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EMS Race Team Tied for Ferrari Challenge Series Lead with Finali Mondiali Set to Begin

EMS Race Team Tied for Ferrari Challenge Series Lead with Finali Mondiali Set to Begin

EMS Race Team travels to Mugello, Italy this week to compete in the Ferrari Challenge World Finals. The Ferrari racing spectacular known as the Finali Mondiali will feature three highly competitive races while also determining the series champion. Drivers James Weiland (Rossocorsa) and Ernst Kirchmayr (Baron Motorsport) will arrive at the Mugello Circuit in a dead-heat atop the Ferrari Challenge Europe standings. Through six rounds of the 2021 campaign, each driver has compiled exactly 151 points with this final event of the season set to break the tie.

Throughout the calendar year, Weiland and his crew from Rossocorsa, R3 Motorsports and Ferrari of San Francisco have earned 10 podiums in 12 races along with three victories. They opened the ’21 campaign with P1 and P2 finishes in Italy at Monza before adding double-podiums in Austria and the Czech Republic. EMS captured a podium in Spain next, before two victories in Germany and a podium at Spa. Rounding out the top-4 drivers heading into the world championships is Fons Scheltema (Kessel Racing) with 100 points and Christian Kinch (Formula Racing) with 94.

The last time EMS Race Team competed at the Mugello Circuit was in 2019 during a memorable weekend of racing. While measuring themselves against the best Ferrari Challenge drivers in the world, Weiland and ERIN the Electronic Merchant Systems Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo secured three dominant victories in three consecutive races. The clean sweep began with a win on Friday and closed with a P1 finish in the World Championships on Sunday. The effort prompted Conrad Grunewald to describe Weiland’s performance as the most dominant one he’d ever seen in the Ferrari Challenge series. ERIN and her team may need a similar effort this weekend to distance themselves from the competition and capture another title.

“Mugello is a terrific track and the Finali Mondiali is a great event all around,” Weiland said. “So we’re excited this week and hopefully we can help raise awareness for PETA Cruelty Free, Coach Sam’s Scholars and Cornerstone of Hope by doing our best to secure a championship.”

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the largest animal rights organization in the world, with more than three million members and supporters. Products proudly displaying the bunny logo are cruelty-free, meaning that they were produced without testing on animals. Coach Sam’s Scholars’ mission is to provide educational support to at risk children through a combination of literacy, personal development and health and fitness programs designed to develop the whole child. Cornerstone of Hope, meanwhile, is dedicated to providing support, education, and hope for the grieving. Each mission will be featured on EMS Race Team’s car throughout the Ferrari World Finals at Mugello.

For behind-the-scenes coverage of the Ferrari Challenge Europe, follow EMS Race Team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Some of those racing highlights from the 2021 season are also below to help get you up to speed for the Finali Mondiali in Italy.

ERIN the Electronic Merchant Systems Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo wins at Monza:

EMS Race Team Earns Second Podium of the Weekend at Brno Circuit:

Ferrari Races Move of the Day Helps Earn 7th Podium of Season in Spain:

ERIN wins at Nürburgring in Germany:

ERIN’s overtake for P2 at Spa:

Additionally, to keep up with the EMS Race Team Reserve Driver, check out Max Weiland Racing on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

EMS Race Team Secures Two Victories at the Ferrari Challenge World Finals in Italy

EMS Race Team Secures Two Victories at the Ferrari Challenge World Finals in Italy

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.

Cornerstone of Hope EMS

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.

PETA Bunnies at Mugello

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.