Homestead Miami Speedway Report, September 24-25

September 28, 2011

Following a two-month break, the Ferrari Challenge North America returned this past weekend at Homestead Miami Speedway, where the Gran Finale race bid farewell to the F430 Challenge. The proven F430 Challenge racecars will continue in new roles as club racers and track-day machines.

In the 458 Challenge, points leader Enzo Pottolichio (Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale), the front-runner for much of the 2011 season, took second in the first race on Saturday and won the second race on Sunday. He ended the North American season with 270 points. Going into the World Finals in Mugello, it is mathematically impossible for any of the North American racers to surpass him.

Emmanuel Anassis (Ferrari of Quebec) won the first race at Homestead, quickly moving past pole sitter Pottolichio and dominating through the end. Mark McKenzie (Ferrari of Houston) held third place from beginning to end. A previous series champ, Anassis had only just returned to the series in a new 458 Challenge at the Lime Rock event, where he won the second race; he ended his abbreviated season with 88 points. Anassis also set a new lap record at 01:27:591 on lap two in the second race.

Harry Cheung (Ferrari of Silicon Valley) took fourth and third places, respectively, in Homestead’s two 458 Challenge races. McKenzie took second in the second race.

Cheung and McKenzie go into the World Finals battling for second place in the North American series, each with 208 points so far. Cooper MacNeil (Ferrari of Houston) scored 206 points but did not compete at Homestead.  

In the F430 Challenge class, Christopher Ruud (Ferrari of Silicon Valley) took the checkered flag in both races. Ruud is the F430 Challenge points leader going into the World Finals, with 230 points, followed by Juan Hinestrosa (Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale), with 214 and Damon Ockey (Ferrari of Ontario) with 206.

In the F430 Challenge Gran Finale on Sunday, drivers chose teammates to compete. Frank Fusillo partnered with John Farano (Algar Ferrari) to move Fusillo’s F430 Challenge from a fourth-position start to a duel for first against the team of Guy LeClerc and Richard Spenard (Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale), who took second in the Gran Finale.

The Ferrari Challenge World Finals take place Mugello on November 6.