GTWC Sprint Cup at Misano:Emil Frey Racing targets first podium of the season

Fast Facts – The Press Bulletin
Following the season opener in Brands Hatch at the first weekend in May, Emil Frey Racing heads to Misano with two Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo for round 2 of the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup. For Matteo Cairoli, it will be a special weekend: the Italian from Como is contesting his only home race of the season — and will head to Misano for the first time since 2014. The team has made the most of the intervening weeks with targeted testing at the circuit and arrives on the Adriatic coast with clear ambitions: the first podium of the season is the goal.

Press Release 
The Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli is a circuit Emil Frey Racing knows well and one where the team is determined to extract more from its package than in previous visits. During the summer, the 4.226-kilometre facility on the Adriatic frequently turns into a battle against the heat: high temperatures place additional demands on both drivers and machinery, requiring maximum focus from the entire team throughout the weekend.

The #14 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo will once again be shared by Matteo Cairoli and Konsta Lappalainen. For Matteo Cairoli, Misano is far more than just another entry on the race calendar: the Italian returns to his home circuit for the first time in over a decade and is determined to mark the occasion with a strong result. The Finn Konsta Lappalainen arrives with valuable experience of the new Evo from Brands Hatch and sees the weekend as an opportunity to build on the pace already shown.

In the sister car with the number 69, Thierry Vermeulen and Ben Green continue as a well-established pairing. The Dutchman and his British teammate have used the time since Brands Hatch to further develop their confidence in the Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo — and the aim is to now convert that progress into good results at Misano.

For further information, please visit www.emilfreyracing.com. 

Weekend Highlights: 

- Round 2 GT World Challenge Sprint Cup: Misano, Italy 

- Race 1: Saturday, 18th July 2026, 20:30

- Race 2: Sunday, 19th July 2026, 14:30 

- Drivers and Cars:

#14 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo - Matteo Cairoli (ITA) / Konsta Lappalainen (FIN)

#69 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo - Thierry Vermeulen (NED) / Ben Green (GBR)

TEAM QUOTES – Emil Frey Racing

Lorenz Frey-Hilti, Team Principal 
"After the season opener in Brands Hatch, we had a clear picture of where we stood and where we needed to improve. Misano gives us the opportunity to put those findings into practice. The team has done good work over the past weeks, we have tested at the circuit and we will arrive well prepared. For Matteo Cairoli it is a home race, and for all of us it is an important round — we want to show what this package has on offer."

Jürg Flach, Technical Director 
"In July, Misano gets typically very hot, which makes the setup work therefore the more challenging. Last year, we had a good car performance but were unable to collect the points we had hoped for, for various reasons. We have tested at Misano with the Evo, so the aim this year is to deliver a strong overall performance and take away the best possible results."

DRIVER QUOTES – Emil Frey Racing

Matteo Cairoli (Italy)
"It is nice to be back in Misano — I have only raced here once in my life, and that was back in 2014. So, it has been a while, but I feel well prepared because we completed a test here in Spring and I know what to expect. The goal is clear: we want to take the first podium — or perhaps even a victory in the GT World Challenge Europe."

Thierry Vermeulen (Netherlands)
"It has been a long time since our last GT World Challenge race, which is a shame, but in the meantime, we were able to learn a great deal about the Ferrari Evo across the DTM race weekends. The team has taken a big step forward and as a driver I now have much more confidence into the new car. It will certainly be hot in Misano, but I am looking forward to fighting for the top positions together with Ben."

Ben Green (Great Britain)
"I am really looking forward to getting back into the Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo. The team has been busy with the car in the DTM, so I am confident we will arrive in Misano with a strong package and should be able to compete at the front. I am also looking forward to teaming up with Thierry again — I am convinced we can fight for top positions together."

Konsta Lappalainen (Finland) 
"It is only the second round of the championship, so everything is still wide open. But we have seen how much progress the team has made in the DTM. We therefore have high expectations for Misano and hope we can fight for the win."

ABOUT EMIL FREY RACING

Emil Frey Racing is a storied Swiss motorsport team based in Safenwil. Founded in the 1960s on the foundations of the Emil Frey Group, the team can look back on decades of motorsport experience, ranging from single-seater and rally racing to long-distance GT series. Today, Emil Frey Racing competes internationally, currently in both the DTM and the GT World Challenge with the Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo.

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