by Brendan Bowers | Mar 28, 2025 | EMS Ferrari Challenge
The legendary Autodromo Nazionale di Monza is hosting the opening round of the 2025 Ferrari Challenge Europe season on March 27-30 in Italy. The race marks the series’ return to the historic “Temple of Speed” for the first time in four years. Now in its 33rd season, the 2025 Ferrari Challenge calendar includes eight rounds across Europe’s most celebrated circuits.
The Monza opener will feature the lightning-fast 296 Challenge cars—Ferrari’s ninth model in the series and the first to sport a 700-horsepower de-hybridised V6 engine. ERIN the Ferrari 296 Challenge is featured below in her updated design.
This year’s grid at Monza boasts record-breaking participation, with 72 drivers from 22 countries representing 30 Ferrari dealerships. Of those, 21 are making their Challenge debuts. They’ll battle it out across the four traditional classes: Trofeo Pirelli, Trofeo Pirelli Am, Coppa Shell, and Coppa Shell Am.
The weekend kicked off with testing and free practice on March 27-28. Qualifying sessions will take place on the mornings of March 29 and 30, followed by three 30-minute races each afternoon—separate races for Coppa Shell and Coppa Shell Am, and a combined grid for Trofeo Pirelli and Trofeo Pirelli Am.
“It’s a long weekend ahead and there are no trophies for Final Practice,” EMS Race Team driver James Weiland said on Friday. “But ERIN is looking good and running like the wind again. P1. We will see if we can keep it going!”
Racing to Raise Awareness
Weiland is a former Ferrari Challenge North American champion who will be racing for the win this weekend. Erin, the Electronic Merchant Systems Ferrari 296 Challenge will be competing to support three important causes: Coach Sam’s Scholars, PETA Cruelty-Free, and Cornerstone of Hope.
Coach Sam’s Scholars works to improve literacy, personal development, and health for at-risk children through innovative educational programs. PETA Cruelty-Free advocates for the ethical treatment of animals and promotes cruelty-free products, proudly recognized by the bunny logo. Cornerstone of Hope is committed to providing support, education, and hope for those experiencing grief.
“We’re proud to represent Coach Sam’s Scholars, PETA, and Cornerstone,” Weiland said. “Each of these organizations makes a tremendous impact, and we’ll do our best to raise awareness for their work while competing in Europe this season.”
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by Tara Pachmayer | Apr 13, 2021 | EMS Ferrari Challenge
EMS Race Team arrived in Italy for the 2021 Ferrari Challenge at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza with a sense of purpose. Despite six months separating the team from their last race, ERIN the Electronic Merchant Systems Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo found a way to secure a P1 finish during an exciting race to open the weekend. After qualifying P4 for Race 1, the Electronic Merchant Systems car would navigate her way through the Temple of Speed for the victory. The win marked the 21st career Ferrari Challenge P1 finish for EMS Race Team.
“ERIN does it again,” Weiland said after the race. “We started 4th, picked up a spot at the start and then snagged 1st out of the second corner. Fell back to 3rd briefly, but we managed to pass for 2nd position, and then 1st, and won the race here at historic Monza by 1.6 seconds. Really special thanks to Rossocorsa, R3 Motorsports, Ferrari of San Francisco, Coach Conrad Grunewald, David Cameron and Ray Banda. Great team effort.”
The good times continued to roll for Weiland and company on Sunday despite challenging conditions in the wet. ERIN responded from early adversity to race her way back onto the podium during the second Ferrari Challenge event of the weekend. This time, the result was a P2 finish in the rain at Monza.
“We started P2 after a wet qualifying session,” Weiland said of Race 2. “We had a good run on the pole position car at the start but decided it wasn’t there, and broke early to tuck in. Only thing was, we broke early but too lightly and as we approached Turn 1 we had too much speed and had to take the run off. Bad job by the driver. But we rejoined in 5th, and had a really fun race from there.”
ERIN picked off three cars and was chasing down the race leader on Sunday when the safety car appeared with two laps remaining. That incident denied EMS the opportunity to fight for first. Nevertheless, an exciting way to get back into the racing circuit with a P1 and P2 at Monza. The team dedicated the weekend’s efforts to their friends at PETA Cruelty Free, Coach Sam’s Scholars and Cornerstone of Hope.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the largest animal rights organization in the world. 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.
For behind the scenes coverage from the Ferrari Challenge in Italy, follow EMS Race Team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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