Franco and Green Shine in Thrilling 2025 Ferrari Challenge Opener
The picturesque Sonoma Raceway played host to an electrifying Saturday afternoon of high-octane competition as the Ferrari Challenge North America roared into action for the 2025 season. Against the backdrop of California’s wine country, nearly 70 cars took to the track, showcasing their prowess in the first of two races for the Trofeo Pirelli and Coppa Shell classes. With one exhilarating doubleheader down, another day of intense racing awaits on Sunday, promising to set the stage for a season filled with drama and excitement.
Trofeo Pirelli: Franco’s Victory Lap
In a nail-biting battle that had fans on the edge of their seats, Manny Franco of Ferrari Lake Forest emerged victorious in the Trofeo Pirelli class, despite not being the first to cross the finish line. Throughout the thrilling 30-minute race, Franco and Dylan Medler of The Collection engaged in a fierce duel for second place behind race leader Massimo Perrina of Ferrari of Seattle. Little did they know that Perrina’s jump-start penalty would shake up the standings, propelling Franco to a well-deserved first-place finish after overtaking Medler early in the race. With Medler hot on his heels, Franco clinched the top spot by a razor-thin margin, while Johnny Kaminskey of Ferrari of Long Island secured a commendable third-place finish in his Ferrari Challenge debut.
In the Trofeo Pirelli Am class, Brad Fauvre of Ferrari of San Francisco made a stunning comeback from a second-place starting position to claim victory in the season’s inaugural race. Fauvre’s skillful maneuver saw him overtake polesitter Eric Pan of Ferrari Beverly Hills right from the start, with Pan settling for second place and Sebastian Mascaro of Ferrari of Central Florida rounding out the top three.
Coppa Shell: Green Dominates the Field
The Coppa Shell race witnessed a commanding performance by Mitchell Green of Ferrari Westlake, who cruised to a decisive victory as his competitors jostled for position behind him. Yahn Bernier of Ferrari of Seattle held onto the runner-up spot despite facing a potential time penalty, while Gary Ott of Ferrari Philadelphia secured third place, setting the stage for an intense rematch on Sunday.
In the Coppa Shell Am category, Jeffrey Nunberg of Ferrari of Central New Jersey pulled off a thrilling late-race pass on Gabe Hrib of Ferrari of Atlanta to claim victory in a hard-fought battle. As the two drivers traded paint throughout the race, Steve Check of Ferrari of Rancho Mirage kept pace to finish in a commendable third place.
With the stage set for another day of heart-pounding action, Sunday’s schedule promises even more excitement. Qualifying for the upcoming races kicks off at 12:50pm ET, with the Coppa Shell race set to start at 5:05pm, followed closely by the Trofeo Pirelli showdown at 5:55pm. Fans can catch all the adrenaline-fueled Ferrari Challenge races streaming live on the Ferrari YouTube channel and FerrariRaces.com.
As the sun sets on an exhilarating opening day of the 2025 Ferrari Challenge season, the scene is set for a thrilling conclusion on Sunday. With drivers poised to push themselves to the limit, the battle for supremacy promises to deliver edge-of-your-seat excitement and unforgettable moments that will be etched in the annals of Ferrari Challenge history.
