Fan favorite Risi Competizione, which calls itself (deservedly) the most successful Ferrari GT team, has gladdened the hearts of thousands by announcing Friday that it will be returning to the American Le Mans series GTE class with one car in 2013, and apparently plans to race in the new combined series in 2014.
Risi had been a mainstay of the American Le mans Series starting with a Ferrari 333 SP prototype, and moving on to a Maserati MC12, then Ferrari 360s, 430s, and 458s.
Risi withdrew from competition after the American Le mans series lost its television contract; the team entered only one race in 2012, the 50th Anniversary Grand Am Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Now, with things looking up for North American sports car racing, Risi has decided to return.
“We are embarking on a two-year program as we return to racing, said team principal Giuseppe Risi on the team’s website. ”This year, we will race in ALMS alone, where we have enjoyed great success. In 2014, we will race in the merged series under the new class structure. We are excited about the prospects and the program and are actively ramping the team up for 2013.”
Risi is excited to be returning to racing; he understands the history and tradition of sports car racing, and Ferrari’s part in that tradition.
“To race a Ferrari is to enter into a partnership with history and legend; the standards are so high that commitment must be total and complete,” he explained. “The exact same thing can be said of the American Le Mans Series GT class, which I still believe has the best level of GT competition in the world.
“We very much look forward to competing again with our old friends and rivals at BMW, Corvette, Extreme Speed Ferrari and Porsche, as well as some faces that may be new to us.”
Risi’s claim to success is not spurious. The team has won two ALSM GT titles, won its class at the Le Mans 24 Hours three times and the Twelve Hours of Sebring thee times, and has 20 ALMS victories and 30 podium finishes.
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