Rinaldi Racing looks back on an exciting 2015 season and many great highlights.
The successful racing team from Mendig completed all the races of the Blancpain GT Series for the first time with a top-class line-up and thus reeled off its most extensive motorsport program to date. Team boss Michele Rinaldi combined many years of experience with tireless ambition in his squad. With two Ferrari 458 Italia in the Blancpain Endurance Series and one in the Blancpain Sprint Series, the sports car professionals demonstrated all their skills. In the end, Rinaldi Racing recorded several podium successes and third place in the overall Blancpain GT Series standings.
“The intensive preparations at the beginning of the year paid off,” Michele Rinaldi looks back. “We were able to maintain our position at the front of the field in the demanding championship throughout the season and finished on the podium several times. I am proud of our talents. Our drivers and the whole team have done a great job.
“At the season opener of the Blancpain Endurance Series in Monza, Italy, Team Rinaldi Racing immediately caused a surprise. Norbert Siedler and Rinat Salikhov drove home the overall victory in the green Ferrari. The duo prevailed against around 60 teams. Already in qualifying, the sworn-in squad caused a small sensation with starting positions one and two and underlined their ambitions for the top positions in the championship.
“One of the absolute highlights was our weekend in Misano,” Michele Rinaldi recalls. The team celebrated a brilliant double victory with the only Ferrari in the Blancpain Sprint Series field in Misano, Italy. With perfect performance, Marco Seefried and Norbert Siedler had virtually dominated the entire weekend. “Our constant development during the season had paid off,” said Rinaldi. “The team’s jubilation knew no bounds and we celebrated hard.”
The GT pros also impressed in faraway Moscow. “The race weekend in Russia was very close to our hearts,” the team boss tells us. “We are all the happier about our successes.” Marco Seefried and Norbert Siedler drove two successful races and brought the Rinaldi Ferrari home with podium finishes in both rounds. As a result, Rinaldi Racing took a big step forward in the standings.
In the coming season, the team wants to build on its successes and take the momentum into the new year. “Of course we want to continue to be among the front runners in 2016 and take another step forward,” Michele Rinaldi reveals his goals. “We were able to show this year that we can hold our own in the top group. The Blancpain GT Series is a hard-fought championship with strong competition. That spurs us on even more. My thanks go to the whole team, who have done an excellent job throughout the season. A big thank you also goes to our partners, sponsors, customers, and fans. Without them, none of this would have been possible. Now we are looking forward to the tasks ahead.”
