Pier Guidi and James Calado adopted up their historic total triumph within the centenary version of Le Mans with a GTD Professional class win at Daytona final weekend, as they took the highest spot with Davide Rigon and Daniel Serra in a Ferrari 296 GT3 entered by Risi Competizione.
It was the Italian producer’s first success within the blue riband spherical of the IMSA SportsCar Championship since Pier Guidi led the Degree 5 Motorsports squad to a GTD victory in 2014, and its seventeenth class win within the historical past of the enduro.
It additionally marked the primary time Risi and Ferrari gained Daytona as a workforce/producer mixture, having been competing actively within the GT courses collectively since 2014.
Requested what it meant to attain victories, class or total, within the greatest two sportscar races on the earth in lower than 12 months, Pier Guidi mentioned: “It is even troublesome to dream, and we did it.
“Truly six months in the past, we achieved this wonderful historic victory in Le Mans, and now we’re again right here with Risi and Ferrari to finish one other 24, to realize one other wonderful success.
“It was a very long time that Ferrari is making an attempt to win this race, and to win too simply is sort of stunning. They by no means gained collectively. They gained a lot collectively, however by no means this race.
“Lastly for Giuseppe [Risi, team founder] and Ferrari collectively, we achieved this victory, we have to be all happy with this.”
He added: “I believe we deserved this victory. We have been additionally making an attempt loads of instances to realize this victory. We completed twice second, and it is a long-time partnership between Risi and Ferrari, and we have been with us and with the opposite drivers very shut many instances, however by no means been in a position to obtain this victory.
“Lastly we get it. For those who see within the footage after the checkered flag, the image is wonderful. Everybody was crying, joyful, and I went and I give an enormous hug to Giuseppe, as a result of all the fervour he put in right here on this effort, he actually deserved this.”
Picture by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Images
#62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3: Daniel Serra, Davide Rigon, Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado
The Risi Ferrari led numerous phases of the twice round the clock enduro, with Calado’s transfer over the #1 Paul Miller BMW M4 GT3 of Neil Verhagen within the twentieth hour strengthening its bid for victory.
A protracted brake pedal for the BMW and a poorly-replaced right-front rotor, which compelled Verhagen’s team-mate Sheldon van der Linde to make a second unscheduled pitstop, then put the Risi workforce out of attain of its nearest rival.
The #62 Ferrari ultimately gained the race by a full lap over the #99 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R, with the #1 BMW ending up third.
Calado, who has additionally scored two victories at Petit Le Mans with Risi, described the double triumph as an “wonderful achievement” for himself and Ferrari.
“Yeah, I imply, it is two huge sportscar races, and to tick each of them off in a brief time period is clearly an incredible achievement,” mentioned the British driver.
“It is actually all the way down to Ferrari and the workforce and Risi for this weekend, and naturally for Le Mans. The entire group along with the drivers is wonderful, and to be a part of that, I really feel very fortunate.
“Yeah, this race was just about how we needed it to go. The automobile was nice to drive, the steadiness, and the efficiency was undoubtedly so much higher than final yr.
“To get that win for Risi and particularly for Giuseppe like Ale mentioned, I am proud for him as a result of he is needed that for a very long time.”
Ferrari has expressed no real interest in competing in IMSA’s GTP class within the close to future, regardless of LMH automobiles like its 499P being allowed to compete within the class as a part of a guidelines convergence with the World Endurance Championship.
Nonetheless, some have thought of the opportunity of a semi-works effort fronted by Risi, given their lengthy and profitable collaboration on each side of the Atlantic.
Pier Guidi says it will likely be a “dream come true” if he will get an opportunity to combat for outright wins at Daytona in a Ferrari 499P.
He added: “I actually want to compete within the GTP class right here and let’s examine. After all it isn’t – the sport isn’t in our fingers. We can’t determine something. However I’d be actually joyful.”
