Category: Ferrari Challenge

Ferrari Challenge North America revealed its schedule for the 2025 season, featuring familiar venues from 2024, in addition to an exciting new addition and a popular stop from years’ past.

The calendar reveal comes amidst an exciting first year of global competition for the Ferrari 296 Challenge race car, which has been confirmed as the series’ exclusive car for the upcoming season. In addition, all six rounds will be eligible for the Club Challenge and Club Competizioni GT support categories, a first for the premiere single make championship in North America.

The season will begin and end at Laguna Seca, which bookends the year for Ferrari Challenge in the United States, kicking off with pre-season testing in late February and concluding with the final round in mid-September.

For the first official doubleheader of the season in March, however, the series remains in Northern California to run at Sonoma Raceway for the fifth consecutive year.

It’s then cross-country for back-to-back events in the sunny state of Florida. The first will take place in April at the World Center of Racing, Daytona International Speedway, which returns to the lineup after a two-year hiatus.

In a new opportunity for 2025, Ferrari Challenge will then take part in Round 3 at Miami Autodrome one week after the Formula One Miami Grand Prix. The event will be the first of its kind, as the venue sees its expansion plans come to life with its inaugural event separate from the busy F1 weekend. As a result, drivers will see extensive track time similar to a typical Ferrari Challenge weekend and will run on the unique “Extended Marina Loop” configuration of 2.8 miles and 19 thrilling turns.

Following the trip to Florida, Ferrari Challenge travels to another iconic North American circuit – Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Racing Capital of the World – for the second consecutive year and for Round 4 in 2025.

Also for back-to-back years, Watkins Glen International holds a spot on the calendar for the series’ penultimate round in July before the North American finale at Laguna Seca.

The 2025 Finali Mondiali concludes the year with details about the season finale to be shared at a later date.

2025 Schedule

February 25 – 26
Pre-Season Test
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
Salinas, California

March 5 – 9
Round 1
Sonoma Raceway
Sonoma, California

April 9 – 13
Round 2
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, Florida

May 14 – 18
Round 3
Miami Autodrome
Miami, Florida

June 25 – 29
Round 4
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis, Indiana

July 23 – 27
Round 5
Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen, New York

September 10 – 14
Round 6
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
Salinas, California

In Race 2 at Watkins Glen International, several championship leaders in Ferrari Challenge North America expanded their points gap after securing victories on Sunday.

Trofeo Pirelli: Matias Perez Companc (Ferrari of Central Florida) scored another victory this season while crossing the finish line second in the Trofeo Pirelli class. Polesitter Dylan Medler (The Collection) was penalized for accelerating too early to start the race and 15 seconds was added to his final time. As a result, Medler finished fifth while Companc was awarded the win. Roberto Perrina (Ferrari of Seattle) followed in second, while David Musial Jr. (Ferrari of Lake Forest) finished third for back-to-back podiums this weekend.

In Trofeo Pirelli Am, Tony Davis (Continental AutoSports) regained the top spot of the podium and earned his third victory in the last four races. Davis started from pole position but faced Brian Cook (Ferrari of Seattle) looming large in his mirrors throughout the race. Cook’s efforts could not be converted as he finished runner-up, and Brad Fauvre (Ferrari of San Francisco) finished third.

Coppa Shell: Eric Marston (Ferrari of Westlake) won Race 2 on Sunday in the Coppa Shell class, making it his second weekend sweep of the season and his fifth victory in last six races. Marston defended his position against Bruce Cleveland (Ferrari of Silicon Valley) after a restart with five minutes remaining, but took advantage of Cleveland’s own defensive maneuvers versus Rey Acosta (The Collection) to secure another victory.

The battle for the Coppa Shell Am class victory nearly came down to the wire if not for a late race yellow, as Roger Monteforte (Ferrari of Central New Jersey) also took home both wins at Watkins Glen. Monteforte passed polesitter Jerri Walters (Ferrari of Vancouver) with 20 minutes remaining, but was pressured until the final moments. Walters finished runner-up narrowly behind Monteforte, with Roy Carroll (Foreign Cars Italia) following in third for his second podium of the weekend.

488 Challenge Evo: Massimo Perrina (Ferrari of Seattle) withstood the toughest challenge yet from Jason McCarthy (Wide World Ferrari), driving to his sixth win of 2024 in the 488 Challenge Trofeo Pirelli class. McCarthy put the nose of his Ferrari ahead of Perrina’s at the start, but Perrina used the racing line to maintain his lead from the pole position. While McCarthy held on for runner-up, Grey Fauvre (Ferrari of San Francisco) followed in his father’s footsteps during the 296 Challenge race to finish third.

