In another successful international appearance, Pipo Massa earned his seventh podium finish in nine career races. The Porsche Carrera Cup Brazil driver has been taking part in select events across different categories to gain experience, and on Sunday, he competed in the Italian Gran Turismo Championship round at Misano, finishing second in the GT3AM class.
A special highlight: Pipo drove a Ferrari for the first time, a nod to his father Felipe Massa’s success with the iconic Italian brand. He shared the cockpit of the Rosso Corsa Racing team’s 296 GT3 with Angelo Fontana and Niccolò Schirò in an endurance race, finishing 16th overall in a grid of 53 cars.
Adding to the challenge and making the podium even more meaningful, the race took place in wet conditions. “We started seventh in class, 28th overall, and managed to do a great job. We fought for every position. In my final stint, I handed the car over in fifth, and Schirò climbed to second in our class. We achieved this podium because all three of us maintained a strong pace throughout the race,” Pipo analyzed.
The strong result came on Mother’s Day, and Pipo took the opportunity to honor the important women in his life. “I dedicate this trophy to my mother Raffa, who is always by my side, and to my grandmothers as well. Thank you so much for everything,” he expressed.
“Pipo showed great intelligence in quickly adapting to the car, the track, and the team—everything was new to him, and the rain made the race even more challenging. It was incredible. I think I was more tired than he was,” joked Raffa, beaming with pride.
Pipo’s next challenge will be the Porsche Carrera Cup round at Le Mans, France, as a support event for the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans, scheduled between June 11 and 13.
