Racing In Focus Motorsport and Events Coverage | Racing News, Results, Photos.. from Formula 1, American Le Mans, NASCAR, IndyCar and Canadian racing
This weekend certainly stands to be one of firsts for Risi Competizione. The biggest piece of news, of course, is Giancarlo Fisichella’s first race in the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón. He will drive one of the team’s Ferrari F430 GTs with Toni Vilander at Miller Motorsports Park.
The Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix also will mark the first race for the two Risi Ferraris on E85, making the Houston-based team the latest major GT competitor to switch to the energy source.
Fisichella first… Ferrari’s reserve F1 driver, the Italian driver is in his first season of GT racing which has taken place in the Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where he was fourth in class with Vilander and Jean Alesi.
“I’m looking forward to coming to Utah to race with Risi Competizione, one of the best teams in the world, and am excited about racing for the first time in the USA with a GT car,” Fisichella said. “From what I heard the circuit is fantastic and I hope to do well. I’ve watched some YouTube GT footage but obviously need to run the maximum time possible next week to learn it and find the limit of the circuit.”
The move to E85 – for both the Fisichella/Vilander and Jamie Melo/Gianmaria Bruni entries – will be a huge boost in power for the Ferrari’s V8 motor, said team technical director Rick Mayer.
It will be especially helpful considering Miller Motorsports Park’s massive 3,500-foot straightaway.
“It’s a real technical challenge racing here, on several levels, due to the high altitude (4,200 ft above sea level) and extreme temperatures,” he added. “How the Pennzoil Ultra oil performs at high temperatures, to the smooth power delivery from V8s which Michelotto prepares, and the consistency of the Michelin tires – it all has to come together to achieve success.”
Risi and the rest of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón field are ready to kick off the summer stint with the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix at Miller Motorsports Park. The two-hour, 45-minute race will begin at 2:35 p.m. MT on Sunday, July 11, with coverage beginning on SPEED at 4:30 p.m. ET. Live radio coverage will be available on American Le Mans Radio presented by Porsche – a production of Radio Show Limited – as well as Sirius Channel 127 and XM Channel 242. Visit the Series’ schedule page for ticket and accommodation information. Live Timing and Scoring, track schedule, entry list and much, much more will be available on Racehub at americanlemans.com.
© RIF | ALMS
