19.03.2006
RISI COMPETIZIONE RACE TO PODIUM FINISH AT SEBRING ON WORLD DEBUT OF THE NEW FERRARI F430GT

Sebring, Florida – Late last night Anthony Lazzaro raced across the finish line at Sebring to bring the brand-new Risi Competizione Ferrari F430GT home third in GT2 on the occasion of its world racing debut, in this most gruelling 12 hour duration marathon race.

This year saw, the 54th running of the Annual Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, witnessed one of most exciting races for honours in the GT2 class within recent memory, with the on-track lead changing hands several times an hour right throughout the race. The podium trio were eventually being separated by less than 50 seconds after 320 laps of close-fought racing.

The #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari F430GT was right in the hunt from the moment the new car was unloaded at Sebring earlier this month to kick off pre-race testing, and all race long it traded the lead of GT2 with the #50 Multimac Motorsports Panoz Esperante GTLM.

”The world saw the debut of the latest Ferrari sports racing car, this week, along with the team debut of a very gifted young driver, Jaime Melo,” says Team Managing Director Giuseppe Risi. “We’re delighted with the overall mechanical performance of the car and the Michelin tyres were superb. It’s been very satisfying debut for the F430GT.”

Brazilian Jaime Melo joined Risi Competizione for this race and has been a real revelation here, one of the drivers who stood out. An official Ferrari test driver, he has brought valuable knowledge gained during the car’s development programme to the team. He also set the fastest GT2 lap of the race, breaking the official circuit record in the process.

Meanwhile, Chief Engineer Rick Mayer was also impressed by the new Ferrari F430GT, commenting: “We only had the car for a couple of days before we went to Sebring. Our team did a great job of preparing the car at short notice. We had no reliability problems whatsoever. It’s very solid, dependable and fast new race car.”

54th Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, GT2 race result: 1st (15) David Brabham, Sebastien Bourdais, Scott Maxwell, Canada (Panoz Esperante GTLM) 320 laps ; 2nd Marc Lieb, Johannes van Overbeek, Jon Fogarty (Porsche 911 GT3 RSR) + 5.365 seconds ; 3rd Ralf Kelleners, Jaime Melo, Anthony Lazzaro (Ferrari 430 GT) + 49.013 4th Darren Law, Seth Neiman, Lonnie Pechnik (Porsche 911 GT3 RSR) + 5 laps ; 5th Richard Dean, Tom Kimber-Smith, Lawrence Tomilson (Panoz Esperante GTLM) + 8 laps ; 6th Mike Rockenfeller, Klaus Graf, Graham Rahal, (Porsche 911 GT3 RSR) + 9 laps

18.03.2006 THE RISI COMPETIZIONE FERRARI F430GT IS EMBROILLED IN A FEROCIOUS BATTLE FOR GT2 VICTORY WITH FOUR HOURS TO GO

Sebring, Florida –

After 8 hours of racing – 2/3rds distance – the 54th Annual 12 Hours of Sebring is seeing a truly enthralling battle for the GT2 lead with less than three seconds separating the top two cars on the track. As the dusk moved in and the 8 hour marked ticked by Sebastien Bourdais in the #50 Multimac Motorsports Panoz Esperante GTLM was just 2.826 seconds ahead of Anthony Lazzaro at the wheel of the #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari F430GT. Third placed Marc Lieb, in the first of the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR entries, was 25 seconds further back.

This has been the story of the race thus far: the Risi Competizione Ferrari F430GT and the surviving Panoz Esperante GTLM, continually swapping positions at the front of the GT2 pack as a truly frenetic pace has been set at the front. Several highly-touted car/driver combinations have been left trailing, quite simply unable to keep up with the race leaders’ pace.

As darkness rolls in, the temperatures are starting to drop under the cloudless skies, ideal conditions for the four hours night racing that loom up ahead of the waving of the chequered flag. “The car is going great. It’s very solid, no problems to report,” says Risi’s new Brazilian driver Jaime Melo who is in his first race with the team. “It’s very easy to drive, the finish is going to be a quite a battle,” he adds.

