American Le Mans Series

Risi Have A Stormer At Austin

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Matteo Malucelli powered off the back of the grid (Credit: ferrari.com)

Ferrari ALMS racers Risi Competizione have claimed a top six finish at Austin having started from the back of the 33 strong field of racers.

The Houston based team claimed their best result since the 12 Hours of  Sebring in March at the Circuit of the Americas, coming as a good reward for all the hard work mechanics have put in to rebuild the car since their involvement in the multiple car pile up at Baltimore in the previous round.

In the hands of Matteo Malucelli the 458 came from the back of the grid to third in GT in only 10 laps, he said: “It was difficult to come through from the back because we had all the GTC cars in front but the car was fast with the new restrictor.  I didn’t want to make any mistakes so I kept calm and got up to third position.  We got up to third and then first when the pit stops were happening.  We did a great job but it wasn’t quite enough today.” 

While the Risi crew absolutely stormed the pit stops, the damage was already done following an administrative error meant the team didn’t hit the minimum drive time during the official practice sessions. While Malucelli was keeping pace with the leaders, the opportunity to get by did not present itself.

Team Principal Giuseppe Risi said after the race:  “Matteo did an outstanding job in the car, and drove for over two hours, passing everyone in the GT class on the track.  The guys in the pits were absolutely on the ball; they did a superb job and couldn’t have been quicker turning around the car.”

The Risi team now look ahead to the next round at the Virginia International Raceway in the hope of stirring things up in the highly competitive GT before the final round at Road Atlanta for Petit Le Mans on October 16th-19th.

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