by Tara Pachmayer | Nov 3, 2016 | EMS Ferrari Challenge
With only one competition to follow on the North American Ferrari Challenge circuit, EMS Race Team travels to Homestead, Florida this weekend for a critical test. Heading into the races at Homestead-Miami Speedway, driver James Weiland and EMS are currently tied for the season lead in the overall Ferrari Challenge North American points standings. A solid showing on November 4-6 will inevitably put Weiland and the crew from Boardwalk Ferrari in an advantageous position as the Finali Mondali at Daytona International Speedway in December approaches. But even with all that on the line, Weiland isn’t looking back, or forward, and remains focused on the task at hand.
“We all just watched one of the greatest World Series matchups in the history of baseball,” Weiland, a native Clevelander and Indians fan said. “What is so great about what we just witnessed between the Cubs and Indians—whether your team won or not—is that it reminds us all of the importance of staying focused and living in the moment. For the players and managers in this World Series, it wasn’t about what they had accomplished throughout the season, or even throughout their careers. It was always about the next pitch, the next swing. It’s a lesson that all of us as fans can learn from. Focus on what is in front of you, live in the moment, and put forth your very best effort at whatever it is you are doing right now. We always try our best to have that same approach, and hopefully we’ll be able to bring that to the track this weekend.”
The Homestead-Miami Speedway opened in November of 1995 with a NASCAR Busch Series race. Throughout its history, the Homestead track has hosted many high-profile racing events including NASCAR, the Verizon IndyCar Series, the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, and the Championship Cup Series. Since 2002, the Miami track has also hosted the final race of the season in all three of NASCAR’s series (Sprint Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and the Camping World Truck Series). Accomplished drivers like Greg Biffle and Tony Stewart are among the many legendary NASCAR drivers to have earned multiple victories at Homestead over the last 20 years.
“Our team loves to compete and we’re excited to get back on the track here at home in the States,” Weiland added, coming off a podium finish in Fuji, Japan last month. “We’re also looking to help spread the word for the great work that our friends at PETA Cruelty Free and Cornerstone of Hope do for our community by championing those two causes again his weekend. We’re not thinking about anything else other than that. Just getting out there and executing as best as we can for our team and our partners, and accepting whatever results come our way.”
For more behind the scenes coverage of race weekend at Homestead, follow @emsRaceTeam on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Vimeo.
by Tara Pachmayer | Oct 21, 2016 | EMS Ferrari Challenge
It’s never easy traveling halfway around the world and doing anything, let alone driving at high rates of speed upon arrival in the Asian Pacific Ferrari Challenge. This most recent trip to the Fuji Speedway in Japan marked the third time that driver James Weiland and EMS Race Team competed in Asia this season. Previous stops included the Suzuka Circuit in Japan, and then the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore. Each race weekend presented its own set of unique challenges, and Fuji would be no different.
“It’s always a real test for our team to travel here to Japan and compete at a high level,” Weiland said. “The majority of that test is in the extremely talented and aggressive drivers who compete here. We know when we compete on the Asian Pacific Series that nothing will be handed to us out on the track—nor should it be. We come prepared to earn everything we get, and raise awareness around the globe for the amazing work that PETA Cruelty Free and the Cornerstone of Hope do for our communities.”
EMS caught the attention of the overseas crowd early with some exciting racing in the opening competition on Saturday. During Race 1, after a disappointing qualifying session, EMS grabbed two positions at the start and held that spot all the way through the checkered flag with disciplined driving on a challenging course. The finish would be good for third in the Trofeo Pirelli AM class. It would also add another piece of hardware that the EMS reserve driver insists Weiland bring home from each race. Race 2 wouldn’t be as kind, however, as the EMS+ Ferrari Challenge 458 EVO, Erin, would receive broadside contact that ended her afternoon early.
“Erin was really moving for me this weekend,” Weiland added, of the Ferrari Challenge car that is well maintained and prepared by the Boardwalk Ferrari team. “She jumped out early in Race 1 and gained a couple spots at the start of the race, and was doing her best to make her way through some congested traffic spots today. I was pleased with the way she ran and all credit goes to the crew from Boardwalk Ferrari for being as diligent and prepared as they always are. Same can be said for my coach Conrad Grunewald.”
EMS Race Team returns to action for the Ferrari Challenge Race in Homestead, Florida next month. Weiland will arrive with a share of first place overall in the Trofeo Pirelli AM class—a position he earned last time out in Lime Rock. The North American Ferrari Challenge standings remain unaffected by the podium finish in Fuji due to that being an Asian Pacific series event. For more pictures and behind the scenes coverage of EMS Race Team’s trip to Fuji, Japan follow @emsRaceTeam on Facebook, Twitter Vimeo and Instagram.
by Tara Pachmayer | Oct 13, 2016 | EMS Ferrari Challenge
EMS Race Team returns to Japan this week to compete in the Ferrari Challenge at Fuji Speedway on October 14-16. The last time driver James Weiland and his crew from Boardwalk Ferrari performed on a Japanese stage they closed the curtain on a race weekend that resulted in two first-place finishes. During that March trip overseas, Weiland tested his skills against some of the best drivers in the world at the Suzuka Circuit. This time, he’ll be racing at the only other Japanese track to host a Formula One event in the world-famous Speedway at Fuji.
