TOP FERRARI TEAMS CHOOSE MICHELIN

Risi Competizione’s Le Mans Champs & Scott Sharp’s New Arrivals both choose Michelin

A marriage in GT2 class racing heaven may combine something old, something new, something red, and something…green and black?

One of sports car racing’s most successful teams, and one of its newest, have two things in common; both have chosen Ferrari F430GT cars and MICHELIN® tires for their 2010 American Le Mans Series campaigns. The defending 24 Hours of Le Mans GT2 champion Risi Competizione and the new Extreme Speed Motorsports head into 2010 ALMS competition with Michelin.

Sporting the traditional Ferrari red, as they head into their fifth season with Michelin, is the all conquering Risi Competizione Ferrari team, winners of the 2007 American Le Mans Series GT2 Championship, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Petit Le Mans in 2008 and owners of a sweep of the 2009 GT2 class endurance events at Sebring, Le Mans and Petit Le Mans.

The Houston-based squad again chooses Michelin as their technical partner for the 2010 ALMS season. Team Principal Giuseppe Risi cites tire choice as one of the most important elements in achieving success. “We are delighted to continue our successful racing partnership with Michelin, and would have no other tire. As always, winning comes down to having the complete package: the best car, team, drivers and tires. We know that Michelin always provide us with an extremely consistent and reliable tire, as well as great technical support, and I have no doubt about their contribution to our endurance wins over recent years.”

The always quick and aggressive Brazilian, Jaime Melo returns aboard the red # 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari paired for 2010 with experienced sports car racer, Gianmaria Bruni of Italy. Melo begins his fifth consecutive season with Risi, where he has already produced 14 ALMS wins, 15 pole positions and numerous track records and fast laps.

Bruni, the 2008 FIA GT Champion, partnered with Melo for victory at the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans and has competed for Risi Competizione in a number of ALMS races.

The newest ALMS GT2 class entrants, Scott Sharp’s colorful new Extreme Speed Motorsports based in Stuart, FL. have also chosen Michelin as their technical partner.

A winner throughout his sports car and IndyCar career, Sharp first tasted Michelin performance when he joined the Patrón Highcroft Racing Acura team in 2008. He and David Brabham proceeded to deliver Acura’s first overall race win in 2008, and after stepping up to the LMP1 class, served up three wins and the ALMS series title in 2009. 

Now, Sharp is stepping quickly to field his own two car Ferrari team in the brutally competitive GT2 class. Like Risi Competizione, Sharp has chosen Michelin. “Extreme Speed Motorsports is thrilled to add Michelin as a technical partner to our team,” Sharp added. “After driving on MICHELIN® tires for the last two seasons, I know how important it is to run on the best tires out there, and having them on our cars will immediately bring confidence to everyone on the team.”

Joining Sharp as co-driver will be GT2 ace and six-time class winner Johannes van Overbeek, while veteran Guy Cosmo teams with GT3 graduate Ed Brown in the second Ferrari F430.

“Michelin is pleased to continue our long-standing technical partnership with Risi Competizione and we are excited by the arrival of the new Extreme Speed Motorsports team,” said Silvia Mammone, Michelin motorsports manager. “We thank both teams for choosing Michelin to provide the right tires for their needs.”

Source ALMS © RIF