By: Christina Nielsen Racing
October 8 2016

Scuderia Corsa Driver Claims GT Daytona, North American Endurance Cup Titles

Los Angeles, California - Christina Nielsen made history by winning the GT Daytona championship this season in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

Danish driver Nielsen became the first female driver to win a major, full-season North American sports car championship, teaming up with co-driver Alessandro Balzan in the No. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 488 GT3.

She achieved another career first by winning two races, at Sebring and Watkins Glen, her first victories at the premier level of sports car racing in North America. She and Balzan also claimed the Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup.

So it's only fitting that Nielsen, 24, is taking time to celebrate and enjoy her historic accomplishments, right? Well, sort of. Motor racing is a sport of constant motion, preparation and evolution, traits shared by Nielsen.

"I'm focusing on 2017 and looking forward to the future, but I'm also really going to enjoy this offseason as a champion," Nielsen said. "I'm really happy where I am."

During the 2016 season, Nielsen set a personal record with seven overall podium finishes and 330 points in the GT Daytona (GTD) standings, 27 points ahead of the runners-up. Last season, Nielsen stood on the podium five times en route to a second-place finish in the GTD standings by just two points.

The Scuderia Corsa trio of Nielsen, Balzan and Jeff Segal won two of the four endurance races this season - the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida in mid-March and the Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen in early July. They finished third during the 10-hour Petit Le Mans endurance event Saturday at Road Atlanta, sealing the season championship for Nielsen and Balzan.

"A podium finish was really a nice way to finish the season," Nielsen said. "I finally got a good result at Petit, and I haven't had that yet during my racing career, so it felt great."

Nielsen accepted her awards Monday, Oct. 3 as IMSA recognized its 2016 champions at the WeatherTech Night of Champions. The event was held before a capacity audience in Chateau Elan's new Paris Ballroom.

"When we got called on stage for the final time on Monday evening, I think that was honestly the first time throughout this entire process that I was so proud to be a female standing on stage," Nielsen said. "I looked to my right and I saw all of the other competitors on stage, and I thought, 'Wow, it's really cool to be standing here as a woman with all of these successful male drivers.' I think that was one of the moments when it really sunk in."

Nielsen and her Scuderia Corsa teammates went on stage twice that evening - first to receive the Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup awards and then to receive the GTD driver championship awards.

Nielsen and Balzan tied Mario Farnbacher and Alex Riberas atop the Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup driver standings. But Nielsen and Balzan won the tiebreaker due to their two victories at Sebring and Watkins Glen.

"Throughout the past year, I couldn't have been racing with a better group of people," Nielsen said. "Scuderia Corsa is an amazing team that never gives up, and I feel really lucky to have raced with them in 2016. We were able to win this season due to an amazing team effort."

The 2017 WeatherTech Championship season begins with the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 28-29.

About Christina Nielsen

Christina Nielsen has emerged as one of the brightest young talents in global sports car racing since she began competition in North America in 2014.

Nielsen, 24, was a breakout star in 2015 during her first season in the GT Daytona (GTD) class of the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the most prestigious sports car series in North America. She finished second in the championship standings, just two points behind the winner, and scored the most podium finishes in the class.

Denmark native Nielsen is racing for the GTD class championship in 2016 in a Ferrari 488 GT3 car. She earned her first career victory in the WeatherTech Championship in March at the 12 Hours of Sebring, becoming the first female class winner at that legendary race in a decade. She also is driving a Ferrari F458 Italia in the LM GTE class in the European Le Mans Series with Formula Racing.

A resident of Los Angeles, Nielsen is focused on being one of the most skilled, well-rounded drivers in global motorsport by also studying for a bachelor's degree in marketing and management communication, as she aims to deliver results for her team and personal commercial partners both on and off the track.

For the latest news from Christina Nielsen, please visit christinanielsenracing.com.

For updates, like her on Facebook and follow @ChristinaRacing on Twitter.