“Winning the championship was definitely the goal, but you can’t take anything for granted. This is a series where the drivers are very capable. I gave it my all to earn the final victory.” Mike Dewhirst (Dick Lovett Swindon) is over the moon: he’s the 2025 Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli UK Coppa Shell champion. He missed out on the 2024 title in the clash with Robert Rees. He more than got even this season, notching up 158 points, from six wins and four second places.

What were the best moments of the season? 

“At Oulton Park, when I got past Paul Simmerson in the final moments – that was incredible. The second race in Navarra is a great memory too, and the whole Donington weekend was fantastic: two wins, two pole positions, two fastest laps. That weekend really tipped the scales of the championship in my favour. There weren’t terrible races in my season, just some frustrations, but apart from that I’m happy.”

The Ferrari 296 Challenge was new to everyone. How did you feel at the steering wheel? 

“It’s fantastic to drive, fun, super fast. It really reduces lap times and allows you to dare. It adapts well to my driving style, as it does to the style of many others. It’s a competitive series: the circuits are demanding, but you have fun.” 

A curiosity: How did your passion for motorsport and motoring begin? 

“I’ve always been interested in motorsport. I grew up in the eighties watching Formula 1. Patrick Head and Frank Williams of Williams were practically idols, and Nigel Mansell an icon. Senna, Prost and Piquet were racing at the time, as well as loads of other drivers who really got you excited. I admired the technology and engineering behind single-seaters: I’m an engineer after all. The combination of sport, technology and engineering fascinates me.” 

Did passion for the Ferrari brand come later as well? 

“I mean, who doesn’t have a passion for Ferrari? It’s the most iconic brand in the automotive industry. It’s one of those things that, when you’re young, seems almost unattainable. Then, when you reach the point where you can get a Ferrari, you start asking yourself whether you should. At a certain point I realised that it was a possibility and I allowed myself to be drawn in, and made a dream come true.” 

The competition with Peter Hunter was gripping for the whole season. What was it like for you?

“This year Peter was a different driver, he went through a transformation. He worked a lot on his driving, made great progress and put me under pressure at times. It was fun to compete with him. It was a fair contest, with him as it was with Paul Simmerson.” 

Is there a good rapport between you drivers, or have we misunderstood? 

“No no, you’re right: we’ve become good friends. I don’t think there’s a single person on the grid I don’t get on with, they were all happy with my championship win. This is a great, friendly series. We talk to each other, exchange ideas, give each other advice – there’s a camaraderie: all the drivers support each other. And then the great thing about the Ferrari Challenge is that we’re all equal, on the track with the same car. You can’t buy a front-row spot on the starting grid. If you’re faster it’s ‘because you’re faster’. In other series you’re never 100% sure of your driving skills, compared to the others. Another thing I appreciate about the Ferrari Challenge is the hospitality and the organisation, which make it a very agreeable experience.”

One thing we observe from outside is that, in the cockpit, you’re cool and don’t seem under pressure. Is that right?

“I think so. I like to push things to the limit, drive fast and get lap times. We all want to be the fastest on every lap, on every corner. But when you know you can’t, you have to accept it and drive within the limits of the situation. So if you’re driving with used tyres, you can only go at a certain speed.” 

Will you defend the title in 2026? 

“I’d like to come back to defend the title in the Coppa Shell.”