Risi Competizione confirms 2015 drivers
"Although we did not have the success or luck we had hoped last year, the pairing of Pierre Kaffer and Giancarlo Fisichella was a good match for our team," said Giuseppe Risi, owner of the Risi Competizione race team. "We wanted them back this season as we make another attempt at the GTLM championship. The team is working hard to bring the best car to the competitive battle in GTLM. We've had great successes with Ferrari over the years and would like to extend that streak in 2015."
The magnificent red Ferrari F458 Italia from Risi will again wear the No. 62 on its livery in the GTLM class for the second year of competition in the new IMSA TUDOR series.
In addition to the year-long pairing of Kaffer and Fisichella, Risi Competizione has added Olivier Beretta, of Monaco, and Italian Davide Rigon for the 53rd running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Kaffer, Beretta and Rigon teamed in an AF Corse Ferrari 458 for the 2014 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Pierre Kaffer, a German living in Switzerland, has driven for Risi Competizione off and on since 2009, where he co-drove with Jamie Melo and Mika Salo to victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans This year's Rolex 24 will be his second at the Daytona classic, (he also ran his first with Risi. Competizione); the No. 62 was knocked out of last year's Daytona race after a serious race accident .
Rome, Italy-born Giancarlo Fisichella, who has 229 Formula One Grand Prix starts and was an F1 Ferrari development driver, first drove with Risi Competizione in 2010 at the Utah Grand Prix round of the American Le Mans Series. He returned to Risi last season at the first sprint race at Long Beach where he paired with Kaffer. The duo won races at Road America and Virginia International Raceway (VIR) in the new IMSA TUDOR championship. Additionally, last year he added his second victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (2014, 2012) to his racing resume. Fisichella was part of the Risi team at Daytona last year and also returns for his second Rolex 24 round.
Olivier Beretta comes back to Risi Competizione for the fourth year in a row for the Rolex 24. Beretta drove with Risi Competizione at the IMSA finale at Petit Le Mans in October 2014. The Monegasque citizen is a five-time ALMS GTS/GT1 champion with six class wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, holds ALMS records for most career wins (41) and most career poles (23), and won the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2000 with Viper Team Oreca.
Italian Davide Rigon started in single-seaters before moving to the FIA WEC in 2013 in a Ferrari F458, where he captured eight podiums in 12 races between 2013 and 2014. This year's Rolex 24 will be his first race with Risi Competizione and his second at the Rolex 24 after competing in the GTD class in 2014 in the Spirit of Racing Ferrari F458. Rigon returns in 2015 for his second year as a Scuderia Ferrari F1 test and development driver.
Kaffer and Rigon will handle the driving duties for this week's Roar Before the 24 testing.
The Risi name has been synonymous with sports car racing since the team was founded in 1997 by Italian national, Giuseppe Risi.
"Racing is a Ferrari tradition and part of my heritage," said Houston, Texas-based Risi. "I grew up with racing in Italy before I came to the U.S. and I have always been passionate about racing with Ferrari."
The 2015 season is the 18th year of sports car racing in the United States for Risi Competizione. The team's stellar results have included two championships and countless race victories, including multiple victories at Sebring, Le Mans, and Petit Le Mans.