Although Manny Franco is a new name on the grid this season in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, he is no stranger to Conquest Racing. Franco has been a valuable member of the team for many years, rising through the ranks as his skills behind the wheel have progressed quickly.

From being a dominant force in Ferrari Challenge, to earning the first-ever wins for the Ferrari 296 GT3 on North American soil, to scoring podium results at some of the most prestigious endurance events in the world, Franco’s growth as a competitor has made him one to watch. 

As the team heads to Road America, we caught up with Manny to hear his thoughts as he prepares to return to his home track. 

How do you like driving the Ferrari 296 GT3?  

I like racing in the GT3 class in general, the added downforce makes it more exciting and thrilling. It’s definitely a step above the Ferrari 488 Challenge that I was also driving last year. The 296 is a very agile car, I have a lot of fun driving it. 

What do you enjoy most about Road America?

Coming home is the aspect I like most because there’s always an added fire and motivation to do even better. I have friends and family that will be there, so I want to put on a good show for them and give them even more reasons to celebrate. As for the track itself, I really like how it flows. It’s high speed, but the layout really suits my driving style, which is very fortunate since it is my home track after all.

How does it feel to be returning to your home track following your prior success there?

After winning back to back races there last year in GT World Challenge America, if we could repeat that performance and win again this year, that would be fantastic. The competition here in IMSA is always tough, but I love the environment and the challenge. I’m really looking forward to seeing all my friends and family and racing in front of them. 

What has been the highlight of your season so far? 

The highlight of the season so far was our podium finish in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Seeing my teammates become so emotional towards that result really meant a lot. It was my first time competing in that event, so it’s hard to fully grasp the magnitude of it all, but seeing their expressions and what it means to achieve something like that made it all sink in. 

What else do you hope to accomplish this season?

More podiums and more memories. We’ve had some great results so far this season, so we’re just trying to keep it up. The highlights of this entire racing program are the memories we’re making and everything I’m learning race after race.