Tudor United SportsCar Championship 2015 – Round 1 – Rolex 24 at Daytona

United SportsCar Championship – Ferrari Takes Lead of Patron North American Endurance Cup at Daytona

Posted: 25.01.2015
Source: Ferrari

Daytona Beach, 25 January – The five Ferrari 458 Italias entered in the 24 Hours at Daytona demonstrated the speed and competitiveness of the car in two classes. Both the two Ferraris in the GT-LeMans class and the three in the GT-Daytona class led their classes during the race, challenging for the lead from the drop of the green flag on Saturday afternoon.

Ferrari has demonstrated its competitiveness at Daytona throughout the race’s history, with eleven class victories including last year’s victory with the 458 Italia. On the strength of the performance throughout the 24 hours, Ferrari leads the Patron North American Endurance Cup manufacturer standings.
The best finishing of the Ferrari in this year’s race was the no. 49 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia driven by Pasin Lathouras, Michele Rugolo, Rui Aguas and Matt Griffin which finished in fourth position in GT-Daytona.

Sixth in GT-Daytona was the no. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia of Bill Sweedler, Townsend Bell, Anthony Lazzaro and Jeff Segal. The sister car, the no. 64 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia of Daniel Serra, Francisco Longo, Marcos Gomes and Andrea Bertolini retired after an incident during the morning. While running fourth, Longo encountered oil left on the circuit by another car, leading to the incident. Both Scuderia Corsa Ferraris led the GT-Daytona field throughout the race.

In the GT-LeMans class, both Ferraris also led the field before being forced to retire. Both the no. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia of Giancarlo Fisichella, Pierre Kaffer, Davide Rigon and Olivier Beretta and the no. 51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia of François Perrodo, Gianmaria Bruni, Toni Vilander, and Emmanuel Collard retired from the race during the night time hours.

The next round of the United SportsCar Championship will be the Twelve Hours of Sebring, held on March 21 at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida.

United SportsCar Championship – Eighteenth Hour Report

Posted: 25.01.2015
Source: Ferrari

Daytona Beach, 25 January – Daybreak at Daytona saw the pair of Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italias battling for the lead of the GT-Daytona class.

GT-Daytona
With six hours remaining in the 24 Hours at Daytona, Jeff Segal was behind the wheel of the no. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia in second position in GT-D, while Marcos Gomes was in fourth position in the no. 64 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia. The Scuderia Corsa Ferraris are two of the four cars on the lead lap in GT-D. The two cars had enjoyed trouble-free runs during the overnight hours with both taking turns at the lead of the class. Andrea Bertolini enjoyed a stint at the front of the class in the no. 64 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia, while both Townsend Bell and Bill Sweedler also led the class during the night. After taking maximum points at the six-hour and twelve-hour points, Ferrari leads the GT-Daytona manufacturer standings in the Patron North American Endurance Cup. The drivers of the no. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia are currently second in the NAEC driver’s championship.

GT-LeMans
Both of the Ferrari’s entered in the GT-LeMans class, the no. 51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia and the no. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia, retired during the night. The final hours of the Rolex 24 at Daytona will be shown on FOX Sports 1 from 7:00 AM – 2:30 PM ET

United SportsCar Championship – Eleven Hour Report

Posted: 25.01.2015
Source: Ferrari

Daytona Beach, 25 January – As the 24 Hours at Daytona neared its halfway point, the Ferrari challenge for the lead of the GT-Daytona class continued while the Ferrari challenge in the GT-LeMans class came to an end while leading the race.
GT-LeMans
A furious battle in GT-LeMans witnessed Giancarlo Fisichella and Pierre Kaffer steer the no. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia to the lead of the class. However, while leading shortly after midnight, Kaffer pitted the Ferrari for an unscheduled stop before the car was taken behind the wall. The other Ferrari entered in the class, the no. 51 AF Corse Ferrari 458, was retired from the race after an incident in the race’s eighth hour.
GT-Daytona
In the GT-Daytona class, the pair of Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italias remained a threat for the class victory. After their car went down a lap earlier in the race, Andrea Bertolini and and Marcos Gomes drove the no. 64 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia back on the lead lap and into contention for the race. Just past 1:00 AM ET, Gomes was leading the GT-Daytona class.
In second position was the no. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari. Bill Sweedler, Anthony Lazzaro and Jeff Segal kept their Ferrari well within the top-five throughout the night time hours.
Based on the running order at the six-hour mark, Ferrari leads the GT Daytona manufacturer standings in the Patron North American Endurance Cup.
The 24 Hours at Daytona will be streamed live on IMSA.com until 7:00 AM ET. The final hours will be shown on FOX Sports 1 from 7:00 AM – 2:30 PM ET.

