A Le Mans debut, a Bathurst podium and success with Kessel Racing in GT World Challenge Europe marked Lorenzo Patrese’s 2026 season. Within four years of leaving single-seater racing, the Italian has quickly left his mark on GT3 racing.
“It’s been an amazing season with Kessel Racing,” Patrese kicks off in conversation with GT REPORT in Portimão. “I think we had some really good results and we always showed a good pace here in GT World Challenge and also in Le Mans.”
Sharing the #74 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo with Dustin Blattner and Dennis Marschall, Patrese helped Kessel Racing to a Bronze Cup victory at Monza.
IMSA commitments kept him out of the 24 Hours of Spa, but he returned at the Nürburgring to finish third in class
There, Kessel secured the Endurance Cup teams’ title with a round to spare. In addition to that, there was still a drivers’ championship to settle for his teammates in Portugal. Patrese’s priority going into the weekend was to keep the Ferrari out of trouble.
“We didn’t need a super result. Obviously, we were aiming for the win!” Patrese smiles. “Especially here in the races of GT World Challenge, it’s important to stay out of trouble because there are so many cars. It’s easy to get caught up in something.”
The crew eventually finished fifth in Bronze Cup in Portugal, with Blattner and Marschall taking the Endurance drivers’ title.
‘Yes, yes, please!’
The season’s finale of the GT World Challenge made Patrese look back at what he has achieved this year. It’s been a year of ‘firsts’, starting with his debut in the Bathurst 12 Hour in February. He joined Christopher Froggatt, Jonathan Hui and Ryan Wood in the #193 Ziggo Sport Tempesta by ARGT Ferrari, and finished third in the Bronze category.
Patrese’s first appearance in Le Mans followed four months later. “For sure, they were both on the list,” he says about Bathurst and Le Mans. “Le Mans is of course the biggest endurance race, but both of them are races you want to tick off.
“The opportunity came when I was not expectiv it, because it wasn’t really in the plans. And then Chris Froggatt and Jonathan called me and they were like: ‘Hey, do you want to jump on board and come to Bathurst? I responded: Yes, yes, please!” Patrese laughs.
“It was amazing. It was a wonderful experience. We got a good result, finishing on the podium in Bronze class, so it was good.
“Unfortunately, we were a bit unlucky in le Mans, especially on Sunday morning. It was amazing nevertheless. I had my first Le Mans experience with Dustin and Dennis and the whole team. Le Mans, mainly because of the history, when you get there, it’s quite special.
“I think the race itself is very similar to any other 24-hour race. But then when you step outside the car, you really feel that you’re in Le Mans.”
The test that changed his career
It’s visible that Patrese feels at home in GT3 machinery, yet five years ago, he was still racing in Italian Formula 4. A weekend in Monza, in which he took three pole positions, put him in the spotlights of GT3 team Tresor Attempto Racing. They gave him a testing opportunity to make the transition to GT3 racing.
“I started karting quite late as I had another sport, horse riding. After that, we made the jump to Formula 4 as early as possible. Unfortunately, in the Formula-racing world, it’s quite hard to go up, especially if you don’t have a big budget behind you. I had the chance to test with Tresor.
“They said: we can’t help you on the way to Formula 1, but if you want to come and test the car… They were testing in Valencia and I really enjoyed the car. In general I’m reallying enjoying GT3 cars. I got an offer to race the Endurance season in GT World Challenge, and I was like: ‘Let’s go for it!'”
Patrese joined Tresor’s Audi programme in 2012, later adding Sprint Cup racing to it before moving to IMSA in 2025. “From that small jump that I did, to just say yes to testing, everything happened,” he says.
Steering the Prancing Hourse around racetracks
His GT3 career started with a tough platform: the Audi R8 LMS GT3. It was useful to learn the basics with that car. “I think, especially compared to some of the cars that are in the field, it’s on the hard side to drive. The car needs a lot of your input, where maybe other cars are a bit more gentleman-oriented and are kind of easier,” he explains.
His recent racing has brought him into Ferraris, including his first two appearances at Daytona and his Le Mans debut. “In the last two years I drove only Ferraris and I’m really enjoying it. I think it’s a really good car, developed well and especially from a driver’s point of view – it’s enjoyable to drive.”
For his family, and therefore also his father – former Formula 1 driver Riccardo Patrese – seeing Lorenzo race for the Italian marque has been special too: “For my father, who never drove a Ferrari in his career, it was nice to see me do Daytona twice, or the IMSA races, and do my first Le Mans with Ferrari.”
Riccardo’s ivolvement has changed gradually throughout the years as his son gained experience. “I think my dad always kind of intervened in the right way. Not too much, but he was always present, especially at the start of my career. Hs help was really, really important for me in the first few years.
“In the last two years and a half, he’s been coming to some of the races, but not all of them. I think he kind of released me,” Patrese says with a small smile. “He gave me more tips on how to work with the team, to be a good team member – more on that side than how to drive the car, as he understand that I already mastered that.
“I think he always did a good job supporting me, but also not making me feel the pressure of him too much. I think he was a very good dad.”
Nordschleife still on the list
With Bathurst and Le Mans ticked off, the Nürburgring 24 Hours is another race Patrese would like to add in the future. In the 2026 N24, the #26 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo of Realize by Kondo Racing with Rinaldi was the only Ferrari participating in a field of over 160 GT3 cars.
Perhaps Kessel Racing can think about entering a car for races on the Green Hell. “That would be nice!” Patrese laughs. He would still need to earn his Nordschleife Permit, although he has gained virtual experience on the track already.
“This is another thing I’d like to get done one. I’ve never driven on the Nordschleife, not even one lap. On the simulator yes, but in real life no. I don’t know the Nordschleife at all, so it would be a big step – but absolutely, yes.”
