At the second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), just ahead of the 6 Hours of Imola, we had the opportunity to catch up with Francesco Castellacci, the Italian driver competing with Vista AF Corse – just as we did last year.
The season opener in Qatar didn’t go quite as planned for the #54 Ferrari 296 LMGT3 crew, who dropped down the order following a suboptimal strategy decision during a Safety Car period. However, Castellacci explained that the experience served as a valuable lesson heading into the Italian round.
Home Race for Francesco
Last year, Castellacci told us how thrilled he was to race at Imola, calling it his home event. This year, he went a step further, admitting the circuit is among his absolute favorites:
“Imola is one of my favorite tracks, so I couldn’t wait—I was counting down the days to come here. I think we can do well, the BOP looks good, and strategy will definitely make the difference.”
Imola may be a stunning circuit with a unique atmosphere, but it also presents its own challenges. We spoke with Castellacci about the difficulties he expected during the race. For the LMGT3 class, he said the biggest obstacle would be navigating through Hypercar traffic, especially given Imola’s narrow layout and its long, curving straight, which complicates overtaking.
We also asked how he prepared for this key event. Castellacci revealed that he made significant dietary changes in recent months. With minimum weight regulations in place this year, his goal wasn’t just to shed pounds—but to enhance his focus and responsiveness behind the wheel.
“I noticed during testing that changing my diet really helped, so I’ve been following a more specific nutritional plan.”
In addition to fine-tuning his diet, he’s kept up his usual cycling routine, which plays a big role in his physical preparation. While he doesn’t expect the Imola round to be the most physically taxing—thanks to moderate temperatures—he still considers the track one of the more demanding on the calendar.
Nearly a Decade in WEC
This year marks nearly ten seasons of Castellacci competing in the WEC. We asked whether, after so many years of endurance racing, he’d consider returning to sprint GT events:
“I’d like to do a few sprint races—they’re fun and full of close battles. But what I really enjoy is sharing the car with other drivers. There’s strategy involved, and physical preparation makes a big difference.”
Once again, he highlighted how much he values the dynamic of endurance racing and the bond with his co-drivers. In 2024, Castellacci is once again teamed up with Davide Rigon and Thomas Flohr. He and Flohr have shared a car since 2017, building a friendship that goes beyond the paddock. He also praised the rapport with Rigon, a Ferrari factory driver, emphasizing the strong team spirit that unites them.
More Than a Team – A Family
Driving a Ferrari at his home race adds another layer of emotion. We asked what it means to him:
“It was my dream as a child to race for Ferrari. I’ve been with AF Corse since 2011, so by now it feels like my second family. Every race is special, and as an Italian driver, I couldn’t ask for more than to represent Ferrari in the GT World Endurance Championship.”
The connection between Castellacci and AF Corse runs deep—and he hopes it’s one that continues long after his professional racing career comes to a close.
“I’m really passionate about endurance racing—Le Mans, everything. So in ten years, when I stop racing at the top level, I hope to still be part of it, with Ferrari and with AF Corse.”
