Photo : Nicolas COUSSEAU - ACO/Nikon

Giuseppe Risi has become a major player in the American Le Mans Series in recent years with Risi Competizione. The Texan team fielded two cars (as they have since the mid-season) at Road Atlanta. Giuseppe Risi told us about the 2010 season, but also the future.

Giuseppe, you have a faster car than the competition, the number of pole positions shows that. How do you explain the setbacks of 2010, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans after two consecutive wins?

"The first was unlucky because we were the victims of incidents in some races, but also by errors for which we are accountable. When results do not come, you must ask yourself why. Sometimes the answer does not make you happy because you realize you've made mistakes. There is always an explanation. Le Mans was a huge disappointment. We broke a motor for the first time with Krohn Racing and we met with an electronic problem that we had never met before on another car. A simple part costing only a few euros broke. We hope to rebound next year. "

About next year, what is your program?

"Firstly, we will develop the new Ferrari 458 in racing version. So we have a heavy agenda for the off-season. We hope to receive the car in early November and start testing over the winter and hopefully run the car early in 2011 season. We would like to enter the entire ILMC, but we must find partners, which is not easy in the current economic climate. The ILMC is a good opportunity to gain global visibility for our sponsors, particularly in China. I think it's a very good idea and we are very proud to represent Ferrari in the ILMC. "

Leading at the start of the last lap, the Ferrari #62 fell short of fuel and eventually finished third in the race, losing the constructors' title. The law of racing can be cruel sometimes ...