Risi’s Daytona challenge begins in qualifying

Daytona, FL - Risi Competizione is a proven winner of endurance sportscar races, and has won several times before after starting from the back of the grid. However, that scenario definitely wasn’t what the team was hoping for on the eve of the first round of the new Tudor United Sportscar Championship.

#62 Risi Competizione Ferrari F458 Italia: Matteo Malucelli, Giancarlo Fisichella, Gianmaria Bruni, Olivier Beretta

Photo by: Trevor Horn

Following a very encouraging two practice sessions today, during which much progress was made in setting up the car for the Rolex 24 at Daytona, due to start at 2:10 pm on Saturday, 25 January, World GT Champion Gimmi Bruni was looking forward to showing what the No.62 Ferrari 458 Italia could do against its GTLM opposition.

Bruni left the pits for the start of the 15-minute session but, to the crushing disappointment of the whole team, didn’t manage to complete a single flying lap due to what appeared to be a gearbox electronics issue. He managed to return to the pits but the problem was not diagnosed immediately due to regulations preventing work taking place in the pits during qualifying, and thus the Ferrari will be forced to start the race from the back of the grid.

A disconsolate Gimmi Bruni said afterwards: “We had what we think was an electronics issue. We were stuck in gear and losing power, so it wasn’t a good start to our weekend.”

Team Principal Giuseppe Risi added: “The car had had no gearbox work done on it following practice as it was running fine but we all know that electronic problems can occur at any time. It’s a horrible start to our weekend but we have to look forward now and not back, and face the increased challenge presented to us for the race ahead.”

Risi Competizione