The dawn of a new IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship season rose over Daytona International Speedway this weekend at the Roar before the Daytona 24 Hour for Scuderia Corsa’s No. 63 Ferrari 488 GT3.
The full season pairing of Cooper MacNeil and Toni Vilander were joined at Daytona this weekend by endurance drivers Jeff Westphal and Dominik Farnbacher for the official test preceding Daytona 24H. The quartet completed a successful two-day test in preparation for the Daytona 24 Hour. The five practice sessions provided drivers with the opportunity to acclimate to the newly homologated Michelin Tires and optimize their driving time behind the wheel of the Ferrari 488 on the historic Daytona banking in the new compound.
For Scuderia Corsa 2018 Petit Le Mans winner and Ferrari Challenge Champion MacNeil the new year brings a fresh sense of optimism. The addition of new team members fuel his vigor for the battles that lay ahead.
“It’s a new year, a new season, there’s new crew members, I have a new co-driver, there are a lot of new faces,” MacNeil said. “It’s great to have Toni on board with us he has a lot of knowledge about the Ferrari 488. He’s obviously very well accomplished having won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Ferrari and a championship in Pirelli World Challenge last year. He brings a lot of expertise and insight into Scuderia Corsa having driven with them before and we’re just feeling really positive.”
Ferrari Factory Driver Vilander seized the opportunity to further grow his relationship with Scuderia Corsa. Vilander previously competed in the 2014 Daytona 24 Hour with the team and returns to Daytona with plans to outperform his previous results.
“I have raced with Scuderia Corsa before so most of the guys I know really well,” Vilander said. “We had the test in December and now this week so I’m getting to know Cooper better. Ferrari in general is a brand I know really well so it’s great to be back. This team has had great achievements in the past so I believe they have the tools we need to do well this season. We are in the early part of the year but we have a good atmosphere and team, Scuderia Corsa together with WeatherTech, so I think we are in a good place to move forward.”
Giacomo Mattioli, Team Owner of Scuderia Corsa, always greatly anticipates the beginning of a new IMSA race season.
“We ended up last season on a high note with the win at PLM” stated Mattioli. “And we want to start where we left off. Every year the GTD competition grows and becomes more competitive, I’m sure 2019 will not be an exception. I would like to congratulate IMSA on their 50th anniversary, quite remarkable knowing how difficult this business is”
The inaugural race of the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship season, the Daytona 24 Hour on Jan. 26-27 can be viewed live Jan. 26 on NBC from 1:00 pm to 5 pm ET. Coverage switches to NBC Sports from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The remainder of the race will air from 9:00 p.m. Jan. 26 to 3:00 pm of Jan. 27.
