Miguel Molina returns to the track this week for the 4 Hours of Le Castellet, round two of the European Le Mans Series calendar. Driving the #74 Ferrari 296 LMGT3 for Kessel Racing, the Ferrari factory driver will look to build on the experience gained in Barcelona and achieve a result more in line with his ambitions at Circuit Paul Ricard.
Less than a month after returning to the European Le Mans Series, Miguel Molina will be back in the #74 Kessel Racing Ferrari 296 LMGT3 this weekend in round two of his European campaign. After his home race, the Spanish driver heads to Le Castellet and tackles this new challenge, aiming to build on the lessons learned in Barcelona to move higher up in the LMGT3 hierarchy.
« This is my fifth race this season, the second in the ELMS, and having that one race together under our belt definitely gives us a lot of experience to build on », explains the Ferrari factory driver. « As a team, we learned a lot in Barcelona, and we’ve spent time analysing the areas where we can improve. Now, the goal is to avoid repeating the same mistakes and to focus on having a clean, smooth weekend. That will be key to unlocking our potential, so we look forward to what I think will be an important race for us. »
Despite several penalties that ruined their chances of a good result in Catalunya, Fran Rueda, Andrew Gilbert and Miguel Molina showed resilience and fantastic adaptability. Now familiar with the demands of the European Le Mans Series, his teammates display an ambitious attitude, reflecting the work they put in between the two races. Having already set the car’s fastest race lap at the Catalunya round, Miguel Molina will again provide his significant experience to help them continue their upward momentum.
« Every detail matters in a championship like ELMS. It’s a long race; and the key is making as few mistakes as possible. The competition is incredibly stout, and anything can happen, so consistency and execution are critical. We all agree that we must stay calm, stay focused, minimise all these errors and run a trouble-free race. That’s the mindset we’re bringing to Le Castellet. »
Inaugurated in 1970 and regularly modernised since then, Circuit Paul Ricard is one of the landmarks of French motorsport. Stretching over 5,840 meters, it alternates long straights, fast sections, and technical sequences such as the double right-hand Le Beausset bend and the Pont corner. It is a demanding track that strains tyres and drivers’ consistency over an endurance race, but Miguel Molina is no stranger to the circuit, having won there in 2018 and 2021 in a Ferrari. The trio can also count on the strong performance of the Ferrari 296 LMGT3, which won at Le Castellet in both the European Le Mans Series and the Le Mans Cup last year.
« The car has already been tremendously successful at Circuit Paul Ricard, and it felt strong during testing earlier this year », says Miguel Molina. « We did a two-day session there during the winter, which helped us return with a solid base and plenty of useful data. That’s something truly positive for Andrew, Fran and myself, as it gives us the confidence and motivation to hit the ground running. They finished on the podium last year there in the Le Mans Cup, and they are just coming from the Silverstone 500, which is great preparation. It’s also a track I know well, and I’ve had success with Ferrari, so I’m excited to be back. Let’s keep working well together and focus on doing our best this weekend! »
Blanca de Foronda,