Three First-Time Winners in Race 1 at Thermal

Photo: Ferrari

To start the Ferrari Challenge North America season, a series of first-time winners stood atop the podium at The Thermal Club.

The southern California circuit brought the heat – literally, and with on-track action – on Saturday, setting up for a successful final day of racing on Sunday.

Trofeo Pirelli

Johnny Kaminskey (Ferrari of Central New Jersey) became one of the youngest winners in Ferrari Challenge history on Saturday, being victorious at 17 years old during the first day of race action at Thermal.

The teenager was close to a win in 2025 with five podium finishes, but finally reached the top step after starting from the pole position.

Kaminskey was unchallenged throughout the race and won by more than one second over longtime Ferrari driver Manny Franco (Ferrari Lake Forest).

Brad Fauvre (Ferrari of San Francisco), joining Trofeo Pirelli after previously running in the Am class, finished third after making a pass with less than three minutes remaining.

In the Trofeo Pirelli Am class, Esteban Beckmann (Ferrari of Seattle) was another young driver atop the podium for the first time in his career.

Beckmann started fourth, and watched as the two class-leading cars made contact in the closing minutes. He slipped by for not only his first win, but his first Ferrari Challenge podium after finishing a season high fourth-place in 2025.

His Ferrari of Seattle teammate Frank Chang finished second, and Kevin Gutierrez (Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale) placed third.

Coppa Shell

More than 30 cars took the grid in Coppa Shell, and it was Mike Chen (Ferrari of Beverly Hills) winning overall for the team located just two hours away in southern California. Chen, who raced part-time in 2025, started and finished first as the race ended under a yellow flag.

Chuck Whittall (Ferrari of Central Florida) and Bryan Waltersdorf (Continental AutoSports) placed second and third, respectively. Waltersdorf was at the center of several battles throughout the race, but outlasted his fellow competitors for the final podium spot.

In Coppa Shell Am, it was another hometown hero with the checkered flag – Blake Rosser (Ferrari of San Diego). Rosser, making his Ferrari Challenge North America debut, finished first over Fabian Sperman (The Collection) and Melissa Kozyra (Ferrari of Naples).

The three drivers ran nose-to-tail prior to the race-ending caution.

Qualifying starts Sunday morning’s activities at The Thermal Club at 9:35 a.m. PST (12:35 p.m. EST) prior to the final races of the event. The Coppa Shell race goes green at 2:25 p.m., followed by Trofeo Pirelli at 3:25 p.m.

Ferrari Challenge races throughout the season stream live on the Ferrari YouTube channel.

RESULTS: Race 1 P/P-Am
RESULTS: Race 1 S/S-Am

Source: Sports Car 365