Lugano, Italy - Official Ferrari world endurance championship team Kessel Racing has signed South African GT racer David Perel to drive a Ferrari 488 GT3 in the AM category of the Blancpain World GT Endurance Championship, as part of a three-year deal with the Cape Town driver.
"Kessel Racing Ferrari and David Perel have just signed a contract that sees David becoming an official Kessel Racing Ferrari race driver beginning with the 2016 season," the team said.
"The objective is not only to try to win the 2016 Blancpain AM Endurance Championship, but also to build a long-term relationship with Kessel Racing and to assist David to reach his goal of becoming a top professional GT driver.
"Kessel Racing Ferrari was highly impressed by the young South African Driver in his recent first test for the team - David's approach is very professional and even if he doesn't have long experience in GT Series he's very fast and consistent."
WORKS SUPPORT
Kessel Racing is a Swiss team that works closely with the Ferrari factory to develop all existing Ferrari GT3's from 430 to 488, cars which Perel will also help in testing and developing.
"It's all still pretty surreal," admitted Perel, who was impressive in his maiden GT season for Bonaldi Lamborghini in the Italian GT Cup. "It's been 10 years of hard work and there have been many bumps and disappointments along the way, but this really makes it all worthwhile - I think I need to pinch myself to believe it!"
Perel will team up with a pair of gentleman drivers for the official series pre-season test at Paul Ricard in the south of Fance and the five-race Endurance series that will visit the world's classic circuits - Monza, Silverstone, Paul Ricard, Spa Francorchamps (for the 24-hour race) and the Nurburgring Grand Prix circuit.
BRONZE CATEGORY
The Blancpain series comprises of two separate Sprint and Endurance series, with racing in three classes: Pro, Pro-Am and Am.
"Because this is my first year in the series I'm still a bronze category GT driver," Perel explained. "That means I'm allowed to compete in the AM class, which will raise the team's overall pace.
"I'll be racing with two very capable gentlemen drivers, with the simple aim of winning the championship."
SA driver stuns in Spa Lambo races
Perel also paid tribute to his former Bonaldi Lamborghini Italian GT Cup team.
"Bonaldi also offered me a drive this season and I was really keen to continue with them," he said, "but the offer from Ferrari secures my long term future as a racing driver, which is quite special.
"Still, I'll always be grateful for what Bonaldi did for my career and carry those memories fondly."
After a successful local and international karting career, Perel stepped up to the main circuit in various Regional series, with less than stellar results. So he concentrated on his online business, which soon became successful enough to finance an attempt at GT racing in Europe.
When the opportunity came to race for Bonaldi Lamborghini in Italy, he grabbed it with both hands, throwing literally everything he had into a rookie season that saw him and team-mate Mirko Zanardini win more races than any other crew in the series.