"We are honored to be returning to Le Mans for what will be sure to be a great GT battle and exciting race overall," stated team founder and manager Giuseppe Risi shortly after confirmation of the entry of its new Ferrari 488 GTE on the official invitees list for the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans. "Le Mans is a very special race and one that has even more meaning when you win. We've had the privilege to stand on the podium before and seek nothing but the same in this year's race."

To succeed in doing well at this year's edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Risi Competizione team is preparing via its entry in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. For now, Giancarlo Fisichella and Toni Vilander are third in the driver standings. This weekend, the duo will prepare for the Laguna Seca round. After a third place finish in the streets of Long Beach at the last race, the two drivers intend to take advantage of this final rehearsal before heading to France. Indeed, the race is reserved for cars in the prototype class as well as GTLM competitors. But the next race (Detroit) will not be open to the GTLMs. The Laguna Seca race is therefore the last confontation between the Corvettes, Porsches, Ferraris and BMWs before the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Giancarlo Fisichella, already seen twice at this endurance circuit, added: "The last couple of races we were struggling with speed on the straights. Hopefully it will be different but I don't know. I hope with the different tire compound the problems will be diminished (Michelin is allowing teams entered at the 24 Hours of Le Mans to test tyre compounds specially designed for Le Mans this weekend at Laguna Seca, editor's note). I really like the Laguna circuit. It's one of the best in the U.S. They have a very special corner, called the Corkscrew. I enjoying racing there."

Geoffroy Barre - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

Photo: This year, Toni Vilander (here at the wheel of a Ferrari 458 Italia entered by AF Corse at the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans), will compete along with Giancarlo Fisichella with Risi Competizione at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.