Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale Racing History: Squadra Corse Garage Italia 488 GT3 EVO

2015: The 488 GT3 EVO is unveiled

Anyone familiar with Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale knows that it is renowned for being a racing hub for customers. Their participation ranges from Corse/Competizione Clienti-related programs to GT racing. Ferrari’s involvement in the latter competitions through customer teams, including domestic and international GT championships, is the 488 GT3 EVO.

At the 2015 Finali Mondiali at Mugello (Italy), the Ferrari introduced the GT for the 2016 season. The GT made its debut in the USA in the 24 hours of Daytona. Ferrari developed the GT vehicle with the support of Michelotto Automobili, a leading Italian-based company. This company is known for engaging in the development and designing of racing cars. The GT3 EVO is designed purposely for GT competitions. GT competitions showcase a technical approach from the way the car handles to the power curve of the engine. They also illustrate responding to the need for maximum performance over long distances; the main necessity to be competitive in GT.

February 2018: Squadra Corse and Garage Italia

The Italia 488 GT3 EVO is a result of the collaboration between Lapo Elkann’s Italian-based Garage Italia Customs and Ronnie Vogel’s Squadra Corse. Squadra Corse is a partnership with TR3 Performance, a South Florida-based company specializing in street and track performance cars. As a result of alliances, on February 8^th, 2018, the 488 GT3 EVO repping Squadra Corse Garage Italia Americas was born. Lapo Elkann and his team at Garage designed the vehicle, which was unveiled in Fiorano, Italy. The Milan-based company delivered the unique livery inspired by a connubium between the Italian and Mexican flags. Watchmaker Hublot also sponsored the vehicle in its debut season.

2018 Season: Pirelli Sprint X Pro Am & GT World Challenge

In the rookie season, the Squadra Corse Garage Italia 488 GT3 EVO had an impressive scoring, resulting in 3 wins, 5-second places, and nine podiums in the Pirelli SprintX. The car is led by racers Martin Fuentes and Caesar Bacarella. Squadra Corse Garage Italia Americas was the 2018 Pirelli World Challenge GTA Champions and 2018 World Challenge SprintX GT AM. The 488 GT3 EVO team was also crowned manufacturer’s champions. The Ferrari 488 GT3 EVO showed to be the fastest car in GT, becoming the strongest car on long distances. The vehicle beat out Porsche 911 GT3 R, Lamborghini Huracan GT3 and Chevrolet Corvette C7 GT3-R. The vehicle maintained its competitiveness, sharing most of pole positions with Mercedes-AMG GT3 and Bentley Continental GT3.

The Championship Pair: Bacarella-Fuentes

The Bacarella-Fuentes combination is a potent one. The pair won 9 races en route to capturing the 2018 World Challenge Sprint X Am championship by 66 points. Fuentes also claimed the World Challenge GTA title, winning four of the seven rounds that he contested. Remarkable races are the victories in St. Petersburg, Canada and Road America.

2019: Back-to-Back Champions

After the outstanding 2018 season, where the program generated poles, wins and the GT World Challenge America Championship, the team continued the partnership in the 2019 Blancpain GT America Competition.

Squadra Corse begun the 2019 season with fashion, with Fuentes/Bacarella winning in Austin, extending their victories in the AM category in Virginia, Sonoma and Watkins Glen. 2019 was a great showing for the 488 GT3 beating BMW M6 GT3 and Porsche 911 GT3 R among other manufacturers.

After being crowned AM Cup champions just after five races, both graduates of Ferrari Challenge competition, Fuentes and Bacarella have now won 12 of their last 13 races, holding a 49-points lead in their bid for a second consecutive Am championship. Fuentes eventually graduated to Pro level, joined by Mark Issa and Renger Van Der Zande for races 6 and 7 in Road America and Las Vegas.

2020: Pro/Am class and New Livery

In 2020, Squadra Corse’s 488 GT3 EVO changed skin, with a new livery as well as a new partnership, with Pro Rodrigo Baptista joining Ferrari Challenge graduate and 2-times AM champion Martin Fuentes. Ferrari outpaced Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, Acura NSX GT3, Porsche 911 GT3 R and Bentley Continental GT3 among other carmakers.

Joining the Pro/Am Cup, Baptista/Fuentes manage to win in Austin, Sonoma, Road America and again Austin, with Fuentes winning his third title, first in the pro/am series. Squadra Corse won also the team championship pro/am class, with Baptista contribution and his 3^rd place overall.