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2006 Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway
By: Frank Filipponio
Photos by the author
May 16, 2006

Article Images


I just got back from Sonoma where Ferrari of North America staged the second round of the 2006 Ferrari Challenge series. Walking through the paddock along the rows of dealer - liveried transports, carefully avoiding the scooters zipping around and trying not to drool on anything, I felt a bit like Charlie visiting the Chocolate Factory. Although there was a lot of excitement everywhere you looked, Kurt Buchwald totally dominated on the track. The Ferrari of Washington driver took pole position and led every lap in both races at Infineon Raceway's Ferrari Racing Event, which coupled the Challenge with two classes of historics and a variety of other driving and entertainment events for Ferrari owners and prospects.

With the pair of wins Buchwald takes the lead in the 2006 Championship. He qualified his Ferrari F430 Challenge on pole with a new track record for the 2.53 mile course, and a two second margin over Ferrari of Beverly Hills' John Horejsi, who shared the front row for the first race. Horejsi, his Auto Gallery teammates Rusty West and Steve Goldman, John Krieg (Ferrari of Houston), Allie Ash (Buchwald's teammate) and Joel Quaid (Ferrari of Orange County) swapped positions behind Buchwald for most of the race. Goldman moved into second and held the spot, but late in the 30 minute race Lawrence Stroll, driving for Ferrari of Quebec, moved up from his 11th starting spot to take third place from Quaid in the 430 race.

The older Ferrari 360 Challenge cars were competing as well, and while Steve Pruitt, another Ferrari of Washington driver, qualified on pole Mike Louli (Ferrari of Ontario) took the 360 lead early in the first lap. Pruitt held second until near the end when an incident cost him the spot. Alex Quaid (Ferrari of Orange County) came from last on the grid to finish second on the 360 podium, with Pruitt holding on for third. Quaid is the son of F430 Challenge racer Joel Quaid.

Buchwald's win in the first race gave him pole position for Sunday's race, and he took full advantage by leading every lap for the win. Goldman maintained second place until late in the race when Stroll passed, but the Quebec driver almost immediately suffered electrical problems, dropping him out of the race. Ash, Krieg, Horesji, Joel Quaid, and defending Ferrari Challenge Champion Emmanuel Anassis (who had not raced on Saturday and started on the last row of the grid) fought over the last podium spot after Stroll's retirement, with Quaid finally taking the third place trophy.

Louli again led every lap in the 360 Class, with Pruitt moving into second early in the race. Alex Quaid was slowed with mechanical problems, but was able to finish on the podium, ahead of Jimmy Pugliese and Mandy Reimert.

Louli again led every lap in the 360 Class, with Pruitt moving into second early in the race. Alex Quaid was slowed with mechanical problems, but was able to finish on the podium, ahead of Jimmy Pugliese and Mandy Reimert.

With Ferrari's dedication to Formula 1, it's not surprising that there is significant technological transfer to the Challenge cars, particularly with the use of the carbon ceramic material (CCM) braking system and the F1 paddle-shift gearbox. Fifth and sixth
gear, as well as the final drive ratio, have been modified from road-going F430s in order to make the most of the engine on all the circuits where the F430 Challenge will race. The F430 Challenge has also gone on a diet and boasts a dry weight of just 2700 lbs. as a result of interior gutting, the use of a Lexan® windscreen, the all-carbon fibre intake plenum cover, and specific exhaust system among other things.

Another important feature introduced in the F430 Challenge is the new steering wheel which has a quick release mechanism to provide easier access for drivers and incorporates buttons for communication with the pits, to set the pit lane speed and to interface with the new color digital instrument panel. The rear of the car is characterized by the specific exhaust system which has high central tail pipes, and by the modified grill which increases the extraction of hot air from the rear of the engine bay. One additional change for Infineon was the removal of the rear vents that bracket the engine lid as a further way to improve underhood airflow. The anti-roll bars, springs and single-rate shocks have also been modified for racing use. The F430 Challenge also features new single lug wheels and extremely impressive pneumatic air jacks for faster wheel changes in the pits.

