Rolex 24 At Daytona, Risi Competizione 12 Hour Report

The No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTLM team continues to battle on the lead lap with seven other GTLM class competitors in the 54th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona. As the historic race reached the mid-point, the team continues to cycle its talented Ferrari driver line up through the cockpit.Olivier Beretta was completing his first double stint at the six-hour mark. After an uneventful stint, he passed the red Ferrari to teammate Toni Vilander at 9:23 p.m. EST. After a couple cautions during his nearly double stint, Italian Giancarlo Fisichella slid behind the wheel again for two hours and a couple more caution periods before relinquishing driving duties to Davide Rigon. Rigon piloted the Ferrari through a series of full course cautions and exited the cockpit just before the 12-hour mark. Olivier Beretta will take the car into the second half of the twice-around-the-clock endurance race.

OLIVIER BERETTA, DRIVER, NO. 62 FERRARI 488 GTLM:After his first double stint:"The team and the car was really good. We had a very good pit stop. The car on the track was fast. There was a lot of traffic, a lot of confusion because I could not stay alone because of a lot of traffic. But the car is running well and I was quite happy. It is still a very long race but we just have to keep it like this and see what will be tomorrow, but so far I'm quite happy."

TONI VILANDER, DRIVER, NO. 62 FERRARI 488 GTLM:Regarding his second set of stints:"Those stints were a bit more intense. There was a group of four or five cars. There was (James) Calado, who was pretty aggressive, and there were two Corvettes and two Porsches. I can ride with them in slipstream. If I try and pass them they just blow away the next straight line. It's quite tricky for the rhythm of racing. When I'm in slipstream with them, the lap time is relatively good. For me, it was an ideal place to be. The car is handling pretty good again in the infield, just still missing Turn Six but the middle of the 'bus stop' got a bit better. I was driving the race car a bit more also. At least we are still in a good position. We had some hassle already now in two or three pit stops as we learn this car so we need to continue to sort those things out. My last pit stop we lost the door and it's difficult to put it back so we need to work on those little details and get them right in the pits."

DAVIDE RIGON, DRIVER, NO. 62 FERRARI 488 GTLM:Regarding his second set of stints:"The pace was very good. The problem is the others are very strong. Maybe we gain on the slow part of the track but on the high speed we lose a bit. We need to continue this and keep the car strong for the last two hours. Since we are so close to the other competitors, we need to keep the car in perfect condition until the last two or three hours. That is the key to win this race."Tune-In Information:In the U.S., the Rolex 24 At Daytona broadcast continues into Sunday, Jan. 31, on IMSA.com (live video streaming and commentary) until 7:00 a.m. EST. Then from 10:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on FOX Sports 2. The Rolex 24 At Daytona is also available on the FOX Sports GO mobile app. ‏


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