Alright, let’s dive into this chaotic adventure that was the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship at Imola. So, picture this: Ferrari with their #51 crew—James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi, and Alessandro Pier Guidi—decided to straight-up own the race. Home turf, fans going bananas, because yay, Ferrari! They grabbed pole position and held on like it was the last jar of Nutella at a sale.
Now, don’t get me started on these strategic mastermind plays they pulled off. It’s like, every tire choice, every corner, every single move was just… chef’s kiss. At one point, they were running almost 30 seconds ahead. But of course, it can’t just be smooth sailing, right? Nope, plot twist—a safety car came out with two hours to go, shook up the lineup, and suddenly, Porsche, Toyota, and BMW were breathing down their necks.
Fast forward, still, nobody could knock ‘em off and they crossed the finish line with nearly a ten-second lead. Cue epic celebrations and maybe some tears? Who knows what goes down behind those pit walls!
Giovinazzi was all smiles and fist-pumps, saying it was a killer weekend since—wait for it—Friday. Makes you wonder if they have pre-race rituals or something. “The car was fantastic, the team was fantastic, and the tifosi were fantastic,” he said. Yeah, we get it—fantastic all around. But seriously, the dude’s undefeated in Hyperpole, so maybe he’s onto something.
Oh! By the way, this is Ferrari’s first endurance win on Italian soil as a factory effort since, like, forever ago in 1973. So, historic vibes? Check. And they’re now leading this high-speed soap opera known as the Drivers’ standings and the Manufacturers’ championship because why not aim for world domination while you’re at it?
Meanwhile, BMW and Alpine were the clever cats playing alternative strategy chess, grabbing the remaining podium spots. BMW’s René Rast had a teeny run-in at Curva Gresini—don’t ask me how, but they still managed second place. Alpine squeezed into third after some solid wheel work, leaving others sniffing exhaust fumes.
Oh, also, there was this super fancy award ceremony. Winners got medals made of recycled materials. The FIA President’s Medals or something, handed by Gian Carlo Minardi. Makes me think of eco-friendly bling.
In the LMGT3 showdown, Manthey’s 911 barely held off BMW’s Kelvin van der Linde, spoiling Valentino Rossi’s homecoming glory. Ouch. Picture the tension… felt it through the screen! And Manthey clinched victory after a rocky start to their season in Qatar.
Alright, that’s enough gearhead buzz for now. Next up? Belgium. Spa-Francorchamps in May. Honestly, we’ve got some wild racing ahead. Keep your helmets on tight.