United SportsCar Championship – Six Hour Report

Posted: 24.01.2015
Source: Ferrari

Daytona Beach, 24 January 24 – It was Ferraris to the front during the opening hours of the 24 Hours at Daytona. Each of the five Ferrari 458 Italias in the race took a turn at the front of their respective class during the first six hours of the 24-hour contest.
GT-LeMans
The opening stages of the race saw the no. 51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 with Gianmaria Bruni behind the wheel take the lead in the GT-LeMans class. After rebounding from an incident caused by contact with a prototype, the no. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia took a turn at the front of the field. Giancarlo Fisichella battled throughout his stint with several other GT-LeMans class cars.
GT-Daytona
At the same time, Daniel Serra drove the no. 64 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia to the lead in the GT-Daytona class. As the race transitioned from day to night time, the no. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia and the no. 49 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia both led the GT-Daytona class – at one point battling for the lead of the race. Driven by Townsend Bell, Bill Sweedler, Anthony Lazzaro and Jeff Segal, the no. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia was firmly established as the GT-Daytona leader through the sixth hour of the race.
The 24 Hours at Daytona broadcast will continue on FOX Sports 1 at 8:00 PM ET, and will be streamed live on IMSA.com from 10:00 PM – 7:00 AM ET. The final hours will be shown on FOX Sports 1 on Sunday, January 25 from 7:00 AM – 2:30 PM ET.

United SportsCar Championship – First row for Ferrari’s “Gimmi” Bruni

Posted: 22.01.2015
Source: Ferrari

Daytona Beach, 22 January – A strong qualifying performance by Gianmaria Bruni will see a Ferrari on the front row of the GT-LeMans class in Saturday’s 24 Hours at Daytona.
Ferrari’s most recent victory at the 24 Hours came in a thrilling finish in 2014, which was the marque’s tenth victory in the famous endurance classic. This year, two Ferraris are in contention for victory in GT-LeMans while three are in contention in the GT-Daytona class.
Bruni’s lap of 1:43.830 during Thursday afternoon’s qualifying session put the no. 51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia in second position in the competitive GT-LeMans class. Bruni will share the car with Emmanuel Collard, Francois Perrodo and Toni Vilander in the 24 Hours at Daytona.
Just a tenth of a second behind was the no. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 458. The car, which was qualified by Pierre Kaffer, who will be joined by former Scuderia Ferrari driver Giancarlo Fisichella, Olivier Beretta and Davide Rigon, will start Saturday’s race in sixth position.
With Daniel Serra at the wheel, the no. 64 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia led the three Ferraris in the GT-Daytona class. His time of 1:47.805 put the car in fifth position in the 18 car field. Serra will share the car with Francisco Luongo, Marcos Gomes and Andrea Bertolini.
Scuderia Corsa’s other Ferrari, the no. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia, was qualified in tenth position by Townsend Bell. The car will feature the all-American lineup of Bell, Bill Sweedler, Jeff Segal and Anthony Lazzaro. Bell, Segal and Sweedler co-drive the winning GT-D Ferrari in last year’s 24 Hours.
In 13th position was the no. 49 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia that was qualified by Matt Griffin which will also be driven by Pasin Lathouras, Michele Rugolo and Rui Aguas.
The 24 Hours at Daytona broadcast will begin at 2:00 PM ET on Saturday, January 24 on FOX, will move to at 4:00 PM ET on FOX Sports 2, and then to 8:00 PM ET on FOX Sports 1. The race will be streamed live on IMSA.com from 10:00 PM – 7:00 AM ET, with the final hours shown on FOX Sports 1 on Sunday, January 25 from 7:00 AM – 2:30 PM ET.

