Experience is on top again at Laguna Seca
Ferrari of fort Lauderdale team cONTINUES EARLY DOMINANCE TO MAINTAIN COMMANDING LEAD IN POINT STANDINGS WITH VICTORY AT FERRARI CHALLENGE
The Experience Auto Group continues to excel on the racetrack with impressive dual first place victory at Raceway Laguna Seca
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (May 25, 2011) – The Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale Team, owned and operated by The Experience Auto Group which also includes Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale and Ferrari of Long Island dealerships, dominated The 2011 Ferrari Challenge series, when driver Enzo Potolicchio won first place on May 22, 2011 at Raceway Laguna Seca during the 458 Challenge. The Ferrari Challenge spanned over several days from May 20 – 22, 2011 at Raceway Laguna Seca in Salinas, CA.
Potolicchio secured first place during the Challenge Race No. 1 in the 458 Class and overall – an impressive win that is characteristic of the reigning champion as well as The Experience Auto Group and its profound race history. Ringing true again to the team’s successful track record, The Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale Team also secured first place in the 430 Class during Challenge Race No. 1 due to the driving of Juan Hinestrosa. Equally impressive, the team was also victorious in Challenge Race No. 2 as Francesco Piovanetti took first place in the 430 Class and Potolicchio finished second place overall.
“The Experience Auto Group has a long record of excellence on the race track,” said Garrett Hayim, President of Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale and The Experience Auto Group. “The streak of victories that are developing from these first two races is very exciting and we can’t wait to see the feats that our drivers can accomplish at the Canadian Grand Prix in June. We applaud Enzo, Juan, and Francesco in the second race for their incomparable drive to win.”
The Experience Auto Group has a passion for high line racing that has evolved from a love for professional racing since 1984, winning five national and world championships in offshore powerboats driven by owner Stuart Hayim. The Experience Auto Group has claimed impressive victories with Risi Competizione and consecutive Ferrari Challenge titles – including back to back championships with The Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale Team in 2005-2007, Ferrari of Long Island Team in 2008 and The Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale Team again in 2010. The Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale Team is comprised of seasoned race professionals and an elite team of drivers: Enzo Potolicchio from Caracas, Venezuela; Mike Zoi from Miami, Florida; Rob Metka from Delray Beach, Florida; Guy LeClerc from Montreal, Quebec; Juan Hinestrosa from Fort Lauderdale, Florida; David Knobel from Delray Beach, Florida; Tim Rosner from Mansfield, Massachusetts; Francesco Piovanetti from San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Rafael Sportelli from New York, New York. Drivers’ race results are as follows:
Challenge Race 1 – May 21, 2011
| Driver | Position in Class | Class |
| Enzo Potolicchio | 1 | 458 |
| Juan Hinestrosa | 1 | 430 |
| Mike Zoi | 4 | 458 |
| Guy LeClerc | 5 | 430 |
| Tim Rosner | 6 | 430 |
| Rob Metka | 10 | 430 |
| Francesco Piovanetti | 11 | 430 |
Challenge Race 2 – May 22, 2011
| Driver | Position in Class | Class |
| Francesco Piovanetti | 1 | 430 |
| Enzo Potolicchio | 2 | 458 |
| Tim Rosner | 4 | 430 |
| Mike Zoi | 6 | 458 |
| Juan Hinestrosa | 10 | 430 |
| Guy LeClerc | 11 | 430 |
| Rob Metka | 13 | 430 |
“The team is developing superbly,” said Ronald Vogel, Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale Race Team Manager and experienced driver. “It seems to get better and better as the weeks go by, as demonstrated by the recent string of victories. Our team is comprised of some of the hardest working athletes I’ve had the pleasure of working with and they practice as if they are jockeying for position in the standings. It is invigorating to be on a team with professionals that hold the races in such high regard.” Vogel, alongside Preston Henn and Lorne Libel, is a driver listed in the Cliente Progamme of the FXX Series.
Sponsors of The Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale Team include Paul & Shark yachting, Motorola, TeamSpeed.com and MotorSport.com (photography sponsor), and allowed for such a successful result by standing by the team and providing support.
About the Ferrari Challenge
The Ferrari Challenge expanded to North America in 1994 with a full season of races and has been run every year since, making it the longest-running series of its type in North America. The Ferrari Challenge has given many Ferrari owners the opportunity to enjoy the continent's finest tracks while sharing both competition and the social aspects of the series with fellow Ferrari owners. The Challenge has also given Ferrari enthusiasts the opportunity to enjoy watching Ferraris in their natural environment – the race track. This series provides owners of the great cars from Enzo Ferrari’s past the opportunity to race them against other fabulous Ferraris in a controlled environment, on the greatest tracks on the continent.
About The Experience Auto Group
