The Italian carmaker does not field a works team in the GT class but AF Corse, headed by team principal Amato Ferrari, is its spearhead in the World Endurance Championship. Meanwhile, Risi Competizione, run by Texan Ferrari dealer Guiseppi Risi, leads Ferrari’s campaign in the American WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the new name of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.

The 488 will be making its competition debut with both teams this year, replacing the 458 Italia which was plagued by issues during its final season in 2015. Even the speed demonstrated at Le Mans by former F1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella or by Pierre Kaffer with Team ByKolles wasn’t enough to help Ferrari retain its WEC crown.
For this season’s campaign against current titleholders Porsche, Corvette’s reworked C7.R and BMW’s new M6, Ferrari is renewing its faith in Giancarlo Fisichella, pairing him with Toni Vilander, winner of the 2014 World Endurance Cup for GT Drivers.

The Finn, who was a member of the Risi squad in the days of the American Le Mans Series, also contributed to AF Corse’s efforts at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and raced for Risi Competizione at Petit Le Mans last year. Together, Vilander and Fisichella have won the GT class at Le Mans twice (2012 and 2014). They will have their work cut out in the #62 car as their rivals will all have two cars at their disposal. A second Ferrari 488 has been entered in GT LM by Scuderia Corse but it won’t have access to the works-backed drivers.

The Ferrari 488 will make its debut at Roar before 24, the official Rolex 24 at Daytona test days next weekend.


Cécile Bonardel / ACO | Translated from French by Clair Pickworth


PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, THURSDAY 12 JUNE 2014, QUALIFYING. Giancarlo Fisichella, left, and Toni Vilander, right, next to Gianmaria Bruni after claiming pole in the LM GTE Pro class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2014.