PRICE WINS AT LIME ROCK SHELL HISTORIC CHALLENGE
ANASSIS, PETERSON SWAP FERRARI CHALLENGE WINS

Historic Drum start less Tom Price's runaway Maserati 200si.

By David Seibert

Pictures © 03 Christopher McNeil Photography.

Lime Rock, CT., July 12.
Tom Price took a total of two overall wins and four class wins at this weekend’s Shell Ferrari/Maserati Historic Challenge at Lime Rock Park. The races were part of the track’s ‘Ferrari Racing Days’ festival. In the Drum Brake Group Price drove his Maserati 200 SI to overall and class wins both days, easily topping one of the best fields of the year. Jim Fuchs’ 166 MM/53 Vignale Spyder twice finished second in Class 2 behind Price. Tony Wang’s Maserati 300 S also took a pair of class wins over Jon Shirley’s 250 TR, and Peter Giddings Alfa Romeo Monza also won its class both days over Dennis Machul’s similar car.

Peter Giddings wins drum class 1 in S/F A/R Monza s/n 2211114.

Stephen Dudley and Nick Soprano, each in a 250 LWB ‘Tour de France’ berlinetta, traded GT class wins; Soprano won Friday while Dudley took Saturday’s race. The win gave Dudley enough points to secure the 2003 Drum Brake Championship. Price used his 250 GTO to take another pair of class wins in the Disc Brake Group ahead of Bob Bodin’s 250 SWB berlinetta. Todd Morici (512 BB/LM) and Charlie Arnott (512 S) traded overall wins in the Disc Brake races, each taking a pair of class wins.

Tom Price wins drum brake outright in his Maserati 200si s/n2416

Lawrence Stroll was also a class winner in his 412 P as was Bill Noon in a 308 Michelotto. Charlie Arnott Jr., in his first-ever races, drove the family’s ex-NART Competition Daytona to a pair of victories over Chuck Wegner’s similar car; young Arnott’s first trophy was presented by his father. Wegner came up just one point short in the 2003 Disc Brake Championship, losing to Noon. A new event for the 2003 Historic Challenge, the ‘Regularity Challenge,’ saw Fuchs and navigator Matt Jansen take a close win over Stephen and Lynne Dudley.

Lime Rock 360 Challenge

Ferrari of Washington's Jim Kenton holds of Ferrari of Houston's Steve Earle for third place.

Lime Rock, CT., July 12.
Doug Peterson continued his 2003 Championship chase by winning the featured Ferrari Challenge race at Lime Rock Park’s ‘Ferrari Racing Days’ this weekend, but newcomer Emmanuel Anassis has moved into contention for the title with his win over Peterson in the preliminary race. Jim Kenton, a former Champion and strong contender for the 2003 title as well, finished third in both races.

Ferrari of Quebec's and Ferrari Challenge rookie, Emmanuel Anassis hauls ass down No Name Straight.

Peterson, driving for the Shelton Sports Cars team, had qualified on pole for the 30 minute race held on Friday. He took an immediate lead, but Anassis (who had started alongside on the front row) stalked Peterson for 19 laps before finally getting by in the Esses. Anassis, who raced for the Ferrari of Quebec dealership team, set the fastest race lap of the weekend during the chase. Kenton, from the Ferrari of Washington team, completed the podium. Results from the first race were used to set the grid for Saturday’s feature (no racing is permitted at Lime Rock Park on Sundays.) Anassis started on pole, but that was the last time he led. Peterson timed his start perfectly and beat Anassis to ‘Big Bend,’ the first turn, then steadily pulled away to a 14 second margin at the end of the 45 minute race. Anassis easily held off Kenton, who had little trouble in finishing third. Drivers in the Ferrari 360 Challenge compete in specially built racing versions of the Ferrari 360 Modena, with preparation and race support handled by teams formed by authorized Ferrari dealers in North America.

The next event in the series will be at Texas World Speedway, on September 19-21, with the final event in the 2003 season held as part of the World Finals in Mugello, Italy in October.