first appearance in the UK series. Italian driver Andrea Seminara of HR Owen spent much of the race defending from Sean Ran and William Bolster, while Huseyn Sert and John Turner completed the finishing order.
Sunday’s action unfolded in dry conditions, transforming the pace and rhythm of the race weekend. The second qualifying session again saw Bradley Yates emerge as the benchmark in Trofeo Pirelli, securing pole position for the second consecutive day with a time of 2:04.740. Joseph Dean from Stratstone Colchester lined up second on the grid, followed closely by Gilbert Yates, with less than a second covering the top three drivers.
In Coppa Shell, Ian Morris of Maranello Sales produced an impressive final lap to claim pole position with a 2:06.420, improving on his third-place start from the previous day. Seminara and Beighton followed on the grid, while Saturday’s race winner Peter Hunter qualified sixth and Darren Howell secured fifth.
The second Trofeo Pirelli race began with another strong launch from Bradley Yates, but the battle quickly intensified when Gilbert Yates overtook Joseph Dean into the first corner. Gilbert relentlessly pursued his son and eventually forced his way into the lead after a tense exchange at Virage du Pont and the opening chicane. The contest between the two Yates drivers allowed Dean to close the gap, though the leading duo soon began to pull away from the rest of the field.
However, the race took an unexpected turn in the closing stages when Gilbert Yates suffered a technical failure with just five minutes remaining and was forced to retire. Bradley capitalised immediately, extending his lead to nearly twenty seconds and cruising to his second victory of the weekend. Dean secured a breakthrough podium in second place, while Manuela Gostner continued her consistent form with a third-place finish.
The Coppa Shell race delivered its own share of drama. Ian Morris converted his pole position into an early lead, but Beighton quickly demonstrated his racing experience by overtaking Seminara in the opening laps to move into second place. Howell also made an aggressive start, pushing past Ran and Seminara to claim third.
Huseyn Sert initially surged forward from seventh to fourth with a series of confident overtakes, but his race unravelled after suffering a puncture followed by a spin that forced him into the pits twice, dropping him down the order. At the front, Beighton steadily increased his pace and executed a decisive move on Morris at the chicane before the Mistral straight around the halfway mark. The two leaders then established a comfortable gap to Howell in third.
In the closing laps, Seminara and Hunter both passed the struggling Sert to secure fourth and fifth respectively. Beighton successfully defended his lead to claim his maiden Coppa Shell victory, finishing ahead of fellow newcomer Morris and the experienced Howell.
After an action-packed opening round at Paul Ricard, the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli UK championship now heads back to British soil. The second round of the 2026 season will take place at Snetterton in Norfolk from 2–3 May, where fans will once again be able to follow the action live at the circuit or online through Ferrari’s official streaming platform.
