Thomas Biagi and Matteo Bobbi go into their first 24 hour race together holding a convincing lead in the Drivers’ Championship, the outcome of the team’s appeal against exclusion at Donington having been heard this week in Paris.  The FIA’s International Court of Appeal, having heard the explanations of the parties involved and examined the various documents presented to them by BMS and its engine supplier, Prodrive, annulled the decision of the Stewards and reinstated the No.23 car at the top of the race classification. 

With a 34 point lead in the Teams’ Championship over nearest rivals, Lister Storm, and the opportunity to claim double points for the endurance event, everyone at BMS has been working hard to prepare its two cars as well as the third under its management, the Care Racing entry.

A representative from the engineering department lived and ‘worked’ through every minute of June’s 24 Hours of Le Mans alongside the Veloqx Prodrive Racing team, making notes and observations to help the Italian squad in their own preparations for Spa. 

Chief Engineer Marco Gadola comments:  “We know the Ferrari 550 is a fast and reliable car, but so many different situations can – and do – arise in a 24 hour event we know we will have to use all the experience and luck available to us to win this event.   BMS has much experience from previous years and, with the additional help our technical partners have been able to provide, together with the assistance Care Racing gave us in putting together our driver line up, we are confident we will succeed. 

“We are all naturally very pleased that the appeal is behind us so we can move forward with our racing plans without any delays, and we have full confidence in the FIA Stewards for their thoroughness in upholding the regulations.  BMS were very confident about going to the appeal, as we have full trust in our colleagues at Prodrive as well as in the FIA Court of Appeal.” 

Any 24 hour event is a test of both man and machine, and the driving teams have therefore been strengthened accordingly on all three Ferrari 550 Maranellos.

Car No.23’s hot, young bloods will be joined by Stefano Livio (usually alongside Bryner and Calderari in No.21) and Ettore Bonaldi, the current leader of the Italian GT Championship.  Bonaldi brings previous Spa experience in both sportscars and touring cars, his best finish being a 4th.

The regular pairing of Luca Cappellari and Fabrizio Gollin in car no.22 will be supplemented by the very experienced Swiss drivers, Lilian Bryner and Enzo Calderari, thereby giving all four an opportunity to further their Championship aspirations. 

The Care Racing entry, car no. 21, sees an international line up featuring two of sportscar racing’s most well known names, Jean-Marc Gounon and Jérôme Policand.   They will be joined by Italian Nicola Cadei, who comes to the team from the Ferrari Challenge and the Clio V6 Championship.