Manuela Gostner returns to the Ferrari Challenge Europe podium in Misano

After a challenging start to the Ferrari Challenge Europe season, Manuela Gostner bounced back with a determined drive in Misano, overcoming a Race 1 DNF to claim her first podium of 2025 in a damp and dramatic Race 2.

Photo credits: Paola Depalmas

After an unlucky start to the Ferrari Challenge Europe season in Monza just two weeks ago, Manuela Gostner returned to the track for the Shell Cup round at Misano, aiming to capitalize on her pace — and fought back from another unfortunate Race 1 to finally stand back on the podium in Race 2.

The Italian, an experienced driver who has competed in some of the most prestigious sports car championships in Europe, returns to Ferrari Challenge Europe as her main racing programme in 2025, having previously battled for the Shell Cup title in the past two seasons.

Since the introduction of the new Ferrari 296 Challenge car, Gostner has shown great speed — but has also encountered her fair share of bad luck, including at the 2025 season opener at the Temple of Speed. With an eleventh-place finish as her best result in Race 1, following a challenging qualifying, Manuela couldn’t capitalize in Race 2, when a technical issue at the start put her almost a lap down — despite being one of the fastest cars on track.

Nevertheless, the driver of the #193 Reparto Corse RAM Ferrari — with its iconic white, light blue, pink, and yellow livery — fought back at Misano two weeks later, securing her first podium of the season.

In free practice, Gostner immediately proved to be one of the drivers in contention for the win, setting the second-fastest time, just 0.096 seconds behind pace-setter Zois Skrimpias. With the Shell Cup field proving to be one of the most competitive to date, qualifying would once again be a crucial part of the weekend.

On Saturday morning, Manuela broke into the top five with ten minutes left on the clock, setting a 1:34.682 that temporarily placed her fourth. However she then lost the lap to track limits and had to go again. Her next attempt — a 1:34.959 — placed her ninth, and unfortunately, she couldn't improve further and would start Race 1 from P9.

Later in the afternoon, the second qualifying session followed, with a slightly different schedule than usual. Midway through the session, Manuela recorded a 1:39.949 to move up into sixth, before delivering a great lap of 1:34.712 that brought her up to second place. She then went purple in Sector 1, found another half a second, and came just one-tenth short of pole, staying in second.

As more lap times came in, Gostner delivered another strong run — a 1:34.310 — and ended the session in fifth as the chequered flag fell, a big improvement from Q1.

On Saturday afternoon, just before sunset, the first race of the weekend got underway at the scenic Misano circuit on Italy’s Adriatic Riviera. Starting from ninth on the grid — not her usual position — Manuela aimed to recover.

She made an incredible start, diving into the Turn 1–2 chicane and trying to find gaps — but her efforts were cut short when she was hit at Turn 8. Ryndziewicz attempted an overambitious move on the inside, resulting in contact that took Manuela out of the race. So far, it had been a season of relentless bad luck for the Italian.

"This is not quite how I imagined returning to pitlane today: with the marshal on a scooter, and the car on a tow truck", Gostner commented. "The mindset for Race 1 was strong. I was focused, fired up, ready to fight. Unfortunately, just before Turn 8 on the opening lap, I got hit by another competitor. Off the track, onto the grass, race over", she summarized.

"Despite everything, I’m staying positive and already thinking ahead. A big thank you to the entire RAM Racing team, not only for always having my back, but also for the long night ahead as they are working hard to get the car ready for tomorrow morning’s race."

Photo credits: Paola Depalmas

There was in fact one more opportunity to turn the weekend around on Sunday morning. The skies were overcast, with some light rain just before the start as cars lined up on the grid.

Manuela would start further ahead, in fifth, looking for redemption after the Race 1 DNF.

From the third row, the lights went out and a big gaggle of cars charged into Turn 1. Squeezed on the inside, Manuela managed to keep it clean and slotted into P6. Conditions were tricky, with all cars struggling for grip on the damp surface and kerbs proving treacherous. Gostner quickly regrouped, and one lap later she launched a bold attack on Fons Scheltema at the high-speed Curvone to move back into fifth.

She then set her sights on Maciel, gaining ground. On lap 5, Fabrizio Fontana spun from second place at the final corner, tagging John Dhillon. Dhillon survived the contact, while Fontana dropped down the order. Manuela moved up into fourth, setting the fastest first sector as she hunted Maciel — while also keeping an eye on Valint behind.

On lap 9, Manuela briefly set the fastest lap of the race, immediately topped by Valint, now less than a second behind — while the leading trio of Skrimpias, Dhillon, and Maciel started to pull away. Gostner picked up the pace, posting strong laps to fend off Valint and close the gap to Maciel, who was beginning to lose touch with the top two by lap 12.

Lap after lap, Manuela kept inching closer, building a five-second margin to Valint behind.

When Maciel made a mistake and spun on lap 18, Manuela seized the opportunity and moved up to third, just as Skrimpias started the final lap.

She crossed the line in P3 — finally rewarded with her first podium of the season after a clean, determined drive that turned her luck around.

"Today felt like redemption, after yesterday’s DNF", Manuela said. "Race 2 here in Misano wasn’t easy. The track was damp, the skies moody, and tire choices were a gamble. But I kept it steady, pushed when it mattered, and crossed the line in P3!"

"Massive thank you to the RAM Reparto Corse and every single person who worked late last night to get the car back in shape. This one’s for you. Happy, proud, and more motivated than ever!"

The Race 2 result could now mark the turning point for Manuela’s campaign, as she aims to climb back in the standings. The next round is scheduled for Hockenheimring, Germany, on 22–25 May.

Photo credits: Paola Depalmas