Serra to Sub for Points Leader Molina at Watkins Glen

Two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans class winner Daniel Serra is set to replace Miguel Molina in the Blancpain GT World Challenge America points-leading R. Ferri Motorsport Ferrari at Watkins Glen, Sportscar365 understands.

Molina’s clashing factory commitments with the Italian marque in the FIA World Endurance Championship 4 Hours of Silverstone are forcing the Spaniard to miss the Glen weekend on Aug. 31- Sep. 1.

His place alongside Toni Vilander in the No. 61 R. Ferri-entered Ferrari 488 GT3 will instead be taken up by Serra (left) who is set to make his Blancpain GT America debut.

Serra helped guide Ferrari to its first Le Mans GTE-Pro victory in five years with James Calado and Alessandro Pier Guidi two months ago.

The Brazilian driver, who is aiming to record his third straight national Stock Car title this year, also won the WEC centerpiece event with Aston Martin Racing in 2017.

Molina was announced as part of the works AF Corse Ferrari team’s driver lineup for the full 2019-20 WEC season on Tuesday, replacing Sam Bird.

A Ferrari spokesperson confirmed to Sportscar365 that the 30-year-old will be sharing the No. 71 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo with Davide Rigon in the Silverstone race.

The move to keep Molina with the factory squad for the season-opener effectively means that he won’t be able to defend his Blancpain GT America drivers’ title.

Molina and Vilander currently hold a 14-point advantage over K-PAX Bentley drivers Alvaro Parente and Andy Soucek, having claimed three wins and three further podiums.

The pair won last year’s series, when it was known as SprintX GT Championship, by taking six victories for the Canadian R. Ferri operation.