by Tara Pachmayer | Mar 10, 2016 | EMS Ferrari Challenge
After traveling over 6,000 miles to the world famous Suzuka Circuit in Japan, EMS Race Team driver James Weiland found himself in a classic duel. During Race 1 of the Asia Pacific Ferrari Challenge, fellow driver Eric Cheung of Canada had gotten off to a great start and spent the majority of the afternoon battling Weiland for the top spot in the Pirelli AM class. But Erin, the EMS Race Team Ferrari Challenge 458 EVO, pushed just hard enough to eventually secure a victory that kicked off a whirlwind weekend.
“This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel here and compete in the Asia Pacific Ferrari Challenge,” Weiland told the media following the race. “Suzuka is one of the best circuits in the world. It was exciting for our team to compete here and we really enjoyed our time in Japan. I can’t thank my coaches and crew enough for their preparation and the work they did to put us in position to earn a 1st place finish. It was a total team effort.”
It took every ounce of that collective effort to hold off Cheung, who finished less than one second behind Weiland’s No. 18 car. Additionally, with over 20,000 competitive kilometers logged on her dashboard entering the weekend, Erin struggled with her rear traction as she weaved through the windy course at Suzuka. At times, she was difficult to manage and maneuver. But when it came down to the final stretch, Erin roared liked the first day she rolled off the lot in Maranello en route to the win.
“The Boardwalk Ferrari crew did a tremendous job preparing Erin to race in Japan,” Weiland added. “We drove our new car, Paris, exclusively at Daytona but needed to go back to Erin this weekend as we tweaked some things. Dating back to the Finali Mondali in Italy last year, this is the second-straight event that Erin helped us earn a victory outside the United States. So we might be calling on her again the next time we compete overseas.”
As exciting as the outcome of Race 1 was for the team, attention quickly shifted to Sunday. Coach Conrad Grunewald helped Weiland analyze his performance and prepare for an even better run in Race 2 throughout the evening. Meanwhile, Ryan Negri, David Cameron and the Boardwalk crew made sure Erin was tuned up and ready get back out there. Those efforts would eventually be rewarded, too, as EMS Race Team went on to earn consecutive pole positions and its second-straight 1st place finish in Race 2. Sweeping the weekend was an outcome Weiland certainly hoped for, even if realizing the accomplishment caught him off guard following the race.
“I was actually very surprised that we were able to win again today,” Weiland told the press following his Race 2 victory on Sunday. “Saturday’s race was draining and it took a lot out of us. But we’re obviously very excited about the results, especially competing against a field of drivers as talented as we have here at Suzuka. We are also excited because we came to Japan hoping to get the PETA Cruelty Free Bunnies and Cornerstone of Hope onto the podium, and we’re thrilled to be able to do that twice.”
EMS Race Team dedicated Race 1 at the Suzuka Circuit to raising awareness for the PETA Cruelty Free campaign, while dedicating Race 2 to the Cornerstone of Hope Foundation. To learn more about the two charities that fuel the fight for EMS, check out the following websites:
PETA: http://www.peta.org/
Cornerstone of Hope: http://www.cornerstoneofhope.org/
For more behind the scenes photos and videos from the trip to Japan, check out EMS Race Team on Facebook and Twitter.
EMS Race Team Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emsRaceTeam/
EMS Race Team Twitter: https://twitter.com/emsRaceTeam
by Tara Pachmayer | Feb 18, 2016 | EMS Ferrari Challenge
Fresh off a podium finish at Daytona International Speedway to open the 2016 Ferrari Challenge season, EMS Race Team is now preparing for a trip to Asia. On March 5-6, driver James Weiland and the crew from Boardwalk Ferrari will be competing for the first time at the world famous Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture, Japan. Designed as a Honda test track in 1962, Suzuka is one of the only circuits to feature a figure eight layout. The renowned track—with its back straight crossing over the front section by means of an overpass—was also featured during multiple races in the critically acclaimed films Senna and Rush.
“We’re very excited to be competing at a track as rich in tradition as the Suzuka Circuit,” Weiland said. “It will be a great test for our team, as well as myself as a driver. It will also be very inspiring to race on a circuit that so many legendary drivers have competed on in the past, and we’re really looking forward to the opportunity.”
EMS Race Team will be joining over 35 drivers from the Ferrari Challenge Asia Pacific series for the Ferrari Racing Days Suzuka event. The race signals the start of the Asia Pacific season, and is one of the largest events organized by Ferrari Japan. After racing outside the United States in Canada, Italy and Abu Dhabi over the last couple seasons, Weiland is also looking forward to the opportunity to experience life in Japan.
“We will be racing against some of the best Ferrari Challenge drivers in Japan during our trip,” Weiland said. “But when we’re not racing, we’re also excited to get to know some of our competitors and experience the culture in Japan. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip for us as a team, and we’ll be sure to learn as much as possible while we’re there.”
