Inside the World of Professional GT Endurance Racing With Alessandro Balzan

Racing with Porsche, Balzan also achieved another milestone, setting the world’s fastest lap ever, a track record, while qualifying in the Porsche Supercup at Monza in 2011, driving a 911 GT3 Cup race car. Monza has always been one of Balzan’s favorite racetracks, and he remembers thinking to himself when he did that lap in front of 70,000 screaming Italian fans, that the perfect lap does not exist. But upon reflecting on this achievement, he expresses, “I guess this was one of the closest laps to perfection. I knew in the car that it was strong because I nailed my breaking points, and I was able to cut all the curbs like I wanted. The car was amazing to drive, and when I crossed the finish line, I said to myself, I cannot do anything better than this.”

Balzan actually still had five minutes to go in his qualifying session, but jumping the leaderboard to pole position, he thought to himself, “You know what, I cannot do anything better than this. I’m going to the pit because I don’t think I can improve this. When I arrived there, my team was freaking out, and everyone was out of control screaming because I was the only car going under one minute and 50 seconds, which at that time was a big deal.”

In 2012, Balzan was back in a Ferrari, claiming top podium finishes in every one of the 12 races that year to clinch the Ferrari 458 Challenge World and European Championship with the Ferrari team of Moscow. This outstanding success was important for him because the engineer he worked with on this team was also connected with a new, developing Ferrari team in the States, finally giving Balzan the opportunity to race at the sought-after American tracks in 2012. During this time, Alessandro also became an instructor at the Ferrari Driving School known worldwide as Corso Pilota, which he later became the head instructor of in North America as he is to this day.

In 2012, Balzan raced in the two Grand-Am Rolex GT races with Scuderia Corsa at Lime Rock Park and Laguna Seca. With strong results at both races, Balzan was given the full Grand-Am season championship in 2013, including the 24 Hours of Daytona, where he finished fourth.

When asked if he gets nervous before a race, Balzan responds, “I always have been very lucky because I don’t get anxious before driving or racing. I just stay with my crew. I love the energy and the vibe that the mechanics give to you because they are working hard for you and your car before the big endurance races like the 24 Hours of Daytona, a race that you start preparing for in mid-December, and the race is end of January, so you can imagine the amount of hard work and sacrifice that the team, the mechanics, the engineer, and every single member of the team spend to prepare the car. When the organizers say, ‘Okay, gentlemen, start your engine,’ I still get a lot of emotions, especially before the 24-hour races because, you know, you have to do this perfectly for 24 hours.”

Photo Credit: FotoSpeedy

In 2013, Balzan won the last known Rolex GT Grand-Am Championship before it was rebranded as IMSA. This was one of the most special seasons of his career because he didn’t know any of the tracks, so he had the challenge of learning new tracks quickly as a foreigner new to the American racing scene. Fortunately, adapting

immediately to new tracks is no problem for the talented Ferrari ace; he won his first American endurance race at Kansas Speedway, clinching the full season championship, which concluded in Lakeville, CT, at Lime Rock Park, only one hour from where he currently resides. There was an incredible gala dinner to celebrate the win, where he received a Rolex Daytona engraved with ‘2013 GT Champion’, which is very sentimental to him to this day, reminding him of his incredible memories throughout the season. Despite all the wins, Balzan had a few races where the Ferrari had to fight hard against the mighty Corvette but ultimately defeated the American monster by the conclusion of the tough season. This led to a season finale celebration at the top of the Empire State Building, where Balzan was truly living the American dream he had dreamt of with Ferrari.

Photo Credit: Scott McDermott

In 2016, Balzan achieved a milestone when he was offered a full season of racing with Ferrari, racing the Ferrari 488 GT3 with a female driver, Christina Nielsen, and moving full-time to live in the U.S. in Las Vegas instead of flying back and forth to his home country Italy. Participating in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, involving 11 races a year, required constant testing and coaching, while Balzan also became involved with the Ferrari Driving School, Corso Pilota. Since then, he’s had a notable win at Road Atlanta’s 10-hour Petit Lemans, and several more runs in the 24 hours of Daytona, Lemans, and Spa, all behind the wheel of his favorite Italian speed machine. Fast-forward to this year with Ferrari, and Balzan is leading the six- race Michelin Le Mans Cup Championship Series with the Ferrari 296 GT3 with Ferrari Factory team AF Corse achieving multiple wins, including podium finishes at Road To Le Mans on the world-famous circuit in the French countryside. Balzan explains how he keeps a winning mindset on the track by stating, “I remind myself that this is what I have always loved doing. I am driving and racing a Ferrari. The team has trust and faith in me to go out there and do what I am capable of. So, let’s enjoy it.”

To Balzan, Ferrari’s cars are more than amazing machines that are incredible to drive. Ferrari is the most iconic racing and automotive brand in the world. Being an Italian representing one of the most recognized brands in the world that is born and bred made in Italy, like himself makes him very proud, and it is an honored for him to compete for Ferrari.

Photo Credit: FotoSpeedy

Serving as the head coach of Ferrari’s Corso Pilota, Balzan loves seeing the Ferrari enthusiasts come and drive the road cars where Ferrari gives them the tools to appreciate what makes Ferrari such a special brand, like no other. Balzan passionately remarks, “On the road, it’s not so easy to appreciate the car’s capability and highly advanced qualities because of the potential obstacles on public roads like cops, deer, and distracted drivers. But you certainly can on the racetrack. We have top coaches in the program who utilize all the industry’s latest technologies to help sharpen every driver’s skills, including data analysis and onboard videos. We drive for two full days on the track, and after those two days, the clients absolutely love it. They often come back to further advance through our levels in the school and then go on to compete in the race cars in the Ferrari Challenge races, which take place at the best, most coveted racetracks around the world.”

Whether he is racing, training, or teaching, Balzan remains humble and always grateful after every checkered flag. He is always sure to remind himself, “When I wear my helmet, and I am hired to drive not just any car, but a Ferrari, how can I not be grateful? I enjoy every moment, every lap. I’m also a professional and expected to perform to the best of my ability. Of course, there is pressure, but that just adds the thrill of the sport.”