Vilander Joins MacNeil in Scuderia Corsa Ferrari for 2019

Photo: Rick Dole/IMSA

Toni Vilander will join Cooper MacNeil in Scuderia Corsa’s Ferrari 488 GT3, as part of a GT Daytona class title attack in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

Vilander, the reigning Blancpain GT World Challenge America champion, will return to full-time WeatherTech Championship competition in the WeatherTech-backed Ferrari.

Jeff Westphal, meanwhile, has been confirmed for the Michelin Endurance Cup races and Dominik Farnbacher set to complete the lineup in next month’s season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona.

The Finn’s new full-season program comes after a three-race effort with Risi Competizione in the GT Le Mans class this year, which was coupled with a championship run in a GT3-spec Ferrari in PWC.

“It is nice to join the WeatherTech Racing team,” Vilander said. “I have driven with Scuderia Corsa before, so I am familiar with the team.

“The competition in the GTD class is very strong. There are a lot of good teams and driver lineups. I am looking forward to having good preparation and a strong race next month.”

The Ferrari factory driver joins MacNeil, who shared the wheel of the Prancing Horse with no fewer than six different co-drivers this year, including Alessandro Balzan, Gunnar Jeannette, Jeff Segal, Alessandro Pier Guidi and Daniel Serra.

MacNeil, Jeannette and Daniel Serra claimed class honors in October’s season-ending Motul Petit Le Mans.

“It was a short off-season for me,” MacNeil said. “We just finished up the Ferrari Challenge season in Italy where I won the championship and now, we are off to Daytona to prepare for the 24.

“It is great to have Toni in the WeatherTech car for the season. He is a great asset in regard to set-up and, of course, speed behind the wheel.

“Dominik and Jeff will be great to have for the Rolex 24 and our goal is win it.”

Sportscar365 understands that Balzan, who was due to complete the season this year, remains on the sideline, having not yet been cleared by doctors to race after undergoing a medical procedure in May.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John