Kessel Racing at Daytona headlines once again

The weekend closed with the Formula 1 Raikkonen and Vettel Team performance at Daytona, theatre of the 2016 World Finals. This was the first time they have taken place in the United States. It was a long end of the week that saw the Ferrari world celebrated in a big way. Not only were the Ferrari Challenge Europe competitors racing in the seventh seasonal round and the two World Finals, there was a surprise off track as well: the new 488 Challenge was unveiled. The 8-cylinder berlinetta will be the highlight in the one brand championship from 2017.

The weekend had in store new successes for Kessel Racing thus confirming the great work carried out by the team right through 2016. In the Shell Cup, Lovat finished in second position in Friday’s first race – he was first in the Gentlemen - behind Loefflad (StileF), while Scheltema finished in the middle of the ranking. The second race took place on Saturday and saw Lovat’s victory, with Scheltema’s third place, narrowly beaten by Hladik (Baron Service). The Pirelli Cup staged Jacques Duyver’s re-entry, Champion of the 2015 Shell Cup, who debuted in the PRO-AM at Daytona. The sixth class position in the first race on Friday and the fifth in the second race on Saturday have certainly underlined Duyver’s potential even in a complex category like the Pirelli-AM.

The World Final of the Shell Cup heralded Loefflad’s win (Stile F), in front of Hladik (Baron Service) and the forever gritty Lovat (first in the Gentlemen). Fons Scheltema closed the race with a fifth final position and right behind Lovat in the Gentlemen drivers’ class. The season, already characterised by great results, was further enriched with the special prize set up by Ferrari Corse Clienti to award the best car livery seen on track in 2016. Fons Scheltema’s car was chosen. The Dutch driver has been racing with Kessel Racing for numerous seasons.

RONNIE KESSEL (Team Principal): “The Daytona Finals have been great. They have crowned a sensational year in every category. Everything was perfect, from the drivers to the team work. As always, Lovat and Scheltema were outstanding and it was an immense pleasure to welcome Jacques Duyver back in the races. Not only did he show his usual talent, he also gave proof of great determination in a category unknown to him, the Pirelli AM Cup. Our season is not yet over. We still have a couple of appointments in the coming weeks before focusing on the new challenges of 2017”.