Conquest Racing announced Monday (Dec. 9) that they will continue to race full-time in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s GTD class in 2025, albeit with some changes. Most significantly, the team has signed Ferrari factory racer Daniel Serra to join the team full-time alongside Manny Franco.
In Daytona, the team will have familiar faces joining the full timers. Cedric Sbirrazzuoli and Giacomo Altoe will return to the Ferrari team. Sbirrazzuoli will continue in his Michelin Endurance Cup role, while Altoe is in the fold just for Daytona.
“I am thrilled and genuinely excited to announce our driver lineup for the Rolex 24,” said team owner and former racer Eric Bachelart. “We’ve enjoyed tremendous success in 2024, including a victory with Daniel [Serra] and Giacomo [Altoe], as well as another win and several podiums with Manny [Franco] and Cedric [Sbirrazzuoli]. Manny and I had mapped out a two-year plan; to learn in the first year and aim for wins in the second. Exceeding those expectations this previous season has only further fueled our determination. We’re highly motivated and ready to fight for the championship in 2025. I can’t wait to kick off the season at Daytona!”
“IMSA is one of my favorite championships, and doing the full season in 2025 will be amazing!,” Serra said in a press release. “I’m excited to join Conquest Racing full time after the great experience we shared in the races we did together in 2024.”
Serra’s primary ride in IMSA was a part-time drive in the Michelin Endurance Cup races for Risi Competizione in the GTD Pro class. There, he claimed class honors in the Rolex 24 at Daytona and finished second at both Sebring and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
He was also tapped to join Conquest Racing for two races in the team’s part-time No. 35 Ferrari. Detroit was a GTD Pro-only event, while the team ran two cars at Road America. Teamed with Altoe, Serra claimed the class victory on the 4.048-mile road course.
For Franco, he continues to learn behind the wheel as he enters his third year in the Ferrari 296 GT3 (second in IMSA).
“I’m excited to continue competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with Conquest Racing for another year,” Franco stated. “This past year, we accomplished some impressive results and we’re determined to keep that going and set the stage for a successful 2025 season. Our priority is always to improve, and we’re focused on consistently challenging for podiums and victories.”
Franco was teamed with Albert Costa for the full schedule in 2024. The team scored a class victory in the Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta (pictured above) and had additional podiums at Daytona and Watkins Glen. The duo ended up finishing fourth in GTD points.
For Sbirrazzuoli, he made his first starts in IMSA this past season since 2017. Back then, he drove a Lamborghini for the Enrico Bertaggia-run Dream Racing. His two-year run with the team was not particularly successful with a sixth-place finish at Road Atlanta in 2016 being his best run.
Altoe has only three career starts in WeatherTech. Prior to his victorious one-off at Road America, his previous starts were one-off appearances in the Rolex 24 at Daytona in 2019 and 2022.
About the author
Phil Allaway has three primary roles at Frontstretch. He's the manager of the site's FREE e-mail newsletter that publishes Monday-Friday and occasionally on weekends. He keeps TV broadcasters honest with weekly editions of Couch Potato Tuesday and serves as the site's Sports Car racing editor.
Outside of Frontstretch, Phil is the press officer for Lebanon Valley Speedway in West Lebanon, N.Y. He covers all the action on the high-banked dirt track from regular DIRTcar Modified racing to occasional visits from touring series such as the Super DIRTcar Series.
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