ALEX POPOW of Venezuela again won from the pole position, in the second Ferrari 458 Challenge race. He led every lap and won the Trofeo Pirelli category. Popow raced the No.2 chrome-wrapped Ferrari, for Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale.
Technically, the Safety Car took the checkered flag first, after the caution came out on Lap 11.
RYAN OCKEY of Canada was running second in the Coppa Shell class when he went too hot into Turn Eight and slid through the gravel and into the tires on his roof. He is fine. This brought out the caution flag for the next six laps and the race ended two minutes, 14 seconds early of the 35-minute timed race.
Second and third overall and in class were ONOFRIO TRIARSI of New Jersey
Ockey’s brother, DAMON OCKEY, finished second in the CS class, behind Class winner, ROBERT HERJAVEC of Canada in No.007, who was seventh overall. All three were racing for Ferrari of Ontario. Herjavec’s fastest lap was
Third in the CS class was MAURIZIO SCALA of Venezuela, racing for Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale in No.59.
The race ran for 17 laps, with 20 of the 26 drivers finishing all. Five other drivers finished a lap down, and Ryan Ockey was the only DNF.
After the race, Parc Ferme was full, with race cars for post-race inspections. So, for now, all results are provisional.
LARRY BOWMAN of CA/No.98 was penalized one lap for avoidable contact.
The finishing position of MIKE ZOI/No 8 of FL was swapped with CHRIS RUUD/No.4of WI, from fifth to sixth, for an improper pass by Zoi.
The F458 Series has drivers of varying levels. In addition to the official overall Driver Coach, DIDIER THEYS, more than a few of the drivers had individual driver coaches. Most of them keep a very low profile, are in ‘civvies’ and not easy to spot. Among those I saw and conversed were TERRY BORCHELLER, ANTHONY LAZZARO, RICH McCORMICK, RICHARD SPENARD, and ANDY WALLACE