Reliability is key factor to Ferrari top placing in 24 Hours of Le MansIt is 18 down and six to go as far as how many hours are left in the 84th Le Mans 24 Hours. With three quarters of the 24 hours behind him, it was Matteo Malucelli (ITA) in the number 82 Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTE-Pro who was leading the class on the 8.5 mile Circuit de la Sarthe by 35 seconds after 251 laps.
Just seven minutes into the second half of the race Malucelli brought the car to the pits from the lead for its 12th pit stop at the end of lap 167. Another flawless stop was performed by the Risi Competizione crew, during which the car only fueled, which allowed it to keep the lead. An hour later he was back for fuel and tires and to hand over the red Ferrari to Giancarlo Fisichella (ITA) after 181 laps. Again the car kept in the lead of the class ahead of a Ford, while Malucelli was able to report a fairly uneventful stint. After his first stint, Fisichella came in at the end of lap 195 at 05.00 for fuel and new brake pads and discs. Despite the lengthier stop, the Risi Ferrari retained its lead and even increased it by a few seconds. Again, after another 14 laps, at the end of lap 209, Fisichella pitted for new tires, fuel and to relinquish the driving to Toni Vilander (FIN) still in the lead. The next stop for the Finn was at the end of lap 222 at 06.50 when he took on fuel and continued in the lead. A safety car at 07.24 for approximately 25 minutes didn't help Vilander, as the Ford in second was able to close the gap. However, when he pitted at the end of lap 238 for tires and fuel he was able to hand the car over to Malucelli still in the lead.
Risi Competizione Race Engineer Rick Mayer (left) talks with driver Toni Vilander
Giancarlo Fisichella, driver, No. 82 Ferrari 488 GTE-Pro:"I think that was another great stint. The car is good and balanced quite well. We just need a little more speed on the finish line compared to Ford, but the car in the corners is really good. We changed the brakes, everything went well and the guys did another fantastic job. We just now need to go to the end of the race."Toni Vilander, driver, No. 82 Ferrari 488 GTE-Pro:"We were lucky with one of the slow zone; as we got a green flag and Ford was held back, I think we gained quite a few second. But then later on we got caught by the safety car as Sebastien Bourdais (in the number 68 Ford) got the same one, so the gap we had got cancelled. At the restart I had a couple of GTE-Am cars in front of me and at the second chicane I overtook them under braking, as I knew I had to keep the gap. I managed to pull a ten second gap and I was pushing like hell, but it was difficult with the low tire pressures after the restart. I had quite a bad stint overnight with a bad vibration. Luckily that has now gone and the car is running well, but it is still a long way to go. All the drivers and the team are doing a good job. I shall now have a few hours of rest and then back in the car.
Matteo Malucelli, driver, No. 82 Ferrari 488 GTE-Pro:"The car is good and we are still running, so I am very happy and looking forward to the end of the race. During the second stint I just tried to stay on the track, as in the first (stint) the tires got cut. However, the pace was good as we were doing 55s (3 minute 55 second laps)and, for the moment, everything is fine."
