Ferrari North America Drivers Ready For Finali Mondiali

The IMSA-sanctioned North American Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli may have finished its season at NOLA Motorsports Park on October 4th, but for fifteen of the drivers, the season has not ended. This weekend will be Ferrari’s Finali Mondiali at the Mugello Circuit in Italy. The annual end-of-year celebration for Ferrari’s Corse Clienti, the Finali Mondiali is also a worldwide competition that brings together the drivers of the Ferrari Challenge series in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

Also taking to the track at Mugello will be Scuderia Ferrari drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel, who will do demonstrations in the Ferrari SF15-T Formula 1 race car, F1 Clienti as well as the XX Programme vehicles which include the FXX, 599XX and the newest FXX K taking part in testing sessions throughout the weekend. While the Ferrari Challenge drivers all compete in identical Ferrari 458 Italia Challenge Evo, the North American drivers have all markedly different paths which have led them to compete in Ferrari Challenge and this year’s Finali Mondiali. The fifteen drivers from North America represent one of the largest field of drivers from the series to travel to the Finali Mondiali. Brothers Arthur Romanelli (The Collection) and Gregory Romanelli (The Collection) may feel more at home than any other driver at the Mugello Circuit. The Romanelli family is originally from the nearby city of Pisa. “Mugello Circuit is our family’s home track in Italy,” said Arthur Romanelli. “We love it here because we feel like we are at home, and in a way we truly are. The Finali Mondiali is the last race of the season and will show who the best of the best in the world is from Ferrari Challenge. We all get together for the passion of this sport and to challenge our driving skills.”James Weiland (Ferrari of San Francisco) came to the Ferrari Challenge after taking part in the Ferrari Driving Experience in Mont Tremblant. After three seasons of racing – including this season where he scored two victories in the Trofeo Pirelli AM class – Weiland will take part in his second Finali Mondiali. 

“I drove in the Finali Mondiali two years ago, and with time in the simulator at GPX Lab, I am ready to go,” said Weiland. “The warm up lap is where I feel all the anticipation. You know you are surrounded by very good drivers from all these difference countries from around the world. You try to take in all of the colors and all the cars and the beautiful setting while trying to warm up the tires and systems and just waiting for what seems like forever for that green flag. But then the green flag flies, the engines are screaming and it’s time to get down to racing.”One of the newest Ferrari Challenge drivers, Chris Cagnazzi (Ferrari of Long Island) was influenced at a young age by his brothers into motorsports. However, it wasn’t until late last season that he made the decision to go racing. As he wraps up his first season in Ferrari Challenge, he will make his first visit to the Finali Mondiali.“I had no plans to compete in the Finali Mondiali,” said Cagnazzi. “As a newcomer, I concentrated on each race as they came. But, after the round at NOLA, I decided it would be a great experience and a dream come true to race a Ferrari in Italy. My love and passion for these cars has always been deep and continues to be so today. I’m a very competitive person by nature, and I struggle with how to push myself as far as I can while still trying to understand that as a rookie I have a lack of experience and limitations. It hasn’t been easy for me, but my coach James Gue has been instrumental in guiding me. We review every race and take every second behind the wheel – the good, and the bad – as lessons learned.”Live timing and updates from Finali Mondiali will be available throughout the weekend at finalimondiali2015.ferrari.com.