by Tara Pachmayer | Sep 21, 2016 | EMS Ferrari Challenge
Legendary driver Dale Earnhardt once described racing by saying, “It’s a never ending battle of making your cars better and also trying to be better yourself.” Despite the success that EMS Race Team driver James Weiland and his team from Boardwalk Ferrari have achieved this season, that lesson of always trying to improve remains at the core of everything they do on the Ferrari Challenge Circuit. Their trip to Singapore to compete at the Marina Bay Street Circuit this past weekend served as another chapter in that never ending learning experience.
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by Tara Pachmayer | Sep 15, 2016 | EMS Ferrari Challenge
EMS Race Team travels to Singapore this week in hopes of earning a podium finish in the fifth different country they’ve competed in this season. Coming off a strong performance in Sochi, Russia, driver James Weiland and his crew from Boardwalk Ferrari will be racing for the first time at the renowned track in Marina Bay, Singapore from September 16-18. The course will also play host to the Formula One’s Singapore Grand Prix during Ferrari Challenge weekend, adding energy and excitement throughout a tremendous venue for racing. With 23 corners weaving into and out of three long straight-a-ways, the street circuit in Singapore will require both extreme skill and focus to emerge victorious.
“We’re looking forward to racing in Singapore at Marina Bay,” Weiland said. “Our team competed in the Asia Pacific Series earlier this season at the Suzuka Circuit, so we know first-hand the type of talented drivers we will be racing against. My coach, Conrad Grunewald, and I spent time in Miami at the GPX Labs simulating the racing experience, and hope that will help prepare us for success during our first trip to Marina Bay. Win or lose, though, our goal as always is to improve as a team and get better with every race. If we do that, we’ll give ourselves a good chance at success.”
Similar to the F1 weekend in Montreal that coincided with the Ferrari Challenge Weiland and company competed in earlier this season, the F1 race festivities surrounding the event in Singapore is sure to make the trip even more special. Additionally, it will also provide a great opportunity to spread the word about the two charities who are featured on the EMS+ Ferrari Challenge 458 EVO—PETA Cruelty Free and Cornerstone of Hope. The more success that EMS is able to achieve in Singapore, the better chances are of introducing fans and drivers alike to the great role that each organization plays in our community.
“What we are most proud of when making trips like this to a new country we haven’t competed in before is the opportunity to spread the word about PETA Cruelty Free and Cornerstone of Hope to a group of people who may not have been introduced to their mission before,” Weiland explained. “With Singapore hosting the F1 race this weekend as well, the enthusiasm throughout Marina Bay expects to be great. So we’re humbled and honored to carry the flags for those two tremendous causes, and we’ll be even more excited if our team is able to carry those flags onto the podium when the races conclude on Saturday and Sunday.
In Sochi, Weiland drove the EMS+ Ferrari Challenge 458 EVO trimmed in purple, Nicky. This weekend he will be competing in the EMS+ Challenge car trimmed in red, Erin. For pictures and behind-the-scenes coverage of the Ferrari Challenge at Singapore, 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 following the trip.
by creative | Aug 5, 2016 | EMS Ferrari Challenge
While competing to raise awareness for the Cornerstone of Hope Foundation and PETA Cruelty Free, EMS Race Team traveled to Russia for the Ferrari Racing Days event in Sochi this past weekend. On a track surrounding the site of the 2014 Winter Olympics, driver James Weiland and his team battled some of the best Ferrari Challenge drivers in the world all weekend long. Despite this significant test, EMS would eventually make Russia the fourth country they’d earn a podium finish in this season with a top-three performance on Sunday.
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by creative | Jul 25, 2016 | EMS Ferrari Challenge
Ferrari Racing Days is one of the biggest events organized by the Prancing Horse and features some of the best Ferrari Challenge drivers in the world. The first Ferrari Racing Days event was held in Nuremberg, Germany in 1996. Since then, this prominent celebration of racing has made stops in the United Kingdom, Italy, Hungary, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Australia and the United States. For the first time since its inception, on July 30-31, Russia will host this marquee weekend and EMS Race Team will be among the many competitors.
