Advanced Engineering entered the final three races of the FIA GT Championship last year with a Ferrari F430 GT. Philipp Peter and Rui Aguas shared the car during the penultimate round of the series, held at Nogaro (above).

Advanced Engineering, Amato Ferrari's team which entered the last three FIA GT Championship races of 2007, will be back for the 2008 season with a GT2 class Ferrari F430 GT, to be known as Advanced Engineering PeCom Racing Team. 

In light of the FIA GT Championship's growing ties with South America, which will include a round of the series this year in Argentina at an all new facility at San Luis presently under construction, the car will be in the hands of two drivers from Argentina: 22-year-old Matias Russo, who has mainly raced in single-seaters, and Luis Perez Companc, an experienced WRC rally driver.

"This year we will do a race in Argentina and have a pair of Argentine drivers will certainly further stimulus to the whole environment and the team," commented Amato Ferrari.   

As for Luis Perez Companc, he said : "I was very anxious to meet the team, and also to see and drive the F430.  It all worked out the best way possible over the day of testing we did in the Circuit of Valencia.  It took me some laps to get used to drive in a circuit again, something I had not done for seven years, but by the end of the day I felt very comfortable with the car and the track. Next we have the two day test in Monza; Matias and I will certainly be easier after this first experience".

The Russo and Compac entry will serve to highlight the Argentinean round of the FIA GT Championship this year. SRO Event Manager Patricia Kiefer and SRO Chairman Stephane Ratel visited Argentina just before Christmas, where the circuit of Potrero de los Funes is preparing to welcome the FIA GT Championship in November. Accompanied by Eduardo Ramirez and Diego Mesa, both representing the Automovil Club Argentino, the SRO representatives arrived at San Luis airport where they were welcomed by Carlos Bassi, representing the Government of San Luis, in charge of the road programmes, and Alfredo Cortez, the construction engineer. They visited the PSL concrete factory, where the bridges for the track are being built, which will be used in certain sections of the track, especially those going up the mountain road and over the lake.

It was reported that work was progressing well on the circuit and a preliminary inspection by the FIA was held at the beginning of December, which was positive. At a press conference held at the Automovil Club Argentino in Buenos Aires with Stephane and Carlos Garcia Remohi, the President of the Sporting Commission of the ACA. Stephane said: “The track is beautiful, very challenging, which in terms of length and variety of levels, is similar to Spa. Like Spa, it could become a classic in the season. The FIA GT Championship has been a pioneer in various countries, like China, the United Arab Emirates and Romania. After going to countries where the motorsport culture was to be created, we wanted to add to our calendar countries with a true motorsport culture, which is the case for Argentina."