United SportsCar Championship – Five Ferraris Chasing Victory at Daytona

Posted: 21.01.2015
Source: Ferrari

Daytona Beach, 21 January – Last season’s Daytona 24Hours saw one of the most dramatic finishes in the history of the race as a Ferrari 458 Italia scored the marque’s eleventh victory at the legendary endurance classic. This year, five Ferrari 458 Italias are taking the green flag on the banks of Daytona for the first round of the 2015 United SportsCar Championship. Ferrari history runs deep at Daytona International Speedway, with some of its most famous models – including the 250 GTO, 330 P4, Daytona, 333SP and 458 Italia – having visited victory lane.

GT-Le Mans. In the GT-Le Mans class, two legendary Ferrari teams and a wealth of GT driver talent will seek the marque’s first GT-Le Mans victory at Daytona. Risi Competizione’s famous no. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia will be driven by former Scuderia Ferrari driver Giancarlo Fisichella and Pierre Kaffer throughout the season, and will be joined by Olivier Beretta and Davide Rigon in Daytona. Making its first appearance at Daytona will be the Italian AF Corse team. The no. 51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia will feature the driver lineup of Gianmaria Bruni, Emmanuel Collard, Francois Perrodo and Toni Vilander.

GT-Daytona. In the GT-Daytona class, Grand-Am championship winning team Scuderia Corsa returns with a new driver lineup. Townsend Bell and Bill Sweedler, who will drive the no. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia throughout the USCC season, will be joined by Anthony Lazzaro and Jeff Segal to form an all-American lineup. Bell, Segal and Sweedler were part of the lineup that was victorious at Daytona last year in a Ferrari 458 Italia, while Bell and Sweedler went on to win the 2014 North American Endurance Cup in GT-Daytona class. A second Scuderia Corsa Ferrari will be draped in the colors of the Brazilian flag. The no. 64 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia will be driven by Brazilians Francisco Longo, Marcos Gomes and Brazlian StockCar star Daniel Serra. Italian Andrea Bertolini will round out the lineup. The third Ferrari in the class, the no. 49 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia, will be driven by Rui Aguas, Matt Griffin, Pasin Lathouras and Michele Rugolo.

Ferrari Challenge and schedule. The Ferrari Challenge series will also begin its season at Daytona, with the first race scheduled on Friday, January 23 and the second on Saturday January 24. The Daytona 24 Hours broadcast will begin at 2:00 PM ET on Saturday, January 24 on FOX, will move to at 4:00 PM ET on FOX Sports 2, and then to 8:00 PM ET on FOX Sports 1. The race will be streamed live on IMSA.com from 10:00 PM – 7:00 AM ET, with the final hours shown on FOX Sports 1 on Sunday, January 25 from 7:00 AM – 2:30 PM ET.

United SportsCar Championship – Ferrari an eleven time winner at Daytona

Posted: 16.01.2015
Source: Ferrari

Maranello, 16 January –The Daytona 24 Hours is a motor sport classic and this year it celebrates its 53rd running, even if it’s only the 48th time it has run over 24 hours. Ferrari’s name has been etched on the winner’s trophy eleven times, with two outright victories and nine class wins.

Formation finish. The most famous of these victories came in 1967, with Ferrari securing a clean sweep of the top three places. Lorenzo Bandini and Chris Amon won in the factory 330 P3/4, ahead of the factory 330 P4 of Mike Parkes and Ludovico Scarfiotti and the 412 P entered by the North American Racing Team (NART) crewed by Pedro Rodriguez and Jean Guichet. It was an unforgettable victory, following on from the previous year when, for the very first time it ran for 24 hours and the win in the up to 3 litre Sports car class went to the 250 GTO driven by Jack Slottag, who was teamed up with Larry Perkins. In 1968, a 250 LM won the Sport category: it was entered by Raceco-Miami for John Gunn, Guillermo Ortega and Fausto Merello. The following year, victory in the up to 5 litre GT class went to the NART 275 GTB/C of Sam Posey and the American – rather than the more famous Mexican – Ricardo Rodriguez.

