Motorsport · Ferrari Challenge North America · 2026

Date & time

15 Mar 2026, 23:25

Round

1

Location

Thermal, California, United States

The second race of the 2026 Ferrari Challenge North America season opener at The Thermal Club serves as the "Feature Race" of the weekend, testing the field’s endurance over a full 30-minute distance on the technical 8.2km "Twin Palms" circuit. The strategic narrative centers on whether anyone can disrupt the early dominance of Roberto Perrina, who has looked untouchable through practice and the opening sprint. The primary hurdle for the drivers is the intensifying desert heat of the California Sunday; as track temperatures rise, managing the thermal window of the Pirelli tires becomes a mechanical necessity to avoid a massive drop-off in grip during the final five laps. Tactically, the long back straight offers the only major slipstream opportunity, forcing the leaders to defend the inside line into the heavy braking zone of the final hairpin. The headline story focuses on the battle for the second and third steps of the podium between Matias Perel and Dylan Stairway, both of whom showed blistering late-race pace in the Saturday sprint. Strategically, the focus is also on the Trofeo Pirelli AM class, where Mitchell Green aims to complete a weekend sweep in his new category. With the narrow, winding nature of the Thermal layout making passing difficult, the opening lap—particularly the complex Turn 1-2-3 sequence—will likely dictate the final classification of this historic first competitive visit to the Coachella Valley.