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[h=2]Scuderia Corsa celebrates Laguna Ferrari tradition[/h]



By Marshall Pruett / Images courtesy Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Regis Lefebure/LAT


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Carrying the Californian Ferrari torch has been an honor for Scuderia Corsa team owner Giacomo Mattioli. His team, run from its base in Los Angeles, made its professional debut at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in 2013, and upon its return this weekend, the Italian owner, along with his Italian driver Alessandro Balzan, will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first victory earned at the famous circuit.
Captured by Pete Lovely in a Ferrari 500 TR, Mattioli hopes to honor the Prancing Horse's 1957 triumph when Balzan and teammate Christina Nielsen compete in their Ferrari 488 GT3 during IMSA's annual visit to Monterey.

"The history is very important!" he told RACER. "When I first started working at the factory I had the pleasure to meet Charles Pozzi, Jacques Swaters and of course, Giuseppe Risi. These men brought their passion in representing the brand back where everything started, at a racetrack. They were an inspiration.
"Scuderia Corsa was basically born here at Laguna Seca. We had good omen since we started the project but when Alessandro Balzan scored the pole position in our first race, the idea pursued by me and my partner Art Zafiropoulo became reality. We will go for the win on Sunday. We have many friends here to support us and we want to deliver an exciting performance."
As an avid racer who's enjoyed piloting a variety of vintage Ferraris, Mattioli says he would enjoy going back in time to try Lovely's 500 TR at the original Laguna Seca circuit.
"I can't quite image what would it be like racing at that time," he added. "Driving those cars is totally raw, you feel everything, you have an immediate, absolute no filter feedback from the car. Obviously, those drivers didn't know any better!"

Balzan, the defending IMSA GT Daytona class champion with Nielsen, shares Mattioli's enthusiasm and appreciation for what Lovely achieved for Ferrari 60 years ago.
"Those racecar drivers are heroes for me," he said. "No fear, no safety, tremendous cars to drive and no idea about things like downforce and carbon brakes. It is always special to win behind the wheel of a Ferrari. The win in 1957 is legendary, especially to be first with a 2.0-liter engine, and he was racing against much bigger engines! We were lucky last year because we were the first to win a pole position and race in the world debut of the Ferrari 488 GT3 at Sebring. Maybe one day I will be in a book too!"
In time, Balzan is hopeful his exploits in Ferrari's 488 GTE are worthy of praise by future generations.
"I already feel really lucky to do what I love the most, which is racing," he said. "I'm Italian so to represent and win with Ferrari is a dream. The Ferrari 488 GT3 is an incredible machine, I had a great love relationship with it after few corners. I knew we had a great weapon for the championship. I'm happy with my results, but I'm searching for more, I want to win the 24 hours of Daytona than I can be really happy. I want to be remembered as a good driver inside and outside the car maybe with few more titles!"