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Ferrari World Finals: Leimer prevails in Trofeo Pirelli finale

Former GP2 champion Fabio Leimer won the Ferrari Challenge’s headlining Trofeo Pirelli World Final in a chaotic finale at Mugello in which his rivals dropped out. 

#8 Octane 126 Ferrari 488: Fabio Leimer

#8 Octane 126 Ferrari 488: Fabio Leimer

Alex Galli

Leimer held on to his lead narrowly at the race start ahead of Octane 126 driver Bjorn Grossman, but Leimer was helped by Grossman getting pulled into a battle with Rossocorsa’s Philipp Baron through the first series of corners. 

The race leader was then given an unassailable lead following an early safety car after Modena Motori Taiwan driver Tiger Wu slid into the gravel midway through the first lap. 

After two laps behind the safety car, Leimer made a superb restart that pushed him over a second clear of Baron. 

While clearly uncatchable, it was made all the more certain when Baron was forced to retire late on and nearest rival and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship driver Cooper MacNeil was pushed off track in contact with Alessandro Vezzoni just two laps from the end. 

Grossman had kept his nose clean in second but had lost time with Baron having forced him into defensive driving before the retirement. 

That allowed Leimer to convert his three-second lead into an easy win, with Grossman following in second. 

Sam Smeeth was a very distant third, having worked his way up to fifth on the opening lap and benefitting from the retirements ahead. 

Saturday race winner Peter Ludwig was the best place North American Challenge driver in fourth, holding off Wei Lu and Martin Fuentes.

Friday’s victor Go Max was Asia-Pacific Challenge’s best runner, taking 10th. 

ADAC Formula 4 racer Nicklas Neilsen could not take part in the World Final despite winning the previous two races, as he had not completed the whole Ferrari Challenge season.

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