The driver behind the helmet
Rey Acosta didn't grow up karting. He found motorsport as an adult — starting with track days in South Florida before committing to competitive racing through Ferrari's Corso Pilota programme in 2022. What he lacked in early experience he made up for with methodical preparation: data analysis, simulator work, and a training regime that treats every session like a race.
His rise through Ferrari Challenge was steady — podiums in 2022, race wins in 2023, and a championship battle that went to the final round in 2024 before he claimed the Coppa Shell World Championship at Mugello in 2025. The Italian press called his final-race drive "una prova magistrale dall'inizio alla fine" — a masterful performance from start to finish.
For 2026 he steps up to the Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo with AF Corse, the most successful team in GT endurance racing history. The programme spans IMSA, GT World Challenge Europe, and the Michelin Le Mans Cup — a calendar designed to build GT3 experience across three continents.
Career timeline
Steps up to Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo with AF Corse — IMSA, GT World Challenge Europe, Michelin Le Mans Cup campaign begins.
Wins the Coppa Shell World Championship at Mugello. The decisive drive is described as a masterclass in race-craft.
Ferrari Challenge North America runner-up. Championship battle goes to the final race weekend at Road Atlanta.
First Ferrari Challenge race wins — takes victory at Road America and Indianapolis.
Debuts in Ferrari Challenge North America. Finishes on the podium in his rookie season.
Highlights from the winning moments
Finali Mondiali Ferrari — Coppa Shell World Final
Pole-to-flag victory. Led every lap to claim the Coppa Shell World Championship in an American one-two.
Watch highlightsFinali Mondiali Ferrari — Coppa Shell
Double win weekend. Swept both Coppa Shell races at the 2024 Finali Mondiali, having started from pole in both.
Watch highlightsFerrari Challenge NA — Coppa Shell Race 2
Swept the weekend with his second flag-to-flag win in two days at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Watch highlightsFerrari Challenge NA — Coppa Shell Race 1
Led flag-to-flag for his first Coppa Shell victory of the 2024 season.
Watch highlightsMarco Bonanomi
Rey trains under Marco Bonanomi, an Italian professional racing driver and coach whose résumé includes an Italian GT Championship GT3 title, an FIA World Endurance Championship campaign with Audi Sport as a factory LMP1 driver, and a podium finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Bonanomi has tested and raced prototype and GT machinery for Audi, Honda, and ByKolles across a 20+ year professional career — bringing factory-level technical feedback and race-craft to Rey's GT3 development.
His coaching bridges the gap between amateur enthusiasm and professional execution — the exact transition Rey is making from Ferrari Challenge champion to full-season GT3 driver with AF Corse.
@marcobonanomiPut your brand on the door of a world champion.
Rey's 2026 GT3 programme offers partners exposure across IMSA, European GT racing, and his 280K+ Instagram audience. Every position — livery, suit, helmet — is available to the right partner.