WeatherTech Racing drivers Cooper MacNeil (Hinsdale, Ill.) and Alessandro Balzan (Italy) are heading to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio, May 4-6.
The duo is coming off of a very successful Sebring 12 hours race, finishing second in GTD in the team’s Scuderia Corsa prepared Ferrari 488 GT3. MacNeil and Balzan have Mid-Ohio experience, but that was back in 2013. The team took the opportunity to test at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca following Sebring to get a better handle on the aero package of the Ferrari 488, which should be a help at the 2.25-mile, 13-turn Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course known for its signature Carousel and Key Hole turns this weekend.
“It has been about five years since I’ve run at Mid-Ohio,” MacNeil said. “I like the layout, it is a classic natural terrain road course that I really like to drive. The WeatherTech Ferrari, with the testing we have done, should be glued to the track. Handling is key at Mid-Ohio, especially through the back section, Turn 4 to Turn 13. We are coming off of a great run at Sebring and we are excited to get back to racing.”
Balzan, is also looking forward to getting the WeatherTech Ferrari on the rolling Mid-Ohio road course located 45-minutes north of Columbus.
“I’ve been to Mid-Ohio just once,” Balzan said. “It was the last year of the Grand-Am Championship, the 2013 season and with the No. 63 Ferrari 458 GT3, we were running for the title in the GT class. I can’t wait to drive the WeatherTech Racing/Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 488 there this weekend. It’s a really fun track, kind of small and there will be a lot of traffic. I love the section from Turn 4 all the way to Turn 9. The esses portion, even if they are medium speed corners, they require perfect lines and big focus to do it properly. We had two great days of testing at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca where we discovered a lot more about the 2018 aero kit on the Ferrari. I have a good feeling and I’m sure the competition will be very close!”
The green flag drops on the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio on Sunday, May 6 at 1 p.m. ET and will be televised live on FS2.
