Risi Competizione hour 6 report

RISI'S FIGHT BACK HAS STARTED - #82 HOLDING GT2 LEAD, #83 NOW HOLDING STEADY

By the quarter distance mark in the 78th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Risi Competizione had demonstrated its class by coming through from the back of the starting grid to hold the lead in the highly competitive GT2 class.

The Shell Helix sponsored No. 82 Ferrari F430 GTC of Jaime Melo, Gianmaria Bruni and Pierre Kaffer has been engaged in a tightly fought battle with the two factory Corvettes since making its way through the field, and the lead has been traded a number of times. All three drivers have now cycled through the car, and Pierre Kaffer's double stint was once of the most exciting in terms of on-track pressure.

Pierre Kaffer: "It was a great battle with Emmanuel Collard (in the No. 64 Corvette) and I have to say it was pretty fair. In the first part I was quicker and in the second part he was quicker. A big thanks to the guys who have prepared such a great race car -- it's running like a Swiss watch."

The No.83 Ferrari, crewed by Krohn Racing's Tracy Krohn, Nic Jonsson and Eric van de Poele, hasn't had such a smooth run as the three drivers have been fighting understeer in the car since the start. Additionally, Krohn suffered contact with a prototype just before the three hour mark and the car was delayed in the pits while repairs were made to the left front corner. New bodywork, headlight and radiator frame was fitted and the car has since been running trouble free and making up ground. It is currently 12th in class.

-source: risicompetizione.com