Attendees were treated to the music generated by the V10 engines of F2004 Formula One cars with racing pedigree. The actual cars in which Michael Schumacher drove to wins in the first five races of 2004 (Car No. 234) and Rubens Barrichello triumphed at the 2004 Chinese Grand Prix (Car No. 240) were driven around the 11-turn, 2.238-mile WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca road course by drivers in the Corse Clienti F1 program. Owners get the opportunity to drive the machines with Ferrari’s guidance and support.
“I made a big mistake – I had never driven the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca track, and my first time is in a Formula One car!” said Rick Yan, immediately after driving car 240. “The guys who work on this car do an amazing job. It feels so great to go down the iconic Corkscrew in an F1 car. I can’t believe it.”
The second-generation driver signaled the victory with his hand extended from the driver’s side window as he crossed the finish line. MacNeil, who also drives for Scuderia Corsa in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, did celebratory donuts in front of the bleachers to commemorate the win.
“It was a good race from flag to flag,” said MacNeil. “The WeatherTech Scuderia Corsa guys worked their butts off to give me a great car during qualifying and the race. If I’m not mistaken, we got max points today. That’s good for the championship.”
Neil Gahani, who finished fifth overall, took the victory in the Pro-Am category. On a separate grid, Mark Issa won the overall Coppa Shell race, and Jay Schreibman won the Coppa Shell Amateur class.
The turbocharged Ferrari 488 cars will return for Race 2 on Sunday with the Pro and Pro-Am drivers competing at 1:40-2:10 p.m. and the Coppa Shell drivers taking the spotlight at 12:45-1:15 p.m. The Clienti Formula One cars will be on track at 11:10-11-40 a.m.
Tickets to tomorrow’s Ferrari Racing Days finale are available at the gate for only $20 with children 15 and under granted complimentary admission. Join us for one last day of the Ferrari celebration. Information is available on www.WeatherTechRaceway.com.
- NHRA announces eight-race schedule for 2024 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series - January 17, 2024
- Forgeline and Pratt Miller Motorsports Announce New Multi-Year Partnership - January 17, 2024
- TAG Heuer Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein converts narrow pole to commanding win in the Season 10 opener of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship at the 2024 Hankook Mexico City E-Prix - January 16, 2024