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In Tafel Racing's first year in the ALMS GT2
series they amassed a record of six podium
finishes resulting in third place in both
the drivers and team championships. |
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In 2007 the Ferrari F430GT won a staggering
nine out of 12 races in the ALMS, which
included 12 out of a possible12 pole
positions on their way to the drivers and
team championships. |
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Tafel Racing
has announced that it will campaign two Ferrari F430 GT
cars in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) for 2008. In
the team’s first year in the ALMS GT2 series they
amassed a record of six podium finishes resulting in
third place in both the drivers and team championships.
“We spent the
majority of the 2007 season in the rear-view mirror of the
Ferrari teams,” Jim Tafel, team owner said. "We took a long
hard look at what it would take to get back on a level
playing field with teams like Risi Competizione and Petersen Motorsports and after much soul searching and a very
informative visit to Ferrari and Michelotto, who build the
cars for Ferrari, we saw that the only way forward was to
make the change.
In 2007 the
Ferrari F430GT won a staggering nine out of 12 races in the
ALMS, which included 12 out of a possible 12 pole positions
on their way to the drivers and team championships. “It’s
very hard to change a manufacturer after the success we have
had in both the ALMS and the Grand-Am series’,” Tony Dowe,
team vice president and technical director said.
“Our sophomore
year in the ALMS will be critical to our future planning.
After the enormous effort that we made in 2007, which
included six podiums and third in both the driver and team
championships, we felt we needed a different foundation from
which to move forward. After looking at all of the options
it was clear that the move to Ferrari was our best
opportunity to win races in 2008. The open communication
that we already have with Michelotto has helped to confirm
that we have made the right decision to go to the Prancing
Horse for 2008.”
The team will
have at least one of their two cars on the track for the
Sebring open test January 28-30. The team will announce 2008
driver and sponsorship plans in the near future.
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