The last time EMS Race Team competed outside the United States was during the Finali Mondali in Italy for the Ferrari Challenge World Finals in November. That trip ended with a first place finish, which is something Weiland is ultimately hoping to replicate. The best way to raise awareness for the tremendous causes that inspire the fight for EMS Race Team is to win—and Weiland is well aware of that.
“We’ll be racing to raise awareness for Cornerstone of Hope and PETA Cruelty Free during our trip,” Weiland added. “Just like every race, the Cornerstone logo will be on the hood of our car with the PETA Cruelty Free logos featured throughout. Hopefully we can get them up onto the podium. The more success we have, the more questions we hear about what those logos stand for and how people can get involved to help. So, our goal is to be answering a lot of questions by the end of the weekend.”
During the Ferrari Challenge at Daytona, EMS Race Team’s newly designed car, Paris, made her official debut. For the trip to Japan, however, they’ll be bringing Erin (pictured above), the Ferrari 458 Challenge EVO Weiland raced during the previous two seasons. Erin just recently pushed past the 20,000 Kilometers mark, but she still runs just as fast as the first day she pulled off the lot. EMS is hopeful Erin has at least one more winning weekend left while Paris prepares for a return later this season.
For updates throughout the Ferrari Challenge weekend in Japan, along with live-timing race results, follow @EMSRaceTeam on Twitter and Facebook. Also be sure to check out EMS Race Team’s Vimeo Page for behind-the-scenes action following the competition.
by Tara Pachmayer | Jan 19, 2016 | EMS Ferrari Challenge
EMS Race Team will bring significant momentum to Daytona International Speedway to begin the 2016 Ferrari Challenge Schedule on January 28. Driver James Weiland and the Ferrari of San Francisco crew closed out the 2015 campaign by securing two victories in Mugello, Italy during the Finali Mondiali in November. This served to bookend a season that began on the track at Daytona with a Race 1 victory last January. Competing for the second-straight year in the Trofeo Pirelli AM class, Weiland is excited to continue raising awareness for the charitable efforts he holds close to his heart by racing at a high level in Florida.
“We felt good as a team about the way we finished in Italy last season and we’re looking forward to building on that success in Daytona,” Weiland said. “The competition will be increasingly stiff, and we know how hard we’ll have to work to get back onto the podium. But we’re excited about the challenge along with the opportunity to race at a great track against the best Ferrari drivers in North America.”
Weiland will continue racing to raise awareness for the PETA Cruelty Free Campaign along with the Cornerstone of Hope Foundation throughout the 2016 circuit. Those decals will once again be proudly featured on the ems+ Ferrari Challenge 458 EVO, which will also hit the track with an updated design on a new car named Paris. The name was chosen in honor of a beloved family dog that passed away. It may even be in action at times alongside EMS Race Team’s original car, Erin.
“We’re definitely excited to get Paris onto the track during her first race at Daytona,” Weiland added. “Paris features a newer design, with a royal blue theme throughout the car. Erin will continue to feature more of the red-themed design. In either case, we’re hoping the PETA and Cornerstone logos can keep helping us run a little faster whenever we need that extra boost.”
Paris made an unofficial debut at Daytona in early January for a practice session following a shakedown run at The Thermal Club. During her second lap of the morning, Weiland lost her for a brief instant at 120 mph+ in the LH Kink. Fortunately, however, with 180 degrees of wheel he was able to keep her on the road and moving forward. There’s nothing finer than a good save, and once she let her feelings be known and got realigned, Paris ran great for the rest of the day. Hopefully she keeps that going for Weiland and company when the season begins for real later this month.
For updates throughout the Ferrari Challenge weekend along with live-timing race results, follow @EMSRaceTeam on Twitter and Facebook. Also be sure to check out EMS Race Team’s Vimeo Page for behind-the-scenes action following the competition.
by Tara Pachmayer | Nov 23, 2015 | EMS Ferrari Challenge
The Ferrari Challenge World Finals were held this past weekend at the Mugello Circuit in Tuscany, Italy. The world famous track is home to Scuderia Ferrari, the racing team founded by Enzo Ferrari way back in 1929. For the 2015 season-ending event, drivers from 24 different countries converged on the mecca of Ferrari racing and the EMS Race Team was proud to be a part of that.
Just prior to making the trip across the Atlantic Ocean, IMSA.com caught up with EMS Race Team driver James Weiland to preview the competition.
“I drove in the Finali Mondiali two years ago in Mugello, and with time in the simulator recently at GPX Lab in Miami, I am ready to go,” Weiland told IMSA. “The warm up lap is where I feel all the anticipation. You know you are surrounded by very good drivers from all these different countries from around the world. You try to take in all of the colors and all the cars and the beautiful setting while trying to warm up the tires and systems and just waiting for what seems like forever for that green flag. But then the green flag flies, the engines are screaming and it’s time to get down to racing.”
