 |
|
 |
| Lime Rock Race Notes: Risi Competizone |
|
|
At the end of a very tough race meeting at Lime Rock Park nestled deep in the greenery of the Berkshire Mountains, the #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari F430GT driven by Marc Gene and Mario Dominguez claimed fifth place in GT2 at the end of a race that was marked with crashes and retirements in every class. One very tough race said Team Engineer Rick Mayer as the checkered flag dropped. The #61 R. Ferri Competizione F430GT, piloted by Toni Vilander and Ferrari sportscar veteran Ralf Kelleners did not finish after sustaining damage incurred when it flew off the course after hitting oil or fluids dropped by another competitor. Prior to the accident, the car had been comfortably leading the GT2 class.
The weekend at Lime Rock, scene of a famous GT2 class victory by Risi Competizione in 2004, was filled with real racing drama this year. In the last warm up session on Friday afternoon, just before official qualifying was set to take place, the Risi Competizione #62 F430GT went into the tire barriers. The damage was cosmetic, but it took the car out of the qualifying session as it required urgent repairs, which were completed by 11:00PM that evening.
That incident did not stop the Ferrari push for the front of the grid. The #61 Ferri Competizione F430GT, driven by Vilander and Kelleners, showed the typical Ferrari turn of speed with a vengeance, taking pole in GT2. It was now the car to beat in the class and, with the highly experienced Kelleners on boardwho had won here in 2004 for Risi Competizionethe situation looked very positive.
Giuseppe Risi's statement that We will be on the grid was prophetic, as #62 Risi Competizione car went out in the morning warm-ups and promptly set fastest time with Mexican single-seat ace Mario Dominguez behind the wheel. Right behind was the #61 Ferrari with Vilander on board. The race day situation thus looked very positive, despite Friday's adventure, with the Ferraris one and two in the final warm-ups. The cars went back to garage area for final preparations and setup, and as the day turned increasingly warm and sunny, spirits were rising for the friends of Maranello.
The flag dropped at 3:04PM and by 3:19PM, 14 minutes into the race, Toni Vilander had raced to into the GT2 lead in the Ferri Ferrari. The #62 F430GT, with Marc Gene taking the first stint, comfortably blew past the cars at the back of the grid on the opening couple of laps to move into the midst of the frenetic pack action. However fortune swiftly turned against the team as within minutes of the start, at 3:10PM, Gene had to pit after one of the Porsche RS Spiders bumped side-to-side with his Ferrari. A tire was changed and Gene went out again. He was back on the next lap though (local time: 3:11PM) for bodywork repairs and further fresh rubber before screaming out of the pits to join battle with the other GT2 cars.
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
 |
|
