This past weekend Laguna Seca hosted Ferrari Racing Days event, which included Ferrari Challenge North America and track sessions for owners involved in the XX and F1 programmes. It didn’t go well for everybody, but Ferrari test driver Marc Gene accomplished something truly remarkable. At the wheel of a 2003 Ferrari F1 race car, Marc managed to set a lap time of 1.05.78, fastest ever round the Seca.
Sadly, he popped in the 1.05 lap during a free practice session, so his time is classed as unofficial. Had it happened during an official timed session, he’d beat records of Sebastien Bourdais in a Panoz DP01 Champ Car (1.05.88) and Ricardo Zonta’s in a Toyota TF106 F1 car (1.06.30).
As for the racing day events, Alex Popow, racing for the Fort Lauderdale dealership claimed victory at the Ferrari Challenge North America, and Damon Ockey and Maurizio Scala (Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale) won the Coppa Shell. Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli will take place at the Montreal circuit on 10 June, as part of the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix weekend, round 7 of the Championship.
No other car maker offers such a rich motorsport program for clients, dealers and the public.