Photo : Frédéric Gaudin - ACO/Nikon

14/24 - Tuesday, December 14 - Fisichella, Alesi

When their partnership at the wheel of a Ferrari F430 was announced on 3rd February, 2010, many observers doubted the motivation of the two former F1 drivers.

At the first race of the year at Paul Ricard, celebrities were expected in the paddock by the fans... and on the track by their opponents. Having accumulated 432 Grand Prix in Formula 1 between them, Giancarlo Fisichella and Jean Alesi were nonetheless new to endurance racing. Attentive students, they follow the advice of their teacher Toni Vilander. "Behind his iceman exterior he is sociable and attentive," said Alesi. "For me and Giancarlo he is invaluable because he knows the Ferrari F430, and it is not stingy with his advice. "

They learned fast! The members of the AF Corse team finished third in Le Castellet, then again at Spa Francorchamps. On 6 June, they landed at Le Mans as heroes. "I have raced in several disciplines in my racing career, but even at the Grand Prix in Italy I have never met such popular enthusiasm," said Jean Alesi at scrutineering.

From fifth, Fisichella, Alesi and Vilander gradually climbed in the order, and made second place by three-quarters through the race. On Sunday morning however, a faulty brake pad sent Fisichella into the gravel trap at Indianapolis. The Italian had a good fright, and lost twenty minutes. The podium hopes were gone but never mind, the F1 duo had proven they were not there just to amuse the gallery.

What of 2011? "I would like it very much, but I'm working on a big project and I do not know if I would be able to return next year," Alesi told us recently.

Julien Hergault

Photo: LE MANS, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, 10 June 2010. "I knew that learning of this discipline would be difficult, but at Le Mans that I really realised the level of competition." (Giancarlo Fisichella)