11.11.2003 GABRIELE RAFANELLI IN TALKS WITH CARE RACING TO RUN PAIR OF PRODRIVE BUILT FERRARIS IN NEXT YEAR'S ALMS SERIES
Gabriele Rafanelli is in talks with Care Racing Development with a view to him running two of the Prodrive built Ferrari 550 Maranellos in next year's American Le Mans Series.

This year Rafanelli has run a Ferrari 550 Maranello in the ALMS series, developed in house by his small US based team. The car, run under the 'Team Olive Garden' banner, has lacked the pace of either the Care Prodrive 550 Maranellos or the Chevrolet Corvettes, picking up occasional podium places only when the top teams have suffered retirements. Rafanelli feels that the car, which first saw light early last year has now come to the end of its development potential and thus he is eager to secure the proven Prodrive examples.

The Care backed, Prodrive built cars, swept all in front of them in the closing races of the ALMS series after the new team bedded in properly, ending the season with notable victories around the streets of Miami and at the Petit Le Mans. The cars also secured an historic GTS class win at the Le Mans 24 Hours this summer and last weekend at the 6 hour Le Mans 1000 kms.

Care Racing are keen to work with Rafanelli so the venture now depends on him securing a budget for 2004.
The Rafenelli run & developed Team Olive Garden Ferrari 550 Maranello last time out at last month's Petit Le Mans