HOUSTON-BASED RISI COMPETIZIONE TO ENTER FERRARI
IN LONE STAR GRAND PRIX Ferrari returns to GT2 class of American Le Mans Series
HOUSTON, Feb. 9, 2006 – Houston-based Risi Competizione has confirmed its plans to field two Ferrari 430 GT race cars into the GT2 class of the American Le Mans Series for 2006. It marks the first full season entry for Ferrari into the Series since 2004 and the addition of yet another elite manufacturer into the class. The announcement also means that Risi Competizione, which is owned and managed by Ferrari of Houston, will compete in the Lone Star Grand Prix, part of the Grand Prix of Houston taking place May 11 – 13 at Reliant Park.
Team owner Giuseppe Risi said one Ferrari will campaign the entire season, including the season-opening Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. A second car will compete at multiple races, including the Lone Star Grand Prix in Houston. Both cars will run on Michelin tires.
“We’re very pleased to race a Ferrari again in the American Le Mans Series,” Risi said. “We believe that this is the leading sports car series in the United States, and we are looking forward to the competition in the GT2 class. It will also be a thrill to compete at the Lone Star Grand Prix in our hometown of Houston. Houston will host a great race at Reliant Park in May, and we are glad to have the chance to compete in it.”
The Lone Star Grand Prix is part of the American Le Mans Series of car endurance racing events patterned after the world-famous “24 hours of Le Mans”. The race will take place on Friday, May 12, and will combine with Saturday night’s Champ Car event to give the Grand Prix of Houston an unprecedented combination of world-class racing.
“We would like to congratulate Risi Competizione on their return to the American Le Mans Series,” said Chuck Kosich, General Manager of the Grand Prix of Houston. “We are especially excited that Risi’s Ferraris will be competing in Houston this May. We will be hosting some of racing’s best from around the world, but it will be great to have a Houston representative among the competing teams.”
The American Le Mans Series features multi-class racing in cars such as Audi, Corvette, Porsche, Maserati, and Aston Martin. Ferrari has not been represented in the American Le Mans Series since 2004.
“Ferrari embodies many of the same qualities that the American Le Mans Series embraces,” Series President and CEO Scott Atherton said. “Exotic, prestigious and elite are descriptions that come to mind when discussing both. Ferrari has played a significant role in the American Le Mans Series throughout its history, and we are ecstatic that it will be returning to our grid.”
The driver lineup will be highlighted by Ralf Kelleners, who returns to Risi Competizione and Ferrari after competing in two Series events last year with ACEMCO Motorsports in GT1. The 36-year-old German was with Risi in 2004 when Risi’s Ferrari 360 Modena took a GT2 victory at Lime Rock, breaking Porsche’s 21-race winning streak in the class. Kelleners has made 28 starts in the American Le Mans Series with 11 podium finishes, all but two with Risi and Ferrari.
The Risi Ferraris join an already crowded and competitive GT2 class, which should see its deepest field in the eight-year history of the American Le Mans Series.
“Ferrari joins a GT2 class that is ripe with championship contenders,” Atherton said. “A full field of cars from Ferrari, Porsche, Panoz, Lexus and BMW no doubt will entertain our fans at the tracks and the millions who will watch the American Le Mans Series on CBS and SPEED Channel.”
Risi Competizione has long been a key supporter and member of the American Le Mans Series. In 2005, the team played a key role in Maserati’s 2005 effort in the Series, lending technical support and service to the Maserati MC12 in GT1.
“Giuseppe Risi is one of our most loyal and supportive team owners with an excellent history of fielding winning Ferrari teams,” Atherton said. “Our elite competitors, prestigious corporate partners and devoted fans are assured of another outstanding effort in 2006 from Ferrari and Risi Competizione.”
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About the Grand Prix of Houston
The Grand Prix of Houston will take place May 11 – 13 at Reliant Park in Houston, Texas. The event will feature an unprecedented combination of racing and activities, highlighted by world-class events from American Le Mans Series and Champ Car. The Grand Prix of Houston will be held on a temporary 1.7 mile street course and will be contested under the lights of Reliant Park, making the event Champ Car’s first-ever night time street race. In addition to the high-speed thrills of world-class racing, a wide variety of entertainment and activities is being scheduled for people of all ages to create a spectacular three days and nights of speed and entertainment. Tickets are available online at grandprixofhouston.com or ticketmaster.com, by phone at 713.629.3700, in person at the Reliant Stadium South Box Office, and at all Ticketmaster Ticket Centers including Houston-area locations of Foley’s, Fiesta, and Wherehouse Music.
About Risi Competizione
Risi Competizione offers complete race services with a track record of success in car preparation, race support, race management, team organization and engineering development. It is a team forged of people from around the globe set to meet the challenge of excellence. Founder and owner Giuseppe Risi holds his team to the highest standards of performance and innovation. Each driver and team member knows that winning comes from working together as a whole.
The Grand Prix of Houston
1111 Bagby, Suite 1950 | Houston, Texas 77002
Phone: 713-659-RACE | info@grandprixofhouston.com
acrossley@grandprixofhouston.com