Risi Competizione has some unfinished business to attend to this weekend at the Michelin GT Challenge at Virginia International Raceway (VIR). After coming so close to scoring a victory at the most recent race at Road America, the Risi Comp team is ready to dominate once again at the 3.27-mile, 17-turn road course in Alton, Virginia.With a history that reads two victories and a third-place finish in three consecutive races between 2013-2015, and toss in another victory in the early days of International Motor Sport Association (IMSA) back in 2002, and Risi has an outstanding record and reason to believe VIR is a race they can win.Italian Giancarlo Fisichella will be making his third consecutive appearance, after finishing first and third in 2014 and 2015 with then teammate Pierre Kaffer. Toni Vilander will be making his inaugural appearance at the southern Virginia historic circuit that was built 60 years ago. The 2016 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship teammates will be debuting the twin turbo mid-engine Ferrari 488 GTLM.Risi Competizione's first appearance at VIR was in 2002 when Team Principal Giuseppe Risi entered two Lola B2K/40s, with one qualifying on the pole and going on to win the race and the other finishing directly behind it. Also in 2013 Olivier Beretta and Matteo Malucelli repeated the pole and victory in a Risi Ferrari 458 Italia GT.
Rick Mayer, Risi Competizione Race Engineer:Risi Competizione has competed at VIR just four years and taken home victories three times and had a third place finish the other. Why does Risi Comp have such good success at this 3.27 miles, 17-turn Road Course?"Until last year's race the Ferrari 458 was very competitive at VIR and always in the mix for the win. It's been a combination of factors over the past years. Our base setup directions seem to suit this track and the long sections of full throttle were kind to the F458. Our Ferrari 488 power is much closer to the others in our class now. We'll find out just how close very soon. The F488s mid-engine, with its inherit weight balance, help in the many quick transitions at VIR."The Michelin GT Challenge race will feature just GTLM and GTD cars. This really changes how you race doesn't it?"Yes, it changes several things. It will make it a much better race all around. The fans come to see the GT cars and this will be a great GT race in both classes. For the GTLMs it's a nine car race with some passing of the GTDs sprinkled in. It will change the complexion. I wish we had more races like this. I'm sure it will come down to the final laps as it did at Road America."VIR has a lot of history going back decades and has really resurrected since 2000. What makes this track unique?"The track uniqueness includes the abundant grassy runoffs and the high speed nature of the esses; those two stick in my mind. Even though there is a lot of 'soft' grassy runoff, going off track can still be damaging here. The recent total track resurfacing made the track much quicker and safer with no full course cautions in last year's race."How will you and Giancarlo help get Toni up to speed on VIR as a new track for him?"Toni is reviewing data and video from the past years. Toni's a quick study. It won't take him long to get up to speed, particularly with Giancarlo's help. A good track walk on Thursday will help a lot. True Pro drivers understand the value of walking (golf cart, bicycle) before the first practice. There are things you just can't see (or understand) at 100+ mph."How much will tires play a part in this weekend's race?"We're on Michelins, unquestionably the best tire. But we've struggled to define a pattern for which of the compound options best suit each venue. GTLM is such a tight field. A few tenths of a second is the difference from first to last. We'll test the tire options that make sense on Friday and look at the forecast for the race and hopefully have the right tire and setup combination for the best result."After a near victory at Road America how hungry is the Risi Competizione team to get that elusive victory?"It's not a secret our season hasn't gone as well as we'd have liked, for various reasons. It's a different mindset to a lot of our competitors. We have nothing to lose. We're not looking to salvage the highest conservative finish for points. We're not in the championship hunt. We're only out for the win. There are multiple agendas for the others here. We only have one."
Giancarlo Fisichella, driver, No. 62 Ferrari 488 GTLM:You have competed at VIR only twice and brought home a victory the first year in 2014 and a third place finish last year. What makes it special or unique? Does VIR remind you of any other circuits or is it like the European track you grew up driving?"I have to say VIR is probably my favorite circuit in the US. First of all, because I like the shape of the circuit. Also, I have great memories from there. We won in 2014 and last year we finished third. It was great. The circuit suits the Ferrari well and probably with the new 488 it will be good too. I'm really looking forward to it. I'm happy to be going there soon."It doesn't remind me of any European circuits really. It is very American circuit and I like it very much."The Michelin GT Challenge race will feature just GTLM and GTD cars. This really changes how you race doesn't it?"Yes, we will be racing for the overall win. We also will not have to look in our mirrors so much for the P (Prototype) cars. I like this race concept and look forward to going back."How will you and Rick Mayer help get Toni up to speed on VIR as a new track for him?"He will read the data and see videos and we will walk the track. Rick has already been showing him this. He is very quick to learn so he will be fast in no time. It might take a little bit to get the maximum speed for the corners but he's a professional driver and will learn quickly."How do you think the Ferrari 488 and the VIR circuit will suit one another?"Yes, I think the Ferrari 488 will be very good at VIR. It's a good circuit for Ferrari and I'm happy to be racing there again."
Toni Vilander, driver, No. 62 Ferrari 488 GTLM:VIR will be another new circuit to you in America. After many years and a professional driver how do you like being able to compete at still a new circuit in your career?"It is great to go to a new circuit. Normally it doesn't take that long to get up to speed. Of course it takes some extra preparation but I take it as a positive challenge."
When you are racing at a new circuit how do you best go about learning the nuances before you even arrive? And what things to do you do once you get to the track?"I go through some telemetry from the previous years and, of course, some on-board videos help in preparation. I would just like to get out there in our Ferrari 488 as soon as possible."The Michelin GT Challenge race will feature just GTLM and GTD cars. How does this change how you race?"We are racing for the overall win but the racing in our category will be as hard as in any other race this year." After a near victory at Road America how hungry is the Risi Competizione team to get that elusive victory this year?"Lime Rock and Road America were good for us until the very end. We will try to do another good race and then we will see what happens. Let's try to enjoy. The pressure is on the others."Practice for the Michelin GT Challenge at VIR begins on Friday, August 26 at 11:30 a.m. EDT for one hour and again in the afternoon from 3:35-4:35 p.m. A Saturday early morning practice from 8:00-9:00 a.m. EDT will be followed by a 20-minute qualifying session at 12:20 p.m. for GTLM class entrants. The 2 hours and 40 minute WeatherTech race will start at 1:35 p.m. EDT on Sunday, August 28, after a 20-minute warm-up earlier Sunday morning. Live timing and scoring is available for all on-track sessions at IMSA.com and the IMSA Smartphone app.
Tune-In Information:The Michelin GT Challenge at VIR will be broadcast live in the U.S. on Sunday, August 28 on FOX Sports 1 from 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. EDT and on FOX Sports Go app. The race will be streamed live in its entirety for international audiences on IMSA.tv and the IMSA Mobile App, which will also provide live in-car camera footage and IMSA Radio commentary throughout the race for all viewers.IMSA Radio will feature the broadcast team from Radio Le Mans and be carried live for the entire race. IMSA.tv also will stream audio from all practice and qualifying sessions, in addition to video from qualifying.
