The Risi Competizione Ferrari, driven by Mika Salo and Jaime Melo, pulled off a spectacular series of passing moves and counter attacks, but spun on the final lap, eventually finishing fifth. Photo: Regis Lefebure.

This past weekend, the United States hosted two new challenges for Maranello's F430: Ferrari made it to the third step of the podium in the GT2 class of the seventh round of the American Le Mans Series, while the Stars and Stripes Challenge staged its sixth round, as part of the Stateside Ferrari Racing Days programme.

The seventh round of the prestigious American series, held at the Road America circuit, at Elkhart Lake (Wisconsin,) saw the F430 of Dominik Farnbacher and Dirk Muller cross the line in third place, behind the Porsche 911s of Wesbrook-Werner-Miller and Bergmeister-Henzler. The Risi Competizione Ferrari, driven by Mika Salo and Jaime Melo, pulled off a spectacular series of passing moves and counter attacks, but spun on the final lap, eventually finishing fifth.

Thanks to the points scored by the Tafel Racing scuderia, it confirmed its second place in the championship classification. The next round of the series is scheduled for the weekend of 24th August at the Mosport circuit (Bowmanville, Ontario.)

Standing on the top step of the podium after the sixth round of the USA Ferrari Challenge, held at the Californian Laguna Seca circuit, was series leader Roberto Fata from New York (Ferrari of Long Island,) followed by the Texan, Mark McKenzie (Ferrari of Houston) and California's Henri Richard (Ferrari of Silicon Valley.) Also on the card at this event was a double session of free laps for nine historic single-seaters, supported by the FI Clienti of Maranello operation, and seven Ferrari FXX: for the "owner-test drivers" and engineers, this was another opportunity to study the telemetry and provide feedback from the evolution kit fitted to all seven cars. The United States Challenge will be back in action on 31st August at the Motorsports Park in Milville, New Jersey.