“The car is going quite superbly,” says Chief Engineer Rick Mayer, “we really couldn’t have asked Ferrari to deliver us a better package. With a brand-new car it is always a concern getting it set up, especially in this case with the car arriving just in time to compete here, but we have had no worries, it’s really flying, he says. “We expect to be quick during the later hours of the race, and our drivers were very fast in Thursday evening night practice, so the whole combination looks to be very strong. We are likely undertake a routine brake change shortly which will set us up nicely for the fight to the finish.

The GT2 class has seen several fancied runners failing to keep up with the hectic pace. The #51 Multimac Motorsports Panoz Esperate GTLM, the sister machine to the car involved in the lead battle, dropped out after 71 laps while the BMW Team PTG BMW M3 departed from the fray after 114 laps. 12 GT2 cars remain in the running.

54th Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, GT2 positions after 8 hours: 1st Sebastien Bourdais (Multimac Motorsports Team Panoz Esperante GTLM) 212 laps; 2nd Anthony Lazzaro (Risi Competizione Ferrari F430GT) + 2.826; 3rd Marc Lieb (Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 RSR); + 22.640; 4th Klaus Graf (Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR) + 1 lap; 5th Lonnie Pechnik (Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 RSR) + 4 laps; 5th Jim Mathew (J3 Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR) + 6 laps.

18.03.2006 AT THE TWO HOUR MARK RISI COMPETIZIONE LEAD GT2 AT SEBRING HAVING BATTLED THROUGH THE FIELD AFTER STARTING FROM THE BACK

Sebring, Florida – After the first two hours of racing in the 54th 12 Hours of Sebring the #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari F430GT has taken the lead of an enthralling battle for advantage in the GT2 class. With 57 laps covered by the two-hour mark Jamie Melo had built up an 8 second advantage in GT2 over the #50 Multimac Motorsports Panoz Esperate GTLM of Scott Maxwell, with Tim Bergmeister in the #30 Peterson/White Lightening Porsche 911 GT3 RSR more than a minute and a half adrift of the lead battle.

The race had started two hours ago with a real sting in the tail for Risi Competizione after the #62 Ferrari F430GT was forced to line up at the tail of the field. However, a stunning opening lap’s driving from Ralf Kelleners saw the German scything through the field to end the first lap fourth in class, and by the end of the opening hour, he had moved up to second place in GT2. “It was a good clean start to the race, no problems, everything is as expected...the car looks very good but we have a long, long way to go...” commented Chief Engineer Rick Mayer after half an hour of race action. With ambient temperatures climbing to 84 degrees, and track temperatures around 105-110 degrees, heat is now starting to become a factor in the race.

Jaime Melo took over the car from Kelleners, rejoining on fresh tyres in 8th place in GT2. And by lap 50, after 1 hour and 45 minutes of racing, the Brazilian youngster had snatched the overall class lead from Scott Maxwell’s Panoz, and was under team instructions to start opening up a cushion. Melo has also set the fastest GT2 lap of the race during his stint, a 2:04.238.

After qualifying had taken place on Thursday afternoon and mandatory night practice was held that same evening, yesterday saw no track action for the ALMS teams, allowing them to spend the day making final preparations and adjustments to the cars for the start of the 12-hour race today. Today dawned with thick fog rolling across the historic Sebring circuit, but this quickly lifted and the weather became bright and sunny, ideal racing conditions prevailing. There was a 20-minute track warm-up session for all the ALMS teams this morning from 8:00am.

