Risi Compeizione warns against escalating costs

Ferrari, BMW battle at the front for GT2 title

Risi Competizione and other teams have been boosted by the increased level of competition and manufacturer presence in the ALMS GT2 class, but esclatating costs born out of the manufacturer's desire to win could be achilles heel of the series if not managed properly.

Le Mans organizers the ACO recently announced that GT1 class is being eliminatedd, and GT2 will now be the only GT category at LeMans. The GT2 technical group now says they will move to allow cars with carbon fiber chassis, clearing the path for high-end exotic manufacturers such as McLaren to enter the series as well.

Chevrolet and BMW having already joined GT2 for this season, Giuseppe Risi is happy the profile of the class is elevating, but warns of escalating costs.

"If I were the American Le Mans Series or ACO I would think it was very important to get the manufacturers here…But we've got to be careful it doesn't get extremely expensive.

"When you produce performance you increase costs but, if we can keep it at this level, more manufacturers will come. It's not just a question of prestige [of racing] – it has to make commercial sense."

Risi's defeat at Le Mans last weekend, due to a gearbox failure on his lead car, ended a run of GT2 successes in the big enduros that stretched back to Sebring in March 2008. Nevertheless Risi, who is a privateer with Ferrari factory support, welcomes the increased competition and believes his team can remain competitive.

"The top teams are what make GT2 what it is," he said. "With them coming in it has put more pressure on us, but it's not pressure we can't cope with. We've not changed how we do things. We're an equal to anybody in the pit lane."