“We’re excited to get back to Japan,” Weiland said. “It seems like only yesterday we were there racing at Suzuka, but that was actually over seven months ago. Time flies. But even though we were locked in last time, we know this is an entirely different challenge. Fuji has one of the largest straights in racing to go along with a series of hairpin turns, so it’s going to be a fast track and we will have our hands full. Hopefully, we can put forth our best effort all weekend long and rise to the occasion as a team against a very talented field of drivers.”
Fuji Speedway was built in the early 1960s and rests in the foothills of Mount Fuji. They’ve hosted many significant races throughout the years, including the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix. One of the most memorable races came in 1976, when James Hunt and Niki Lauda—featured in the movie Rush—battled through rainy conditions to decide the F1 season standings on the track at Fuji. Hunt earned enough points to win the title after Lauda withdrew due to dangerous conditions. Meanwhile, a young Mario Andretti won the race while beginning his eventually ascension to the top of the Formula One world. Other notable F1 winners at Fuji also include Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton.
“It’s an historic track without question,” Weiland added of Fuji. “We’re especially excited with the opportunity we have to wave the flags for Cornerstone of Hope and PETA Cruelty Free while we’re racing there. The Asian Pacific Series does a tremendous job, and it will be a vibrant scene on Saturday and Sunday that we’re looking forward to taking part in. Hopefully we can put our best foot forward and raise awareness for both missions with a podium finish.”
Weiland is currently tied for first place in the North American Ferrari Challenge season standings. Points earned in Fuji will not directly relate to those North American totals. However, this will be a great test in preparation for races at Homestead and Daytona which follow the event in Fuji. For more behind the scenes coverage throughout race weekend in Japan, visit @emsRaceTeam on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Vimeo.
by Tara Pachmayer | Sep 29, 2016 | EMS Ferrari Challenge
EMS Race Team arrived at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut this weekend trailing the top position in the Ferrari Challenge North American Series by one point overall on the season in the Trofeo Pirelli AM class. Despite being met with a number of obstacles while competing at the historic road racing venue, James Weiland and his crew from Boardwalk Ferrari would eventually leave with a share of first place heading into the final two events of the year. But that journey to the top—for the moment, at least—was certainly not easy.
During Race 1 at Lime Rock, after qualifying in the second position, Paris—the ems+ Ferrari Challenge 458 EVO trimmed in blue—was bumped off the track early on by a competitor’s car. After not being allowed the proper room to return, Paris was forced to lose two positions and eventually finished in 4th place. Following the race, however, video was reviewed of the incident and EMS was awarded 3rd place points. In the qualifying session for Race 2 on Saturday morning, though, Paris experienced an electrical malfunction that shut the car down entirely before being able to complete one lap. That start near the back of the pack in Race 2 would lead to a 4th place finish to close out the trip.
“This is a fun but also challenging track to drive,” Weiland admitted. “There isn’t a lot of room to pass, which certainly played a role in the incident we experienced on Friday. That same issue made it tough for us during Race 2 as well, after being forced to start where we did. But I was proud of our crew for working through some technical issues, and we’re always honored to represent PETA Cruelty Free and Cornerstone of Hope even when the breaks don’t necessarily go our way.”
The fact that Paris was able to finish each race at Lime Rock in the respectable positions that she did—despite not resulting in any trophies—certainly helped in the big picture. After finishing third in the Trofeo Pirelli AM class last season, Weiland is now tied with Steve Johnson of Ferrari Fort Lauderdale in first place this year. Following a trip to Fuji to compete in the Asia Pacific series, EMS will return to the United States to close out the North American circuit with races at Homestead and Daytona.
“If you start thinking about things like the points lead, or what place you might finish in during a season, you could lose focus on the task at hand,” Weiland added. “For our team, it’s always about how you can get better, how you can improve. I’ll work with my coach, Conrad Grunewald, and try our best to improve on the things I could’ve done better in Lime Rock and hopefully carry what we learned into the next weekend. And if we can continue do that, focus on one practice, one qualifying session, one race at a time, everything else will take care of itself.”
For more behind-the-scenes coverage from the Lime Rock Park Ferrari Challenge be sure to follow @emsRaceTeam on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Also, be sure to visit EMS Race Team’s Vimeo Page for on track action throughout the season.
by Tara Pachmayer | Sep 22, 2016 | EMS Ferrari Challenge
It will be a quick turnaround for EMS Race Team as driver James Weiland and the Boardwalk Ferrari crew now head to New England for the Ferrari Challenge event at Lime Rock Park. After returning home to Cleveland, Ohio from the Asia Pacific Series event in Singapore last weekend, EMS will be back on a stateside track in hopes of a podium finish. The Ferrari Challenge at Lime Rock begins with Race 1 on Friday at 4:05pm EST followed by Race 2 at 3:10pm EST on Saturday for the Trofeo Pirelli and Trofeo Pirelli AM drivers. The Coppa Shell class will be racing at 5pm on Friday and 2:10pm on Saturday.
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