Over 100 F430 Challenge race cars are expected to hit the tracks this year in the three groups of the series in the USA, Italy, and Europe. Preparation and race support stateside are handled by teams formed by authorized Ferrari dealers across North America. Preparation rules are very specific, and the series is intended to emphasize driver skill among lady and gentleman drivers. Sponsorship and support for the series comes from Motorola, Bose, Piaggio Aero, Pirelli, and Shell. The Challenge will next compete at Le Circuit at Mont- Tremblant on June 16-18, and then one week later will serve as the support race for the 2006 Canadian Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal.

Historic Challenge

Vintage racing is indescribably delightful. The sheer volume of photos I took of this group is testament to the pull they still hold on an enthusiast's heartstrings. If you've never seen these things run in person, you owe it to yourself to haul your butt down to the next event. Watching these museum pieces load and unload their suspensions, getting whiffs of fuel, rubber, brakes and clutches, and hearing their vintage straight 8s, inline 4s, V-6s, 8s and 12s rev out is truly inspiring. This weekend's race at Infineon was no exception. Past series champion Jim Fuchs, driving a 1979 Ferrari 512 BB/LM, put on a driving exhibition as he took a pair of hotly contested wins in the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge. The races were held at Infineon Raceway as part of the Ferrari Racing Event at the track.

In the first race for the newer Disc Brake Group on Saturday Fuchs started behind Lawrence Stroll, driving the ex-Roger Penske/Sunoco Ferrari 512M, and Todd Morici, in an almost identical 512 BB/LM. Morici, another past series Champion, took the lead on the first lap as Stroll faltered with electrical gremlins. Morici held the lead with Fuchs never more than a second behind, until the last lap. Fuchs took the inside line out of Turn Ten as Morici suffered fuel problems, and Fuchs made a perfect pass by holding the inside line at the Horseshoe and leading the last few hundred yards to the checker. Stroll was still a class winner, as was Peter LeSaffre in a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB/Comp and Chuck Wegner in his 196 SP.

In the first race for the older Shell Historics fitted with drum brakes, the race was again determined on almost the last lap. Peter Giddings, another former series champion, was quick off the line at the start, but almost immediate mechanical problems brought his famous ex-Whitney Straight Maserati 8CM into the pits. Michael Callaham took the lead in his Ferrari 625/250 TRC and held a comfortable lead until just before the last lap when he too took to the pits. Chuck Wegner's Maserati 200 SI took the win, the first overall win for the former champion. Peter Greenfield won the pre-war class in his Alfa Romeo 8C/35, and Peter LeSaffre defended his 2005 championship with a class win
in a Ferrari 250 TdF berlinetta.

In Sunday's race for the Disc Group Fuchs started from Pole Position with Stroll several places behind, but Stroll was immediately on Fuchs' bumper in Turn One. Stroll promptly spun, allowing Fuchs to take a lead of almost 20 seconds over the Sunoco-blue 512 M. Stroll charged back through the field, in one lap taking almost five seconds off Fuchs' lead, and with one lap to go had caught the leading BB/LM. Stroll's electrical gremlins returned, though, causing a quick spin, and Fuchs was unchallenged for the win. Stroll took another class win, as did LeSaffre and Bert Skidmore, both driving 250 SWB Competition berlinettas.

Callaham had no problems in the second Drum Brake Group race, leading from flag to flag. Giddings was again a brief threat, but the mechanical problems left him parked by the course for almost a lap, ending any chances of a win. Greenfield repeated his class win in the 8C/35 Alfa. Piaggio Aero, one of the series sponsors, presented a special award to David Love in recognition of his long-term appreciation for the Ferrari marque. Love purchased his pontoon-fendered 250 TR in 1964, and has raced it ever since, even doing much of the mechanical work himself.

The Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge will next compete at Le Circuit at Mont-Tremblant on June 16-18.