In the Coppa Shell class, Saturday’s victory was awarded to Matthew Dalton (Ferrari of Long Island) after a post-race penalty was assessed to Gerdas Venslovas (Continental AutoSports) prior to Sunday’s race. It was Dalton’s first win of the season, and he put in the work again on Sunday to earn his Race 2 victory.

Stephen Chen (Ferrari of Houston) and Richard Pineda (Ferrari of Washington) finished second and third, respectively, while Venslovas clawed back from last on the grid on Sunday to fourth place.

Back to California: Ferrari Challenge North America now approaches its penultimate event of 2024, with Sonoma Raceway scheduled to host the series on August 21 – 25. This is the Ferrari Challenge’s second trip to Northern California this season, after previously racing at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in May.

All races, including replays from this weekend in Watkins Glen International, are available on the Ferrari YouTube channel.

For Ferrari Challenge North America at Watkins Glen International, the winners in each class exuded control over their competitors in Race 2. Hear from the victors as the fourth event of 2024 came to a close on Sunday afternoon.

 

In three races for Ferrari Challenge North America on Saturday, there was action across the board at Watkins Glen International. Hear from the winners who prevailed on Saturday, with hopes to do the same in Race 2 on Sunday.

 

On a sunny Saturday afternoon, Ferrari Challenge North America drivers brought the heat throughout three races at Watkins Glen International. This weekend marks the beginning of the second half of the season, and all three classes saw some drivers celebrate and some drivers falter with another round to compete in on Sunday.

Watch video highlights below:

Trofeo Pirelli

In the Trofeo Pirelli class, Jason McCarthy (Wide World Ferrari) sought and found redemption on Saturday, winning Race 1 at Watkins Glen after misfortune in Montreal forced him to withdraw from the previous two Ferrari Challenge rounds. This was McCarthy’s second win of the season, the first coming at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, and McCarthy started from pole position and navigated a mid-race restart well en route to victory.

Roberto Perrina (Ferrari of Seattle) and championship leader Dylan Medler (The Collection) battled behind McCarthy, with Perrina ultimately holding off Medler for second- and third-place finishes, respectively.

Brian Cook (Ferrari of Seattle) also found his way back to the top step of the podium on Saturday, breaking a three-race winless streak in Trofeo Pirelli Am after starting the year with three consecutive wins. While Cook cruised to his victory, Tony Davis (Continental AutoSports) was positioned for a runner-up position after starting fourth-in-class ahead of David Musial Sr. (Ferrari of Lake Forest), who started ninth. However, Musial leapt to third by the final laps and pressured Davis into a wiggle in the bus stop, passing for the runner-up spot and moving Davis to third.

Coppa Shell

The top three finishers in Saturday’s Coppa Shell race mirrored the top three in the class championship standings, with Eric Marston (Ferrari of Westlake) finishing on top once again. This was Marston’s fourth win in five races and Chuck Whittal (Ferrari of Central Florida) finished in second. Yahn Bernier (Ferrari of Seattle) started sixth and enjoyed a lengthy battle with John Viskup (Boardwalk Ferrari), but emerged ahead for the final podium spot.

In Coppa Shell Am, Jerri Walters (Ferrari of Vancouver) started from pole position for this first time this season, but lost her lead early to eventual winner, Roger Monteforte (Ferrari of Central New Jersey). Steve Check (Ferrari of Rancho Mirage), meanwhile, gained four positions to finish third and Roy Carroll (Foreign Cars Italia) made a passioned charge through the top five to finish third.

488 Challenge Evo

The 488 Challenge Evo classes returned to Watkins Glen after last running at Laguna Seca, and Massimo Perrina (Ferrari of Seattle) did not miss a beat by starting from pole position and maintaining his undefeated status this season. Perrina has now gone five-for-five in the Trofeo Pirelli class and benefited from a late caution that ended the race in advance.

Jason McCarthy (Wide World Ferrari), winner earlier in the day’s 296 Challenge Trofeo Pirelli class, finished runner-up for his second podium of the day, with Grey Fauvre (Ferrari of San Francisco) following in third.

Leading a stacked, 17-car Coppa Shell class, Gerdas Venslovas (Continental AutoSports) secured his second win of the season. Matthew Dalton (Ferrari of Long Island) scored another podium in second place, although still seeking his first win of 2024, while Gregory Hopkins (Foreign Cars Italia) came home third.

Sunday schedule

The final three Ferrari Challenge North America races at Watkins Glen will get underway on Sunday afternoon. Coppa Shell goes green at 1:10 p.m. ET, with Trofeo Pirelli at 2 p.m. and 488 Challenge Evo at 2:50 p.m. All races will stream live on the Ferrari YouTube channel.

Ferrari Challenge North America returns to Watkins Glen International for just the fifth time since 2014. Take a lap around with David Musial Jr. (Ferrari of Lake Forest) in his No. 31 Ferrari 296 Challenge race car ahead of the weekend.