The upcoming event will be held at the Sochi Autodrom in Sochi, Russia with the Ferrari Challenge races taking place on Saturday and Sunday. At just over 3.6 miles, the Sochi Autodrom plays host to the Russian Grand Prix and is the third-longest circuit on the Formula One schedule. The track is built around the Sochi Olympic Park—site of the 2014 Winter Olympics—and opened for racing just after the games concluded. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) won the first two Russian Grand Prix races at Sochi in 2014 and 2015, while teammate Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) won the signature Russian F1 competition this year.
When EMS Race Team tears off that same starting line during Race 1 at Sochi later this month, it will mark the third Ferrari Challenge event that they have competed in this season outside of the United States. Along with the Ferrari Racing Days in Suzuka, Japan, the trip to Russia will also be the second time that EMS will compete outside of North America this year. During this action-packed weekend, EMS Race Team driver James Weiland will be debuting a new member of their fleet as well, while trying to win for the fifth-straight time.
“We are very excited for Nicky to be making her racing debut in Sochi,” Weiland said of the Electronic Merchant Systems Boardwalk Ferrari 458 Challenge EVO trimmed in purple. “She is currently in Italy getting prepped for the trip, and we’re looking forward to seeing what she can do out on the track. If she’s able to run anywhere like her sisters Erin and Paris have this year, we’ll certainly be pleased with that type of performance.”
While competing in Japan earlier this season, Erin—the Electronic Merchant Systems Boardwalk Ferrari 458 Challenge EVO trimmed in red—was able to secure the first overseas victory of the year with a win at the Suzuka Circuit. Most recently, sister Paris has helped Weiland secure four-straight Ferrari Challenge victories at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin and then the Circuit-Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal.
“Our coaches, crew, and myself as a driver, we are always trying to get better from race to race,” Weiland added. “So we’re just hoping to continue to improve in Russia and grow as a team. With the many talented drivers we’ll be competing against from all over the world, we understand that nothing less than our very best effort will be required for a podium finish on a track as challenging as the Sochi Autodrom. Win or lose, though, this will be another great opportunity to spread our message of support for the PETA Cruelty Free Campaign and Cornerstone of Hope to the race fans in Russia.”
Weiland has been preparing for Sochi over the last several weeks. He was in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin for testing at Road America earlier this month, and then at the GPX Labs in Miami learning his way around the virtual track at Sochi in anticipation of the trip. For behind-the-scenes coverage of the Ferrari Challenge in Russia throughout the weekend, follow @emsRaceTeam on Twitter and Facebook. Also be sure to visit EMS Race Team’s Vimeo Page for on-track video action after the race.
by creative | Jun 16, 2016 | EMS Ferrari Challenge
As the great Enzo Ferrari once said, what’s behind you doesn’t matter. Heading into the Montreal Ferrari Challenge, directly behind EMS Race Team was a pair of thrilling victories at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. But in order for driver Jim Weiland and his crew to continue moving forward, there was no time to look back on past accomplishments. Competing in front of over 100,000 fans at the world-famous Circuit-Gilles-Villeneuve in Quebec, they would take full advantage of the opportunity at hand.
Despite a stacked field of talented drivers in a Ferrari Challenge race supporting the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix, EMS Race Team turned in another flawless performance. With the support of Coach Conrad Grunewald, along with Ryan Negri, Rudy Courtade, Dave, Daryl and Donald Cameron, Andrew Prendeville and the rest of the Boardwalk Ferrari crew, Weiland and company remained locked in throughout the weekend. By the conclusion of Race 2 on Sunday, Paris—the ems+ Ferrari Challenge 458 EVO—had pushed past the finish line in first place for the fourth-straight time dating back to Texas.
“To follow what we accomplished in Austin with two more victories like this is truly a special experience for our team,” Weiland said. “And to be able to have the type of success we did at this track, in front of all these amazing fans, it’s hard to describe that feeling. I’m really just proud of my team for continuing to push and continuing to improve in all areas. Everyone pitched in to put Paris in a great position, and I just can’t say enough about these guys.”