Along with the annual 24 Hours at Le Mans and Daytona, Sebring is one of the world’s greatest sportscar races, and this year is no different as a swage of the biggest and most important global carmaking brands challenge for the ultimate kudos of winning this classic race. 12 hours of totally no-holds-barred, highly competitive track action began at 1043 am local time this morning. In the ‘prototype’ LMP1 class Audi are tilting to become the first ever winner using diesel power, having poured a small fortune into the development of their new R10 racer; in LMP2 Porsche Motorsport have created a no-compromise factory-supported ‘prototype’ project; while in GT1 Aston Martin and Chevrolet renew their bitter rivalry as they go head-to-head once more, the US team very anxious to avenge the historic English brand’s debut victory here last year. However, the biggest battle is in the GT2 class where five manufacturers are chasing the top step of the podium – Porsche, Panoz, BMW, Spyker – and Ferrari.

Numerically superior here, Porsche have won the GT2 class at Sebring every year since 1992. “It is a record that really needs straightening out,” commented Giuseppe Risi, Managing Director of Risi Competizione, the Houston, Texas-based team which has been bearing the Prancing Horse standard with much success in North America for more than a decade. “We ended Porsche’s long consecutive race winning streak in the American Le Mans Series with the Ferrari 360GT at Lime Rock in 2004, and I see this challenge being no different. Everyone is very evenly matched here,” he added, “we’re going to see some pretty exciting track action all through the race.”

Risi Competizione only received its brand new Ferrari F430GT just two weeks ago. It is straight ‘out of the box’ and today’s race is its worldwide competitive debut. An intensive week’s testing at Sebring prior to the beginning of official practice on Wednesday has helped the team get to grips with the stunning new Italian machine. “For sure it is a steep learning curve,” comments Risi Competizione’s Chief Engineer Rick Mayer, “but this is a very professional, close-knit team and our staff have all been working together for a long time, so we were into our stride from the moment we unloaded the F430GT. We have been able to carry out a pretty comprehensive development programme, analyze a lot of key data and work with Michelin’s technicians here over the last week to find the right set up for Sebring which is one of the most demanding of US race tracks.”

This year team stalwarts Ralf Kelleners and Anthony Lazzaro are reunited in the driving seat, the pair having previously raced for Risi Competizione in the 2003-04 ALMS series, a partnership that tasted ultimate victory. At Sebring they are being joined by 25-year-old Brazilian Jaime Melo, a Ferrari factory test driver who has been closely involved in the development of the GT2 Ferrari project and thus brings a wealth of knowledge to the team.Giuseppe Risi, commented that “Melo is proving to be very, very quick which is great for the team. He fits in perfectly with Ralf and Anthony.. I’m very happy with the drivers – I think we have a great combination in place.”

Risi Competizione is facing some tough and experienced rivals in GT2 this year. “Local” team Alex Job Racing are seeking a seventh GT2 victory here and have stuffed their cars with Porsche factory contracted drivers in their bid to claim glory. No less than eight Porsche 911 GT3 cars will line up on the grid this morning. Also challenging for honours will be the two Multimac Motorsports-entered Panoz Esperate GTLMs, which boast pilots of the caliber of David Brabham and Scott Maxwell. The two US-built Panoz cars swapped times with the Risi Ferrari F430GT all the way through practice and qualifying, with the Australian driver eventually snatching pole away from Risi Competizione by just 1/20th of a second. A fourth manufacturer is also in the equation: BMW, expected to be the ‘dark horse in GT2. Always fast and always reliable, the BMWs will be in the hunt, while class variety is being provided by the Dutch Spyder Squadron.

By 1043 pm this evening we will have a new name to add to the roll call of GT2 winners of 12 Hours of Sebring, and Risi Competizione will be battling all the way to the flag to make sure that Ferrari’s name is etched on yet another important trophy, so far its going to plan.

Next press release at 8 hours.

