WEC

Risi Competizione Test Day report

RISI TOPS GT2 TIME SHEETS IN A DAY OF MIXED FORTUNES Following on from the torrential rain at last year's 24 Hours of Le Mans event, there was yet more inclement weather to deal with in today's one day of official testing for this ...

Published: Jun 1, 2008, 6:11 PM

Copy link

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

RISI TOPS GT2 TIME SHEETS IN A DAY OF MIXED FORTUNES

Following on from the torrential rain at last year's 24 Hours of Le Mans event, there was yet more inclement weather to deal with in today's one day of official testing for this year's twice-round-the-clock endurance classic.

However, at the end of eight hours of available track time, the Houston-based Risi Competizione team's #82 Ferrari 430 GT topped the timing sessions in the GT2 class. Jaime Melo's fastest time of 4:05.561 set the benchmark, closely followed by the #80 Porsche of Risi's ALMS competitor, Flying Lizard Motorsports, in the hands of Jorg Bergmeister.

Reigning ALMS GT2 Champion Melo, his regular team mate Mika Salo, and Le Mans rookie, Gimmi Bruni, completed a total of 34 laps running during the day, electing not to go out at the wettest times in order not to put the car at undue risk for the race in two weeks' time. As a newcomer, Bruni was obliged to complete a minimum of ten laps as a 'rookie test' and this was done early in the day before the weather deteriorated.

The Italian said afterwards: "I like the circuit, it's very nice. Unfortunately it was damp, wet and dry on the track while I was out there so we didn't get a chance to push much, but it was okay. The track does feel very long, compared to what I'm used to, especially on the Mulsanne, but I'm getting accustomed to it!"

The fortunes of the #83 Ferrari, piloted by Krohn Racing's Nic Jonsson, Tracy Krohn and Eric van de Poele, were not so good. After Eric van de Poele, a Le Mans winner in 1998, had completed his rookie test of ten mandatory laps (because it is more than three years since he last raced here in France), the rain started to fall and the remainder of the morning session was largely sat out. Tracy Krohn was looking forward to a longer run in the dry conditions at the start of the afternoon session, but had only turned three laps of the 13.629 km (8.46 mile) circuit when his off-track excursion brought a premature end to the afternoon for he and his team mates.

Despite very mixed weather and challenging track conditions, the team was pleased with what had been achieved in terms of tire evaluation and chassis set up, and Chief Engineer Rick Mayer's comments summed it up well. "If we had to start the race tomorrow, I think we would be in very good shape."

These views were echoed by Team Principal, Giuseppe Risi, who said after the end of the day, "We have had a good day and we were able to do everything we wanted to within the parameters of the conditions, which obviously affected everyone else as well. I'm happy with the progress made during our time out there on the track.

"It was very disappointing for Tracy Krohn to have had the accident, but the team will pull together to have the car repaired and ready for presentation at scrutineering on Tuesday, June 10. We have heard from Tracy since he went to the hospital for a check up and he's feeling well, with no worrying aches and pains, and will be flying home tomorrow as planned."

The race, which begins at 3.00pm (local, 9.00am CDT) on the 14th June, will be seen by over 250,000 spectators, up to 386 million TV viewers worldwide, and reported on by 1,800 journalists from over 35 nations.

-credit: risicompetizione.com

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Viber

Next article Toyota Le Mans prototype has support from ORECA for 2012

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

Latest news

Why Daniel Ricciardo would consider a comeback at Le Mans

WEC

WEC WEC 32 min

Why Daniel Ricciardo would consider a comeback at Le Mans

The 10 key moments that defined Sergio Perez's F1 career

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

United States GP

1 h

The 10 key moments that defined Sergio Perez's F1 career

Does Daniel Ricciardo regret leaving Red Bull for Renault?

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

United States GP

2 h

Does Daniel Ricciardo regret leaving Red Bull for Renault?

Cadillac 'honoured' to have Sergio Perez as special 300th race celebration planned for Mexico GP

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Mexican GP

3 h

Cadillac 'honoured' to have Sergio Perez as special 300th race celebration planned for Mexico GP

Feature

Discover prime content

Why Toyota’s 2026 WEC triumphs have put it into the all-time greatest endurance racing team debate

WEC

Barcelona

By Gary Watkins

Why Toyota’s 2026 WEC triumphs have put it into the all-time greatest endurance racing team debate

How Toyota destroyed the competition to seal the WEC crowns

WEC

Barcelona

By Gary Watkins

How Toyota destroyed the competition to seal the WEC crowns

How Ford is “hitting milestones” ahead of its WEC Hypercar push

WEC

By Gary Watkins

How Ford is “hitting milestones” ahead of its WEC Hypercar push

Why there’s no perfect solution to the WEC safety car conundrum

WEC

Fuji

By Gary Watkins

Why there’s no perfect solution to the WEC safety car conundrum

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Become a subscriber.
Disable your adblocker.

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts