A Wednesday phone call brought Felix Hirsiger to Estoril. The 2025 Ferrari Challenge Europe Champion flew out the next day, skipped testing and went straight into a rain-affected race weekend. By Saturday afternoon, he was standing on the top step, having defeated a field of GT3s in the same Ferrari 296 Challenge he had mastered the season before.

A late call and a wet Saturday in Portugal

“For me, Estoril was very unexpected,” the Swiss told GT REPORT in an exclusive interview. “It definitely wasn’t planned at all. The call came on Wednesday, I flew out on Thursday, and I didn’t do any of the Thursday testing. But I already knew the car and the Challenge from last year, of course.

“It was also the first time I’ve ever raced a race car in January, because normally my season only starts in March or April, so that was pretty amazing. I didn’t know Estoril that well as a track, but it is a beautiful venue. I knew the Challenge had potential and that it is a really quick car, but being in the fight for the win in Race 1 was not on my cards.

“So to actually do it was incredible. I think for the team as well, having that success with the Challenge was really cool.”

A new challenge in Valencia

Valencia presented a different challenge altogether. This time, Hirsiger stepped into the Lamborghini Huracán EVO2 GT3, a machine that demands a distinct driving approach compared to the Ferrari 296 Challenge he raced at Estoril.

“Well, the GT3 is something I haven’t driven that much. I only did one race in the Lamborghini last year, so it is completely different. There is a lot more force, and the driving style is totally different compared to the Ferrari.

“Every session is about adapting. With every lap I get quicker and learn something new. We were fastest of the day on Friday, it gives us a lot of confidence — even though we don’t really know what the others were doing. But usually in the Winter Series, nobody really holds back.”

The adaptation was immediate. Hirsiger secured pole position with the #63 Liqui Moly Team Engstler Lamborghini in qualifying. Moments later, however, the car was rear-ended in an incident involving a Cup 1 Ferrari 296 Challenge. The contact caused significant chassis damage and forced the team to withdraw from the event, despite having taken pole.

Looking ahead to 2026

Valencia ended earlier than planned, but Hirsiger’s focus is already on what comes next.

“My plans for 2026 are to compete in a high-profile GT3 championship, which is set to be announced in the coming weeks.”

From adapting to mixed conditions in Portugal to immediately finding pace in GT3 machinery in Spain, Hirsiger has shown he can adjust quickly to new situations. With a GT3 programme set to be confirmed, the coming months are likely to define the next step in his career.