At Laguna Seca JMB Racing USA campaigned two Ferrari 360 Grand American GTs for the first time in its short Rolex Series history. The California event marked only the eighth Rolex Series start for the Miramar, Florida based Ferrari racing concern that is still working hard to become an established GT racing team in the series.

The Sage Automotive Group / Rev It Up Racing / Ferrari of Silicon Valley Ferrari 360 Grand American GT #11 co-driven by American Matt Plumb and Italian Constantino Bertuzzi and the Leander Estates / Red Bull Civils / Kennedy Homes / Shutterfly Ferrari 360 Grand American GT #12 co-driven by David Gooding from England and Americans Tom Jermoluk and Dan Kennedy both finished the Road & Track 250 at Laguna Seca, California last weekend.

On Saturday, Matt Plumb qualified the JMB Racing USA Ferrari  #11 in sixth position allowing him to start from the third row and be in contention for a good podium finish. David Gooding qualified the JMB Racing USA Ferrari #11 on the thirteenth row hoping for attrition in the race and a good finish in the GT class.

Despite the wet weather scheduled for the event, the California sun was bright all weekend allowing each JMB Racing USA driver to practice without major problems.
 

For the race, Matt Plumb and David Gooding took a good start and started their long two hours and 45 minutes race amongst the 28 GT cars entered in the event, a record in Rolex Series. Matt Plumb was rapidly in the rhythm to contend with the top five GTs when suddenly he got pushed in the back by one of the Daytona Prototypes which catapulted his Ferrari into the gravel pit, forcing him to lose two laps in the race and preventing him and his teammate, Costantino Bertuzzi from what could have been a podium finish. After re-entering the pit for tires and fuel, Matt followed by Costantino aligned a series of very fast laps in the race allowing the car to constantly pass GT competitors and finishing 15th in class, a somewhat disappointing result entirely due to the early race incident.

David Gooding who was taking his second start this season behind the wheel of the JMB Racing USA Ferrari, was forced to come back to the pits early because of a front tire puncture but after regaining the race, was able to lower his lap times before handing the wheel to Dan Kennedy. This was a good performance for David considering that, like his teammates, Tom Jermoluk and Dan Kennedy, he is a non-pro driver racing in the Rolex Series with JMB Racing USA Ferrari to fulfill his passion.

Dan Kennedy and his friend Tom Jermoluk drove a third of the race distance each and did a really good job, avoiding contact with the DP cars and making zero mistakes on the very greasy Laguna Seca track. The JMB Racing USA Ferrari #12 finished 20th in the GT class.

This race was very beneficial for the JMB Racing USA team that is now concentrating on preparing its two cars for the next rounds of the Rolex Series. There was also the satisfaction to know that, back in Europe, JMB Racing had scored an impressive win with the Maserati MC12 in the French round of the FIA GT championship.