Ferrari Challenge: McKenzie sweeps COTA races, Ruud claims Coppa Shell title

With the eyes of the world on the Circuit of The Americas for the weekend’s Formula 1 World Championship round, 33 Ferrari 458 Challenge Evoluziones battled in a pair of races on the 3.4-mile circuit.

In the first race, held on Saturday afternoon, Mark McKenzie (Ferrari of Houston) and teammate Ricardo Perez contested the lead throughout the 25-minute race. McKenzie completed a pass on Perez in turn one at the halfway point of the race to take the lead and ultimately prevailed to take the victory. Gregory Romanelli (The Collection) closed the gap to Perez in the closing stages but finished in third position.

In the Coppa Shell class, James Weiland (Ferrari of San Francisco) held the lead from start-to-finish with Robert

Herjavec (Ferrari of Ontario) finishing in second and Austin local Ross Garber (Ferrari of San Francisco) rounding out the podium.

In the second race, held on Sunday morning before the Formula 1 race, saw Perez beat McKenzie into the first turn at the start to take the lead which he would not relinquish. Scott Tucker (Boardwalk Ferrari) took advantage of the first lap traffic to jump from fourth to second position, with McKenzie falling to third.

Perez’s two podiums helped him to secure the Trofeo Pirelli championship, while Chris Ruud (Ferrari of Beverly Hills) closed a successful season of racing in North America for the Scuderia Corsa team, the Coppa Shell class championship. While Ruud had a relatively quiet weekend, he had amassed such a large points lead seven victories out of a possible sixteen races this season, he could afford to let caution prevail over valor at COTA.

"While the races this weekend were not my best when it came to finishing position, the Scuderia Corsa team gave me a fast Ferrari to race," said Ruud. "The Circuit of The Americas is a wonderful track. I am fortunate to have locked up the championship already and am looking forward to the Finali Mondiali in Abu Dhabi next month."

Team owner Giacomo Mattioli expressed his joy in watching Ruud secure the Coppa Shell championship.

"Chris is really a big part of Scuderia Corsa and I'm thrilled to see him celebrate as champion," said Mattioli. "He has worked very hard and pushed himself all year to improve as a driver, and it is clear to see in the results. Everyone at Scuderia Corsa is thrilled for him and we congratulate him on a great season. Ferrari Challenge is very important for us as it allows our clients the opportunity do what Ferraris were built for - competition."

The final event for Ferrari Challenge will be the Finali Mondiali, where drivers from the Ferrari Challenge series in North America, Europe, and Asia will compete at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE on December 3-6.