Official FERRARI CHALLENGE cars and racing thread

Baby steps would be the rational way to do it, or do what I did which is do one corso Pilota, buy a challenge car the next week and go testing!
If you are going to do it the rational way (sensible) try and do something like a Mazda racing series to work on your race craft. For example in the new York area you can join a private track (Monticello which is AWESOME) and you can buy a fully race-prepped Mazda Miata for about $60k and race almost every weekend with 30 other people. I haven’t tried it but supposed to be amazing fun and safe and great for race craft. I know you’re on the left coast but am sure there is something similar there and probably in other parts if the world too.
Yes the race weekends are great fun to visit. Yes lots of cars but the more the merrier. The four classes are split into two races, so Trofeo Pirelli (top class) and Trofeo Pirelli AM (“amateur”) race together and Coppa Shell and Shell AM race together. At Laguna the Shell races had about 30 in total and Pirelli about half that. The racing is laugh out loud fun and the feeling of elation when you cross the finish line (whatever your position) is great.

 

For guys/gals interest in any aspect of Challenge, ask anything here.

 

488 Challenge interior.

And no the cooler isn’t for spare beers, it contains the ice water that feeds a vest that you wear under your driving suit with ice water to keep your core body temperature down. It’s very comfortable and works really well aka the “cool suit”


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Yes but Ferrari don’t like it. I missed the first one, did the EVO course then still did the Advanced course after I bought the car. I would have done the Challenge course too but had a scheduling conflict. Racing in Challenge is also about supporting the brand, being a brand ambassador and being a client of all services and opportunities offered. If you embrace this and all aspects of Ferrari you will eventually reach the top tier of client and be offered special cars. That’s important to some , less important to others. IMSA like to see all the Corsa Pilota classes completed but don’t technically require any Ferrari courses. If you don’t have the full set of courses you will need several highly respected coaches to vouch for you (I can provide names) and you may be required to attend one of the test days prior to the start of the season. It will also help if develop a relationship with the head coach of the series (Didier Theys who is a great guy). I was asked to attend the test at COTA (which I was excited to do) and was then given the license.

Bottom line I recommend doing all the courses. They are very thoughtful and thorough about how they build skills gradually and without pushing too fast. Some feel there could be more track time but trust me you’ll be pleasantly tired at the end of the days. After the courses then yes by all means test with your coach.

 

Money? check
Training? not so much (does drinking count?)
Testing? check

Well yes the money aspect is definitely there. We can have talk about that if you’d like. I view this as a bucket list item so I don’t care about cost.

The car honestly isn’t that physically taxing. I mean if you have a basic level of fitness I think you’re fine. I have had days where I have spent 4 hours total driving flat out. Yes you are exhausted at the end of the day but believe me I’m no marathon runner.

Anytime you drive the car ideally you want your coach to be with you (that’s what I have done) makes improving SO much faster, easier and probably safer. Yes the teams normally arrange 2 day tests in the month before the race which are optional but obviously super helpful. I did a few test sessions but just didn’t have the time for the others. Montreal is the exception, no testing there as the track is only open twice a year.

This raises the topic of simulators. You really need one. I’m furiously lapping in my basement right now trying to learn Montreal.

 

What simulator do you have?[/QUOTE]

I have CXC and I hear simcraft are good too

www.cxcsimulations.com/

www.simcraft.com/

 

Thank you. Finished 5th and 4th in class in the 2 races. I was chasing the P3 car in front of me today but just couldn’t catch it! There was an engine failure on Saturday, the car that failed was on the grid in front of me but luckily I overtook her at the start otherwise might have got caught up in the oil spill that caused a multiple car incident. Was glad everyone was ok.

 

Well since Lisa posted it I guess it’s ok to repost. I’m not an engineer but I don’t think this is good!

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It did get a bit messy but everyone was totally fine. The cars are sturdy and safe.

I go past at 50 seconds in the blue car with the white stripe then Lisa Clark follows and unfortunately when the engine let go it left a streak of oil which caused the issues.