14.10.2003 CALPOINT RISI TEAM TARGETING A PODIUM FINISH IN THE PETIT LE MANS

The Petit Le Mans. Last year, this 1000 mile endurance race, which takes place on the hilly, high speed 2.54 mile Road Atlanta track, was the one in which the Calpont Risi Competizione Ferrari 360GT team showed that it had what it takes to be on the podium in the ALMS series, notching a third place in the GT Class in the team’s first big endurance test. This year, a season of podium finishes behind them, the goal is another podium, to book end a very strong year of 360GT racing.

“We have had a very interesting year in the longer events” Team Principal Giuseppe Risi remarked, looking back on the season. We took a third at Petit Le Mans last year, went to the 24 hours of Daytona and were second overall. Had a bit of frustration at Sebring, with one car going out early due to technical problems and another car knocked out of the event in a crash while leading the class. At Le Mans, everything was great until the race started and then we had some technical problems keep us off the track for  a very long time. We finished, but well down in the order. Another of the 360GTs we worked with during the year, the ACEMCO car, went out while leading its’ class at Le Mans with a blown engine. So…we’re two for four in endurance racing podiums counting last year’s Petit Le Mans. Our goal this year at Petit Le Mans is a podium and an improved overall position.”

Risi should be pleased. He’s had very good success historically at Petit Le Mans, winning the event outright with a 333SP in 1998. Plus, team drivers Ralf Kelleners and Anthony Lazzaro have driven quick, smart races all season long and this track is one of their favorites.  “This is a good track for us. Anthony Lazzaro has a lot of time on this track and it’s one of his favorites. That’s a positive sign,” says Team Engineer Rick Mayer.

Asked what he faced in terms of preparation for the Petit Le Mans, Mayer said “This is a high speed track with high speed corners. Cars need  good change of direction capabilities along with a strong top speed because of the length of the straight. This is definitely a high speed track, higher than Road America. It has the highest average speed of any track we race on except for Le Mans. “

To that end, the Calpont Risi Competizione 360GT team has continuously fine tuned the Ferrari. “We have a good starting setup and have made continual improvements to the car, the gearbox, ECU. We expect to be quite a bit faster but we also expect everyone else to be quicker as well.”

Team Manager David Sims also had comments about the finer points of Road Atlanta. “Tires are more crucial at Road Atlanta than at other, shorter tracks. One reason is that the longer corners load the tires more.  We believe Michelin tires have an advantage on this type of course. Michelin has done a great job for us all season and this is a great way to finish off the season.”

Petit Le Mans is a race of a different rhythm, Sims said. “We have to be able to double stint the cars and go two fuel stops on a set of tires, getting the maximum amount of laps out of both driver and tires. Driver comfort is another important issue. Our drivers are going to be racing for over nine hours. They have to be comfortable to work at top efficiency. And finally, pit stops are very important in longer races, they can make a huge difference. Every second counts.”

The Petit Le Mans race meeting schedule has testing on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, with the race taking place on Saturday. The race starts at 11:30AM, Eastern and ends when the winning car covers 1000 miles; last year’s race was 9 hours and 27 minutes long. This year’s race will be broadcast on the Speed Network.

A lot is on the line for the Calpont Risi Competizione 360GT Ferrari at Petit Le Mans. The team is in first place, GT Class, among the private racing teams. Alex Job Racing, a Porsche factory effort, heads the overall GT Class. And, team drivers Ralf Kelleners and Anthony Lazzaro are high in the drivers points standings.