The Seventies. NART’s winning ways in the Prototype class continued for two more years with the 312 P: in 1970 the win went to Sam Posey and Mike Parkes, and one year later it was the turn of Nestor Garcia-Veiga, Alain De Cadenet and Luigi Chinetti Jr. The American team came second in 1973 with the 365 GTB/4 thanks to François Migault and Milt Minter, a result that was good enough to claim the win in the over 2 litre GT category. The same car won again two years later with John Woodrer and Fred Phillips and in 1979, thanks to Modena Sports Cars and John Morton and Tony Adamowicz.

The 1998 masterstroke. The Prancing Horse marque had a barren time in the United States in the Eighties, but in the mid-Nineties, it built an amazing car, the 333 SP “barchetta.” The car, entered by the Doran/Moretti Racing team took the overall win for Maranello 31 years on from the memorable formation finish victory. The drivers who did the job were Giampiero Moretti, Mauro Baldi, Arie Luyendyk and Didier Theys. A further 16 years passed before the next victory, last year in fact, this time in the GT-Daytona category, courtesy of the Level 5 Motorsport 458 Italia, crewed by Townsend Bell, Bill Sweedler, Jeff Segal and Alessandro Pier Guidi.

The other wins. Ferrari has won a further 12 times at Daytona, in races not run over 24 hours. Particularly noteworthy among these was victory in the 1963 3 Hours, courtesy of Pedro Rodriguez in the NART 250 GTO, with the Mexican doing it again the following year in the 2000 km, paired on this occasion with Phil Hill. There was also an unforgettable triumph for Mario Andretti and Jacky Ickx in the 1972 6 Hours, in the factory 312 PB.

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United SportsCar Championship – Daytona free practice: already a close fought battle

Posted: 12.01.2015
Source: Ferrari

Maranello, 12 January –The first weekend of free practice has just taken place for the Daytona 24 Hours, the opening round of the United SportsCar Championship (USCC) and the North American Endurance Cup. Eight sessions were held, but only the earlier ones were run in good enough weather to produce relevant times. Rain meant that crews spent a long time in the garages. There were five Ferraris from three teams taking part in two categories.

GTLM Class. Fastest was the Porsche driven by Germany’s Jorg Bergmeister, New Zealnder Earl Bamber and France’s Frederic Makowiecki with a 1.44.316. The Ferrari crew made up of Pierre Kaffer and Davide Rigon, who will be joined later on by Giancarlo Fisichella and Olivier Beretta, were just three tenths down in 1.44.618. The other Ferrari, entered by AF Corse for Finland’s Toni VIlander, the reigning WEC champion and French drivers Francois Perrodo and Emmanuel Collard, was ninth. Their best time was a 1.44.841, half a second off the fastest.

GTD class. the GT-Daytona class, it’s equally close, with 13 cars all within the same second. Fastest in free practice was the Riley Motorsports Dodge crew of Dutchman Jeroen Bleekemolen and the Americans, Ben Keating and Al Carter, the only ones to get under the 1 minute 47 second barrier, with a 1.46.948. The highest place Ferrari was 11^th, it being the AF Corse 49 car, in the hands of Thai driver Pasin Lathouras, Italy’s Michele Rugolo and Portugal’s Rui Aguas, who posted a 1.47.740, eight tenths off the leader.

Also within a second of the best time was the Scuderia Corsa number 64 458 Italia, in the hands of Brazilians Francisco Longo, Daniel Serra and the American Martin Fuentes. They were 12^th with a 1.47.901. 16^th in 1.48.156 were team-mates Anthony Lazzaro, Bill Sweedler, Townsend Bell and Jeff Segal in the 63 car, the latter three having won the race last year. Quickest overall was the Chevrolet of Americans Jordan and Ricky Taylor and Italy’s Max Angelelli.