Cetilar Racing unveils a revised line-up for Rolex 24

Cetilar Racing will enter a partially revised line-up for the next Rolex 24 at Daytona, on January 25-26, that will mark the start of the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. 

For the third year in a row, the all-Italian team will compete on the iconic Florida tri-oval with the #47 Ferrari 296 GT3 managed by AF Corse, featuring a couple of new drivers.

Joining the Maranello-based car for Cetilar Racing's fifth appearance at the American endurance race will be two absolute rookies, Nicola Lacorte and Lorenzo Patrese. They will share driving duties with the experienced Roberto Lacorte and the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2024 winner Antonio Fuoco.

For the first time, Roberto and Nicola Lacorte, father and son, will team up in the same car, with Nicola making his debut in a GT race. The young Italian racer, who turned 17 last June, will also use this opportunity as extra preparation ahead of his debut in the FIA Formula 3 Championship with DAMS and the BWT Alpine F1 Team's Academy, which he joined in early 2024 after standing out in the Formula Regional Oceania and European series.

Patrese, the 19-year-old son of former F1 driver Riccardo, also brings significant talent. Like Nicola, he comes from single-seater racing and has completed three seasons in the GT World Challenge Europe. This year, he secured an impressive third place in the Gold class after finishing second in the Sprint Cup's Silver category and third in the Endurance Championship in 2023.

Roberto Lacorte, on the other hand, has previous experience at the 24 Hours of Daytona, achieving a best-in-class sixth place in 2021 with the Dallara LMP2, sharing the car with Fuoco, Andrea Belicchi, and Giorgio Sernagiotto.

Fuoco needs no introduction. The official Ferrari driver, long associated with Cetilar Racing, recently participated in F1 testing in Abu Dhabi after winning the world's most prestigious endurance race this year

Roberto Lacorte: "This is a very important moment in my life. Sharing the car with my son is another dream come true. Together with Ferrari and AF Corse, we carefully evaluated the opportunity to enter the race with this line-up. Both Niko and Lorenzo completed two test days in Barcelona, showing great speed and maturity. I believe they are both ready to tackle the iconic 24 Hours of Daytona. Additionally, I am proud that Cetilar Racing continues its legacy with an eye on the future and young talents. I’m especially proud to give Patrese a chance as he focuses on GT racing, while for Nicola, this will be a valuable experience in his motorsport journey ahead of his FIA Formula 3 season, where he is already showing significant growth during testing.”

Nicola Lacorte: "Having the opportunity to compete in such a legendary event as the Rolex 24 at Daytona is a huge honor for me. I must thank Cetilar Racing for this and BWT Alpine F1 Team for granting me permission to participate in this American race. It will undoubtedly be a tough challenge, as this will be my first endurance event. However, my main focus in 2025 will remain the FIA Formula 3 Championship, where I am preparing for my first season.”

Lorenzo Patrese: "First and foremost, it’s a great honor for me to take part in the 24 Hours of Daytona and become part of the big Cetilar Racing and AF Corse family. It will certainly be a brand-new experience: a new car, a new track, and my first race overseas. All of this makes me very excited, and I thank Cetilar Racing for this incredible opportunity.”

Antonio Fuoco: "2024 has been one of the best years of my career, filled with great achievements, starting with the victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Ferrari-AF Corse Hypercar and the podium we secured at the 12 Hours of Sebring with Cetilar Racing. The goal for next year is to continue with maximum commitment. Starting the season with the 24 Hours of Daytona, a race we've had unfinished business with since our IMSA debut in 2021, is the perfect way to begin.”

The 2025 24 Hours of Daytona will take place on the last weekend of January, a week after the traditional Roar Before the Rolex 24.