F1 Las Vegas GP adds Ferrari Challenge support race to schedule for 2024
Ferrari / Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli to debut in Las Vegas
Race fans attending the FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN SILVER LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX from Nov. 21-23 will get the chance to enjoy more on-track action than ever before. The hugely popular Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli will be included as a support event for the first time in Las Vegas.
Regarded as one of the most renowned single-make championships in the world, the Ferrari Challenge features the brand-new model from the Prancing Horse marque – the V6 twin-turbo 296 Challenge. This model, representing a further evolution of the concept behind the Ferrari Challenge competition car, has significantly increased overall performance.
Ferrari Challenge to debut in Las Vegas
The stunning 296 Challenge, which made its on-track debut earlier this season, competes in both the European and North American rounds of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli. The latest machine from Ferrari’s racing stable is the first in this series to sport a V6 engine. It also features a hybrid powertrain designed to reduce overall weight, achieving a power output of 700cv at 7,500rpm and an impressive 870kg of downforce at 155mph – an 18 percent increase over the older 488 Challenge Evo.
Based on the 296 GTB, this new car is the ninth model to be featured in the prestigious single-marque series since the Championship’s inception in 1993. Its success has led the high-octane series to expand into various regional divisions. In addition to the European and North American competitions, the championship organizes rounds in the UK and Japan and is broadcast in over 90 countries worldwide.
Prazer and Bellot explain the addition
The addition of the Ferrari Challenge to the F1 weekend follows F1’s return to Las Vegas last November after a 40-year hiatus. Emily Prazer, the chief commercial officer at F1 and the Las Vegas Grand Prix, addressed the importance of adding a support race this year. “We took on the feedback last year of not having a support race. Logistics last year were our number one concern, which I think everyone understood. So now we feel much more comfortable being able to extend the operating hours and the track activity. It was just a year one confidence thing, honestly, and now we’re feeling pretty good about it.”
Silvia Bellot, the vice president of sporting and race operations for the Las Vegas GP, added, “Adding the Ferrari Challenge races further demonstrates our commitment to delivering an even bigger and better racing event than ever before.”
Fan experience and schedule
As a support race for the FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN SILVER LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX, the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli will thrill fans across two 35-minute races held under the floodlights on Friday and Saturday nights on Las Vegas’s famous city streets. An acclimatization practice session will be held on Thursday evening, followed by qualifying later that night.
Fans will also be able to admire the 296 Challenge up close, thanks to the Italian marque’s garages being located at the heart of the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix Fan Experience on Las Vegas Boulevard. With a full grid of cars battling at high speed under the lights, the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli is set to be a thrilling addition to the FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN SILVER LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX 2024.
Future expansion
F1 and Las Vegas officials are enthusiastic about expanding the support schedule in the coming years. “We’d love to continue to grow it, of course,” Prazer said. “F1 Academy was incredibly successful in Miami, so of course, future years, for sure. But Ferrari also brings a crowd that loves Las Vegas as you’d expect. So it’s a natural one for us to go after, and they’ve been incredible partners.”
The schedule for the Ferrari Challenge at Las Vegas is as follows:
Practice: 8:05 p.m. PT on Thursday
Qualifying: 11:30 p.m. PT on Thursday
Race One: 8:10 p.m. PT on Friday
Race Two: 6:20 p.m. PT on Saturday
With the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli making its debut on the Las Vegas Strip Circuit™, the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix promises to deliver an unforgettable experience for all racing enthusiasts.
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