16.03.2006 WELCOME BACK: RISI COMPETIZIONE FERRARI 430GT TURNS IN THE SECOND FASTEST TIME IN GT2 QUALIFYING AT SEBRING

Sebring, Florida - The gloves are not quite off at Sebring, but they’re coming off in a hurry. During the official qualifying session for Saturday’s classic endurance race, the Risi Competizione Ferrari F430GT in the hands of Ralf Kelleners turned in a best lap of 2:03.608 which was good enough for second in the GT2 class, less than a twentieth of a second off pole. The Italian sportscar will be sandwiched on the grid by the two Panoz Esperante GTLMs.

Today had started promisingly for Risi Competizione, the Houston, Texas-based team very keen to build on yesterday’s performance when they set the fastest GT2 practice time during the opening day. A free one hour long practice session kicked off today’s proceedings at 0950 (local time), and the #62 Ferrari F430GT wound up with the fastest time, a lap of 2:03.867 set at 1047 by Ralf Kelleners during last of the 18 laps the car spent on track. He was just ahead of Mike Rockenfeller in an Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT3 (2:03.903, 18 laps) and David Brabham in the quicker of the two Panoz Esperante GTLMs (2:03.908, 7 laps).

”The car continues to show a great turn of speed,” commented Chief Engineer Rick Mayer as final set up adjustments for afternoon qualifying were made to the #62 Ferrari F430GT in the pits. “We are really treating each practice session as another chance to learn more about this new car, and the overall development programme is going exactly to plan. We’re pretty happy with where we are at now and I think we are in pretty good shape,” the veteran race engineer added.

The 25-minute duration official qualifying session which would decide grid positions for Saturday’s 12-hour race was not without its glitches. It kicked off at 1435 and immediately the Risi Competizione F430GT was at the top of the time sheets with Ralf Kelleners posting a quick lap in 2:03.608, two-tenths ahead of Mike Rockenfeller’s AJR Porsche.

The Risi Competizione Ferrari F430GT and the two Panoz Esperante GTLM entries have swapped fastest times between them right through the practice sessions at Sebring and today was to be no different as the two US-built sportscars challenged the brand-new red Italian machine for pole right down the flag.

There was an interruption during the second half of the session when a Spyker C8 Spider crashed and qualifying had to be halted with around 10 minutes remaining. The Risi Competizione Ferrari had by then left the track for the day as Kelleners had set their fastest lap (2:03.608) very early on. However the Panoz of Scott Maxwell, David Brabham and Sebastien Bordais went out in the second part of the split session to grab the fastest overall time (2:03.563), squeezing the F430GT into second place by just half a tenth of a second. The second Multimac Motorsports Panoz entry, shared by Gunnar Jeanette, Bruno Junquiera and Tom Milner lined up third (2:03.671) with the fastest of the Porsche and BMW runners snapping on the heels of the leading GT2 trio.

“We are pleased with the car’s performance. We’re pleased with the drivers,” says Team Managing Director Giuseppe Risi. “We knew going in that GT2 would be the most competitive class at Sebring and I think the results thus far confirm that. Tonight we have night practice, tomorrow is final preparation for the race, and on Saturday, we race against the best in one of the world’s classic endurance events. What could be better? A great car, a great track and some great competition. We’re delighted to have a Risi Competizione Ferrari back on the race track.”

This evening a mandatory night time practice session takes place which will allow all the drivers to acquaint themselves with the Sebring course in darkness. Tomorrow is a ‘rest’ day allowing the teams to make final preparations for the 54th running of the Annual Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring which gets underway at 1043 (local time) on Saturday 18th March.

Risi Competizione's 2006 American Le Mans Series participation is supported by Lucien Piccard (LP Italy) Stratosphere, Michelin, Putnam Leasing, and Boost/Motorola.

16.03.2006 - RISI COMPETIZIONE’S F430GT SETS THE FASTEST TIME DURING WEDNESDAY PRACTICE AT SEBRING - “WE ARE BANG ON COURSE FOR A VERY COMPETITIVE RACE” NOTES GIUSEPPE RISI

Sebring, Florida - The GT2 cars hit the punishing, difficult track at Sebring yesterday and at the end of the first day of official practice ahead of Saturday’s 12-Hour race, the brand-new Risi Competizione F430GT had turned in the fastest GT2 time, just ahead of the two Panoz Esperante GTLMs.

