24h Le Mans
Sam Bird's arrival as an official Ferrari driver compelled the Italian manufacturer to overhaul its driver line-ups. Therefore, in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Toni Vilander will support Giancarlo Fisichella, with whom he clinched two class wins at Le Mans. The duo will be joined by Matteo Malucelli for the 24 Hours.
Though AF Corse is Ferrari's representative in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) since the Italian marque is not officially entered in GT, true to its philosophy Risi Competizione assumes the role on the American continent in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
The team led by Houston, Texas-based Ferrari dealer Giuseppe Risi, who debuted the Ferrari 488, replacement for the 458 Italia in competition at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, is returning to the 24 Hours of Le Mans after a six-year absence. Despite three class wins - in 1998, 2008 and 2009 - the American team's last appearance in 2010 ended in a two-fold retirement.
This year, two-time class winners Toni Vilander and Giancarlo Fisichella will be supported by Matteo Malucelli, who has participated at Le Mans five times and was Fisichella's teammate at the 24 Hours in 2013.
Giuseppe Risi, owner of Risi Competizione: "With the tough competition we expect this year, having proficient Ferrari drivers is the only way to compete. Between our team's history at Le Mans and that of our drivers, we have a great deal of experience and hope to parlay that into success."
The start of the 84th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be given Saturday, June 18th at 3:00 p.m.
Cécile Bonardel / ACO (quotation from team press release) - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO
PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SUNDAY JUNE 14 2009, RACE. Risi Competizione's last class victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans dates back to 2009.