When the green flags flew on Friday, Erin, EMS Race Team’s Ferrari 458 Challenge Evo, was ready to run. As she does throughout the season, Erin proudly displayed the logos of PETA’s Cruelty Free campaign and the Cornerstone of Hope on the rear and front of the car.
During stiff competitions with the top drivers from Ferrari Challenge North America on Friday and Saturday, EMS Race Team did their best to spread the word on each cause with a pair of 1st place finishes.
Weiland and his Ferrari of San Francisco team dedicated Race 1 at Mugello to raising awareness for PETA Cruelty Free. By the time his first Finali Mondiali race of the weekend was over, the Cruelty Free Bunnies were looking back at the competition on their way to the victory. After qualifying 3rd in class, Erin did enough to cruise through the finish line 1st in class and 3rd overall for Race 1 among a field of 37 drivers.
On Saturday, Weiland dedicated Race 2 to the great work our neighbors at the Cornerstone of Hope do for the community. Despite another tough fight among a talented field, the Cornerstone logo that adorns Erin’s hood was the first to bust through the finish line once again. With the help of his coach, Conrad Grunewald, and each member of the Ferrari of San Francisco team, Weiland finished 1st in class for a second straight day and 4th overall for the race.
In recap of Race 2 at Mugello, Motorsport.com offered the following:
“Perhaps the most exciting action of today’s race was the duel between James Weiland (Ferrari of San Francisco) and Anthony Imperato (Ferrari of Long Island). From the first lap to the last turn of the 30-minute race, the drivers battled for the lead. Although Imperato tried his chance for the overtaking, the space and strategy just wasn’t enough. Weiland was victorious in the end when Imperato made a mistake coming home third behind Ross Garber. Mike Zoi won the championship.”
“The Ferrari of San Francisco team did a great job getting us ready to race at Mugello all weekend long,” Weiland said. “It was really special to be able to secure two victories, and I can’t thank my team and coach enough for putting me in position to win. But the best part was being able to help raise awareness for the great work our friends at Cornerstone of Hope do for our community, as well as what PETA is able to consistently accomplish with the Cruelty Free campaign. Hopefully we were able to help others learn a little bit about those causes during our trip to Italy.”
For more on the Ferrari World Finals at Mugello, check out EMS Race Team on Facebook and Twitter.
by Tara Pachmayer | Sep 14, 2015 | EMS Ferrari Challenge
During a trip to Circuit Mont-Tremblant last month, EMS Race Team driver Jim Weiland split the driving duties with his coach, Conrad Grunewald. The duo managed to bring home first in the Enduro, one of the many accomplishments for the Cornerstone of Hope / EMS+ / Ferrari of San Francisco Ferrari 458 Challenge “Erin” since coach Grunewald got on board. This past weekend, Grunewald also helped Weiland navigate Erin through some wet and competitive races back at Mont-Tremblant, as the 2015 Ferrari Challenge season continued.
Conrad got his start in road racing back in 2000 at a racing school in California, taking a 3-day racing course. After the course he got a job as a mechanic at the racing school where he spent quite a bit of time driving the 2-liter open wheel formula cars. In 2002, he raced in the school’s open wheel championship and was hired as an instructor for the school.
By 2003, Conrad was driving the data car for the racing school’s race series. In 2004, he received his first opportunity in the drifting world where he was one of 12 drivers representing the USA in the USA vs Japan D1 drift event in Fontana, CA. Conrad has competed the last 10 years in Formula Drift and is currently driving a 900HP Chevy Camaro in the Formula Drift Championship.
Although Conrad spent the majority of his time focusing on drift, he also spent plenty of time racing in IMSA and coaching in Ferrari Challenge. He currently works with the EMS Race team by helping Jim Weiland setup their 458 EVO Challenge car as well as hone his driving skills.
“Conrad has been great at helping us take our driving to the next level,” Weiland said. “He helps push forward by not only offering instruction, but also getting in the car to demonstrate how different turns or parts of the track should be handled. His experience as a driver really pays off in that capacity and has helped us improve a great deal.”
Not only is Grunewald part of the EMS team on the track, but he also uses EMS+ to accept payments off the track as well. It’s a mobile payment method that Grunewald said has served him well throughout his time as an instructor and coach.
“EMS+ makes it very easy to process a transaction right at the track or wherever I am with my clients,” Grunewald said. “The low 2.25% processing rate is very attractive along with the 24/7 customer service. It’s a big part of my business as a racing coach and really helped streamline my business ever since I signed up.”
To keep up with Conrad on and off the track, check out his Instagram page and follow on Twitter.
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