Scuderia Corsa Finalizing Two-Car Ferrari Pirelli WC Program

Photo: John Dagys

After dipping its toes into the water this year, Scuderia Corsa is set to take the plunge into Pirelli World Challenge in 2015, with the California-based squad in the process of finalizing a two-car Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 effort for the sprint race championship.

Team principal Giacomo Mattioli confirmed to Sportscar365 that he has handshake agreements with two customers who have intentions of competing in the GT-A class. A formal announcement is expected in the coming weeks.

“We’re definitely going to Pirelli World Challenge, with possibly two entries for the full season,” Mattioli told Sportscar365. “I think they have a great formula and it’s definitely a series that everybody’s talking about.”

The team made its World Challenge debut at Sonoma Raceway in August with Mike Hedlund, who Mattioli said could race a third Scuderia Corsa-entered Ferrari in select races next year as well.

Mattioli said both of the team’s current GT3-based TUDOR Championship Ferraris will be converted to FIA GT3-spec for World Challenge competition, with Bill Sweedler’s Prancing Horse to be used as the new No. 63 car in GT Daytona next year.

The Sweedler and Townsend Bell-driven car will be the only full-season TUDOR Championship entry for the team, which will take on an expanded program with the addition of its multi-car World Challenge effort.

“I think they have a great formula,” Mattioli said of World Challenge. “They’re making a lot of changes to it, so hopefully they haven’t added too many races on the calendar as that brings more cost for the drivers.

“It’s exciting. I think the single car format is a winning format, to have a GT3 that can compete in both championships.”

In addition to World Challenge, TUDOR Championship and its returning Ferrari Challenge programs, Mattioli said there’s a possibility of seeing the team make its debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans next year, with Sweedler’s GTE-spec Ferrari.

Sweedler has previously outlined plans of competing in the twice-around-the-clock French endurance classic with an all-American driver lineup in GTE-Am.

“We have discussed that and it’s also in our plans,” Mattioli said. “Bill owns the car. It’s a definite possibility on the table but it’s in the very preliminary stages. The budget has not been addressed. There’s a car and a willingness but there’s still a lot to cover.”

Mattioli said that if a deal was to be made, it would come as a joint effort with AF Corse.

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