At the first round of the Blancpain Sprint Series in Nogaro, France, Rinaldi Racing made a commanding start to the motorsport season.

Marco Seefried and Norbert Siedler finished the race in the Ferrari 458 Italia in fifth place on Easter Monday. The duo had already caused a surprise the day before with fourth place on the circuit in the south of France.

“The intensive preparations have paid off,” team boss Michele Rinaldi was pleased. “Although the track in Nogaro does not suit our Ferrari, Marco and Norbert showed that we are a force to be reckoned with in this championship.” In bright sunshine, Marco Seefried secured a solid starting position for the one-hour main race with a good start and was able to maintain his position in the leading group without making any mistakes. At the compulsory pit stop, he handed over the wheel to Norbert Siedler at the halfway point of the race. “Marco delivered a strong performance,” the Austrian looks back. “In the second half, I was then able to defend the fifth place. It wasn’t easy against the Audi and that’s why I’m all the more pleased about our successful start.”

Already on Easter Sunday, GT pros Seefried and Siedler caused a small surprise. After a turbulent start phase in the qualifying race, they piloted the only Ferrari 458 Italia in the field to a fourth-place finish. The duo thus secured a second-row starting spot in the main race of the Easter Cup. “The whole weekend we were doing very well. The whole team did an excellent job,” Michele Rinaldi reported proudly.

Without a stopover, the entire team now travels to Italy. Already next weekend (11 to 12 April), the Blancpain Endurance Series will also start into the season. The first of five rounds of the endurance championship will take place on the traditional 5.93-kilometre track in Monza.