Toni Vilander (left) and Giancarlo Fisichella (right) start their second ALMS race this season on the GT pole for Risi Ferrari. Photo credit: Rick Dole for Michelin North America

For the third straight race, Risi Ferrari has two of its “rosso red” F430 GTs. The team seeks a bounce back race at Mid-Ohio after a challenging weekend at Lime Rock, but looks in a good position to do so starting first and second on the GT class grid.

Although Jaime Melo and Gianmaria Bruni in the lead No. 62 failed to finish, it was not a completely lost weekend. Risi scored its first win in the MICHELIN® GREEN X® Challenge in GT with the No. 61 car, in its second race running on Cellulosic E85 ethanol (second-generation ethanol). The car traveled the farthest, fastest and with the least environmental impact, giving drivers Pierre Kaffer and Mika Salo some hardware despite finishing fourth in class.

The former Risi endurance race champions are out for this weekend and back for their second go this season are Giancarlo Fisichella and Toni Vilander. The pair finished sixth in their first start at Utah in July. It gives both drivers another opportunity to sample one of the more technically challenging racetracks in the U.S. They’ve certainly done well in their acclimation as Vilander put the car on pole position!

“I’m really happy to be at Mid-Ohio and back in ALMS,” Vilander said. “I really enjoy the championship and the atmosphere. I wasn’t sure what to expect here because it is completely new to me. We are having to rely on Risi’s experience with Jaime and Gimmi. We had their data and it helped in qualifying. It’s going to be a big battle with the traffic with some yellows I’m sure.”

Ferrari enters Mid-Ohio third in the manufacturer’s championship down eight points to Porsche and seven to BMW in second (93-92-85). The No. 61 has changed from having orange mirrors the last two rounds to fluorescent yellow mirrors this race to distinguish it from the No.62. You can be assured they won’t go down without a fight while looking for their first class win at Mid-Ohio.