After last week’s announcement that David Vidales will join the successful AF Corse Ferrari team for 2024, now comes the confirmation of a prestigious GT programme for the MIM-contracted driver.

The 21-year-old from León, Spain will in fact line up for his debut season in GT racing aboard a Ferrari 296 GT3 next month in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup, which gets underway on 7 April with the 500 km of Paul Ricard at Le Castellet (France).

In preparation for the coming season Vidales, who has only competed with single-seater formula cars so far in his racing career, took part on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week in the official pre-season prologue at the same circuit, taking turns behind the wheel of his 296 GT3 with his new teammates, 2022 GT champion Thomas Neubauer and Vincent Abril, both from France.

“We did the second day out of the two days of testing and it was very positive – declared Vidales – It was the first official test and the first time on the track for the other cars so it was interesting to see where we are, even though it was only testing. We were able to develop the car and we worked very well which was the main goal, that’s why I’m very happy about how it went. The Ferrari is fun to drive, it’s different to formula cars and heavier so the weight transfer is slower. You have to change your driving style and the races are longer so you have to manage the tyres and the race with many cars around, so those are all things that I have to learn. It’s all new for me, but I’m lucky to have strong teammates, both in my car and the other car so I can learn faster and for the best. I couldn’t be in a better place, it’s an amazing team, the level of everything is very high, the mechanics, the drivers, it’s like a family.”

“I’m really looking forward to the first round and I’m very excited about it – continued David – It’s my first-ever endurance race and it’s going to be interesting with the driver changes and the one-hour stints. I’ll try to prepare myself as much as possible, but I think we can get to the first race ready. I’m sure it’s going to be a good one.”

After the opening round in France, the #71 Ferrari 296 GT3 of Neubauer/Abril/Vidales will then take part in the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) on 29-30 June, the 3 Hours of the Nürburgring (Germany) on 28 July and Monza (Italy) on 22 September, with the season finale the 1000 km of Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) on 23 November.