Emmanuel Anassis won the Championships in the 2004 and 2005 Ferrari Challenge driving a Ferrari 360 Challenge. Moving to the new Ferrari 430 Challenge has only continued his winning ways. At Road America last weekend Anassis again took pole position, led every lap of both races, and the two wins give him an almost overwhelming lead in the 2006 Championship.

Anassis, racing for the Shelton Ferrari team, began his weekend by qualifying on pole for Saturday’s 30-minute race by almost two seconds over Jay Lee (Ferrari of Beverly Hills 430) and John Krieg (Ferrari of Houston 430). Michael Louli (Ferrari of Ontario), who has raced in the Ferrari Challenge since 1995, took pole position in the 360 Class which runs in the same race as the newer 430s. Alex Quaid (Ferrari of Orange County) and Kurt Carlson, Anassis’ teammate at Shelton Ferrari, gridded second and third among the 360s.

Anassis easily led every lap over Lee, but third through eighth places was contested almost every lap by Krieg, Peter Castellana (Ferrari of Long Island) who started fourth, Joel Quaid (Alex’s father and Ferrari of Orange County teammate), John Horejsi (Ferrari of Beverly Hills), Lawrence Stroll (Ferrari of Quebec), and Roberto Fata, another Long Island driver. All were in 430s, and all were equally matched. This group continued to swap places until near the end of the 30 minute race, when an incident involving Fata caused the race to end under the yellow flag. Lee and Castellana joined Anassis on the 430 podium. Louli took the 360 class win, followed by Alex Quaid and Carlson.

These results were used to set the Sunday grid, and once again Anassis led from the green flag. John Horejsi made a great start from fifth to second by the first turn, and was able to stay with Anassis for most of the race, although never close enough to try to pass. Lee dropped back at the start, and Castellana was under heavy challenge from Stroll.
 

Several other drivers, notably Auto Gallery teammates Rusty West and Steve Goldman, run in the top five at one time or another, but Road America’s gravel traps claimed several of the top runners. All avoided any damage, but the time lost dropped each from contention. Horejsi and Stroll took second and third behind Anassis, followed by Castellana and Krieg. Alex Quaid initially stayed with Louli in the 360 Class, but transmission problems slowed him toward the end of the 45 minute race. Quaid was able to retain second behind Louli, with Jimmy Pugliese (Ferrari of Long Island) taking third in the class. The Challenge runs its last race in North America at Portland International Raceway on August 5-6. The series finishes at the World Finals at the Monza, Italy circuit in October.

The Ferrari Challenge is organized by Ferrari North America. Drivers compete in specially built racing versions of the Ferrari 430 and 360 Modena, with preparation and race support handled by teams formed by authorized Ferrari dealers in 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, Sabelt, and Shell. Ferrari North America, Inc. is headquartered in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., and is the exclusive importer for Ferrari vehicles in North and South America, including the F430 Berlinetta, F430 Spider convertible sports car, and 612 Scaglietti (luxury performance 2+2).