MANUELA GOSTNER Delivers Perfect Weekend: Double Poles, Wins & Fastest Laps

June 30, 2025

by RACERS // from www.racers-behindthehelmet.com

• MANUELA GOSTNER delivered the kind of weekend that legends are made of at Valencia’s Circuit Ricardo Tormo, sweeping both Ferrari Challenge Europe rounds with a masterclass in precision driving. The Italian secured dual pole positions, victories, and fastest laps—a rare double hat-trick that had her admitting “I honestly don’t think many drivers get to live a weekend like this.” Her dominance wasn’t just impressive, it was surgical, leading every single official session while others struggled with tire degradation on the technical Spanish circuit.
• What made GOSTNER’s performance even more remarkable was how she managed the psychological pressure of championship leadership while adapting to new machinery. Racing the Ferrari 296 Challenge at Valencia for the first time, she had to balance her historic success at the venue with the unknowns of tire wear in summer conditions. Her qualifying margins told the story—six-tenths in Q1, over 1.5 seconds in Q2—gaps that don’t happen by accident in professional motorsport but through meticulous preparation and flawless execution.
• The race victories showcased GOSTNER’s tactical brilliance as much as her raw speed, consistently finding purple sectors while managing equipment for the long game. While rivals like Van der Vorm faced penalties and retirements, and others battled tire degradation, she remained the only driver consistently hitting 1:35s and 1:36s when it mattered. Her 23-point championship lead over John Dhillon heading to Barcelona isn’t just a number—it’s the result of turning potential into performance when the lights go out, exactly what champions do.

circuit ricardo tormo, ferrari 296 challenge, ferrari challenge europe, shell cup