The #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari F430GT posted the fastest GT2 lap in 2:02.807 (108.463 mph) during the opening morning session at Sebring, a time that would remain completely unmatched all day. In the morning the F430GT was well ahead of the two Panoz entries who mustered a best time nearly nine-tenths of a second adrift (2:03.689) of the rapid Italian machine. However in the afternoon second session the tables were reversed, with the quicker of the two Panoz cars turning in a best time of 2:03.299, with the F430GT in third place after the crew of Ralf Kelleners, Jaime Melo and Anthony Lazzaro posted a 2:04.166 best time.

Commenting on the two sessions, Team Managing Director Giuseppe Risi noted that “We are pleased with the pace of the car so far. This is a whole new era for Risi Competizione as we race the new F430GT and welcome Jaime Melo, a Ferrari factory driver, to our team. The time we spent testing last week is now paying off. It certainly helps to have Jaime on-board as we sort the car out and, of course, Ralf and Anthony have done thousands of miles in the predecessor 360GT and 360GTC, so they have a terrific frame of reference.”

Commenting on the speed of the two Panoz Esperante cars, Risi said that “GT2 has the potential to be the most competitive class in ALMS this year. Panoz is good. Porsche is good. BMW is in the hunt. Everyone is bringing their best to the series this year. We look forward to a very competitive Sebring and a terrific year of racing. I think the fans, sponsors, and the media are going to get a real show from GT2.”

Discussing the difference between the morning and afternoon track times Chief Engineer Meyer Rick Mayer said that the team is continuing to test and experiment with setups for this tough track. “We know better with each lap we run exactly what the car is capable of doing,” he added.

Risi Competizione, back at Sebring with a Ferrari after a one year absence spent in support of the Maserati Reparto Corse MC12 ALMS effort, has revamped every element of the program. The team is now back racing on Michelin tires, and has new sponsors in Boost, LP Italy and Putnam Leasing. “We enjoyed last year’s experience with Maserati,” Risi concluded, “But we did miss competing under the Risi Competizione banner. We still have a lot to do for this race and this season, but we’re up for the challenge. Everyone is very positive about this race the coming season”.

15.03.2006 With seven days of track testing under their belt, Risi Competizione was thrust into the full programme of the 54th 12 Hours of Sebring when the official practice sessions got underway this morning.

Risi Competizione arrived at the Sebring track in Florida with the GT2 class Ferrari F430GT last week, the brand-new car racing car having arrived by air-freight from Italy, just days previously. Based on the dramatic road-going Ferrari F430 Coupé, the latest in a long line of potent Berlinetta models to emerge from the Maranello factory, the F430GT will be making its global competitive debut on Saturday when the green flag drops to signify the start of the 54th running Annual Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, one of the world’s most important and prestigious long-distance sportscar races, and one in which Ferrari have a great track record of success.

Risi Competizione is the leading North American Ferrari racing team having built a decade-long tradition of winning, flying the Maranello standard with great success against the toughest of opposition. And that opposition this week will be tough no doubt: with eight Porsche 911 GT3 RSR entries (including several factory-backed teams) and a pair of official BMW E46 M3 runners likely to provide the sternest test for the single #62 Ferrari entry. As well as these two German brands, further on-track rivalry will come from two factory Panoz Esperate GTLM entries, while the Spyker Squadron will be present with two of their C8 Spiders. “GT2 is going to see the most competitive racing in sportscars this year,” said Guiseppe Risi earlier this year, and this certainly seems to be the case.

Risi Competizione (www.risicompetizione.com) is a Houston-based racing team, directed by Giuseppe Risi, that has been very successful in sports car racing in both Europe and the United States. In addition to racing Ferraris, the Risi Competizione also provides competition development, management, and support services.