Front running Ferrari teams AF Corse (top) and BMS Scuderia Italia (bottom) have both confirmed their crack driver line-ups for this year's FIA GT Championship as they both target overall nothing less than GT2 title success with Maranello's proven sports car winner, the F430 GT.

Front running Ferrari teams AF Corse and BMS Scuderia Italia have both confirmed their crack driver line-ups for this year's FIA GT Championship as they both target overall nothing less than GT2 title success with Maranello's proven sports car winner, the F430 GT. Last year these teams took the top two spots in the championship.

Italian team AF Corse, which has won the GT2 title for the last three years, has confirmed that the 2008 title winning crew of Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander will be back to defend their title in the nr 50 Ferrari 430 GT2 2009.  The nr 51 car will be in the hands of a brand new line-up: emerging Spanish driver Alvaro Barba, fresh from single-seater competition in the World Series by Renault, and Niki Cadei, a Ferrari Challenge Italia Champion. Cadei raced in the final round of 2008, claiming one point, and has also raced in the FIA GT3 European Championship. As for Barba, he will be the first Spanish driver to compete in the FIA GT Championship on a regular basis since Antonio Garcia.

Amato Ferrari admitted that his goal is to claim a fourth title, although he knows that it will be more difficult than ever "This year, our rivals are really great and their performances are similar to ours, but we will go flat out for a win as we have always done."

Pecom Racing Team, this year racing under the Argentine flag, will once again field a Ferrari 430 GT2 for Luis Perez Companc and Matias Russo, who claimed a magnificent home victory in the final round of 2008. This year the team is focusing on improving further their results, and Amato Ferrari is optimistic of their chances of success, especially after a fine result in the 12 Hours of Sebring along with Gianmaria Bruni.

Italian team BMS Scuderia Italia, which finished second in FIA GT2 last season, has announced that it will enter two Ferrari F430 GT 2009-version cars in this year's championship. Matteo Malucelli and Paolo Ruberti, who were part of the winning GT2 crew at the Total 24 Hours of Spa last year, will be behind the wheel of the nr 77 car, while a young Italo-German line-up will share the nr 78. Kenneth Heyer, previously seen in the GTO Charouz Mosler, will drive with Diego Romanini of Italy, who will be making his FIA GT debut.