The Risi Competizione Team started preparing for the Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix Presented by Hawk Performance race, round seven of the 2015 IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship season and round six for the GTLM class, before they even left the last race venue in upstate New York. The Houston, Texas-based team never traveled back to their race shop and instead went directly across the border to Canada to do race preparations.
The 10-turn, 2.459-mile/3.957 km Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (CTMP) circuit is a track on which Risi Competizione has had many successes. The popular Ferrari team has competed at the circuit, formerly known as Mosport, 12 times, beginning in 1998 in the Ferrari 333 SP in the IMSA World SportsCar series. On four occasions Risi had a two-car team compete (1999, 2003, 2006, 2007), for a total of 16 attempts at the podium.
The Risi team's record includes three consecutive victories (2006-2008), with two of those being a first and second place finish (2006 and 2007) with two-car entries, and nine podium finishes. All but two attempts were in Ferraris (Ferrari 333 SP, Ferrari 360 GT, Ferrari 430, Ferrari 458 GT2 and Ferrari 458 Italia GT), with two attempts being in a Maserati MC 12. Risi Competizione has also celebrated four poles and one fastest lap at the legendary circuit built in 1960.
The Risi Team currently is tied for third in the GTLM team championship and has two podiums this season, second place at both Sebring and Long Beach, and four Top Five finishes, in five races so far this season. Risi Ferrari drivers Giancarlo Fischella and Pierre Kaffer are tied for third in the GTLM driver's championship.
Kaffer, who will be making his third appearance at CTMP, finished on the podium in 2009 with Jamie Melo. Fisichella made his debut last year, where he and Kaffer finished tenth after having a difficult race with the Balance of Performance (BoP) equation at that time.
In the past ten races the Risi Competizione team, with the Fisichella/Kaffer pairing, has collected five podiums (including victories at Road America and VIR in 2014) and three second-place finishes (Indy in 2014 and Sebring and Long Beach in 2015). They also have two poles (Indianapolis 2014 with Fisichella and VIR 2014 with Kaffer). The team is hoping to parlay their long Mosport track history into a victory this weekend.
PIERRE KAFFER, No. 62 Ferrari 458 Italia, Risi Competizione Driver:
You have one podium at this track with Risi in 2009. What is it going to take to gain the top step this year?
"I'm confident for Mosport. I like the track and I think our car is in a good shape. It will be tough against all our competitors. The key will be that everything is perfect in pit stops and strategy to fight for our first victory."
What do you like most/least about this track?
"Mosport is very challenging. Even though it`s a short track, it's fast out there and you need to be focused all the time. There is no place for a mistake! I am looking forward to going out."
GIANCARLO FISICHELLA, No. 62 Ferrari 458 Italia, Risi Competizione Driver:
Tell us about your thoughts on the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park circuit.
"I have only driven at the circuit last year for the first time. We had a difficult race. I hope we have a better race this year and we think we will."
RICK MAYER, No. 62 Ferrari 458 Italia Risi Competizione Race Engineer:
The team had some struggles last year at Mosport with BoP. What are your expectations this year and how does the team stack up to the competition at the Mosport track?
"We're hoping the gap will be smaller this year. Mosport is a high downforce track and we're still lacking in that area of the BoP, but we've made some gains since last year regarding car performance that should help here. We'll have a better feel once practice starts."
DAVE SIMS, No. 62 Ferrari 458 Italia Risi Competizione Team Manager:
Tell us about your preparation for this weekend's race at CTMP.
"We tested at the Mosport circuit on Tuesday and it went quite well. We are pleased with the balance of the car and Pierre (Kaffer) was happy with the car. It rained late afternoon so we stopped the test session a little early but we feel more comfortable for our race set up going in to this weekend."
Risi Competizione has had many successes at the Mosport track over the years. Do you think those experiences will benefit you this weekend?
"I sure hope so! Mosport been good to us in the past with numerous podiums and victories. I think it is one of the most successful tracks for Risi Competizione. We have a good record there other than last year and we hope to add to that this year."
Practice for the Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix Presented by Hawk Performance begins at 11:20 a.m. EDT on Friday. Qualifying begins on Saturday at 4:40 p.m. EDT, and will be streamed live on IMSA.com. The race starts at 12:05 p.m. EDT for two hours and 40 minutes on Sunday, July 12.
Tune-In Information:
FOX Sports 1 will air a live broadcast of the Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix Presented by Hawk Performance race on Sunday, July 12 from 12:00-3:00 p.m. EDT.