Paris earned pole position for Race 1 before securing a commanding victory on Saturday. She took the lead on lap two and defended that spot for the duration, finishing 1st in the Trofeo Pirelli AM class and 4th overall. On Sunday, it was more of the same. Paris and Weiland earned pole position again before pulling in 1st in class and 4th overall as the checkered flag waved on a banner weekend for EMS. Competitors Marc Muzzo and Arthur Romanelli joined Weiland on the podium following Race 1, while Steve Johnson and Patrice Brisebois rounded out the top three in Race 2.
“We dedicated our Race 1 victory to the PETA Cruelty Free campaign on Saturday and the bunnies definitely helped us maintain a great pace,” Weiland added. “During Race 2, we were proud to dedicate the victory to our friends from the Cornerstone of Hope. We encourage everyone to check out each website, and hope that some of the fans who saw Paris proudly displaying those logos throughout the weekend will do the same.”
The Formula One competition began as soon as the Ferrari Challenge race concluded on Sunday. Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes followed his victory in Monaco with a first-place finish in the Canadian Grand Prix for the 45th win of his illustrious career. He was joined on the podium by Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari and Valtteri Bottas of Williams. Hamilton vowed to remained focused as the F1 season continued following the win in Canada.
“I feel incredibly grateful and very blessed to have had these two great weekends,” Hamilton told BBC Sports after the race. “I’m just going to keep working hard. As you can see, I’m super-focused. Onwards and upwards hopefully.”
For more behind-the-scenes coverage of the Ferrari Challenge in Montreal, follow @emsRaceTeam on Twitter and Facebook. Also be sure to visit EMS Race Team’s Vimeo Page for on-track video action from race weekend.
by creative | Jun 6, 2016 | EMS Ferrari Challenge
The Circuit-Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec is the next stop on the 2016 Ferrari Challenge Circuit during a race weekend headlined by the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix. From June 10-12, Ferrari Challenge drivers will compete on the same track that Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, Kimi Raikkonen, Sebastian Vettel and others will battle for control of the F1 season standings. Coming off a win in Monaco, Hamilton and Rosberg will fight to keep Mercedes ahead on points while Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Ferrari attempt to close the gap. The marquee-racing event is expected to draw a capacity crowd of 100,000 fans who will watch EMS Race Team continue its own charge throughout the weekend.
Fueled by a total team effort in Austin, EMS Race Team driver James Weiland helped push Paris—the EMS+ Ferrari Challenge 458 EVO—to a pair of thrilling victories. She finished 1st in the Trofeo Pirelli AM class and 7th overall in Race 1 at the Circuit of the Americas before closing Race 2 with a 1st and 5th, respectively. In front of an enormous crowd of race fans in Montreal, a great opportunity awaits for Weiland and company to continue their winning ways.
“We didn’t do as well as we hoped the last time we were in Montreal,” Weiland said. “But with the crowd packed into an amazing venue for racing it was truly a tremendous experience for us. One year later, we’re definitely improving as a team and hoping to build on the success we had at COTA. Win or lose, though, this is always a great opportunity to spread our message of support for the PETA Cruelty Free Campaign and Cornerstone of Hope to the many thousands of fans converging on this event.”
The Circuit-Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal first hosted the Canadian Grand Prix in 1978. Past winners include Michael Schumacher, Jackie Stewart, defending champion Lewis Hamilton, as well as the iconic Aryton Senna. EMS Race Team competed at the legendary track for the first time during the 2013 Ferrari Challenge. This year, however, they will arrive on the heels of two-straight victories as Weiland looks to add another podium finish to Paris’ young resume.
“To be able to compete on Saturday and Sunday as the anticipation builds for the F1 race will be awesome,” Weiland added. “We don’t take these opportunities for granted, and our team will be prepared to put forth our best effort against a deep and talented field. Hopefully we can have a repeat of COTA for Boardwalk Ferrari and Ferrari of San Francisco, I know my teammates and I are looking forward to the challenge.”
For behind-the-scenes coverage of the Ferrari Challenge in Montreal throughout the weekend, follow @emsRaceTeam on Twitter and Facebook. Also be sure to visit EMS Race Team’s Vimeo Page for on-track video action following the race.
Article by Brendan Bowers
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