The DLC One team of Balzan-Sbirrazzuoli-Delacour in the AF Corse Ferrari

Trio of drivers determined to win the 2022 season of the GTWC

A new trio has been added to the already packed GT World Challenge Europe-Endurance line-up to tackle the new Gold Cup category.

This year, the Ferrari 488 GT3 will be driven by the Monegasque Cédric Sbirrazzuoli and the Frenchman Hugo Delacour for the Sprint series, while for the Endurance series, experienced Italian driver Alessandro Balzan will complete the crew, returning to racing full time after years of commitments in the USA.

Sbirrazzuoli will drive the #21 Ferrari 488 for the DLC One/AF Corse team. The Monegasque has already had a successful career, having won the Trofeo Maserati Europe in 2011 and the following year in the Maserati Trofeo World. In 2015, he also finished second in the American series dedicated to the Sant’Agata Bolognese brand at the wheel of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo. In the meantime, he has also become a renowned coach; and it was with Hugo Delacour, a driver he follows in Ferrari Challenge, that he returned last season to the Italian Gran Turismo Championship endurance series with the Ferrari 488 Challenge, winning the endurance race in July.

Now a new adventure begins in the GT World Challenge Europe, already anticipated last December. The trio is completed by Alessandro Balzan, “kidnapped” by Sbirrazzuoli on American soil, since they work together in the United States. Balzan’s CV is one of the most interesting on the world motorsport scene; we have practically seen him win and race in every latitude.

Sbirrazzuoli-Delacour will also compete in the Sprint Cup in the PRO-AM class. The season started for them with testing at Circuit Paul Ricard on 7-8 March, in a fortnight’s time the endurance event at Imola, before heading to Brands Hatch for the first Sprint.

Some words from the drivers of the DLC one Af Corse team

“I am really happy about this new adventure, it will be a very difficult season given the number of events, cars and drivers. I consider this to be one of, if not the most professional championship out there,” Sbirrazzuoli told Motorsport.com.

“So many cars, so many professional drivers and so many battles. We have worked very well with Hugo and he has improved a lot. So we decided to take this step, which represents a considerable qualitative leap. I met my friend Alessandro, whom I have known for many years and with whom I often work in America. The test at the Circuit Paul Ricard went well and we’re going into the first round aware of our possibilities.

Contacted by Motorsport.com, Delacour added: “I am happy to join the GT World Challenge Europe, knowing that it will be an important step after the Ferrari Challenge. I am in the best team, surrounded by professionals and that gives me a lot of confidence.

“Racing with my coach Cedric and a driver of Balzan’s calibre makes me very excited and will help me improve during the year.”

Balzan also tells Motorsport.com his impressions: “I am ready for this new adventure, a full season in Europe and especially in a very demanding and professional championship. I am back with my friend and colleague Cedric and I know Hugo well. After the test at Paul Ricard, I think there is a good chance to do well.

“We have to work hard and be ready, the series is very demanding and the competition is high. The most important race of the season is the 24h of Spa but we will be ready for the other races too. I would like to thank Hugo and Cedric for this opportunity to come back to racing full time with the reference team, AF Corse.”

This information is taken and translated from the following article: https://it.motorsport.com/gtwc-endurance/news/gtwc-balzan-sbirrazzuoli-delacour-sulla-ferrari-di-af-corse/9277841/amp/?fbclid=IwAR0uWWqRRkvVe3aq8aycbR2sU1pexeGKVXD26hVWd9yK9l7FNdug8JlOra0