Risi Competizione has been out of American Le Mans Series competition for 12 months but it didn’t show at Sebring today with “Gimmi” Bruni scoring the pole aboard the team’s Ferrari 458 Italia.

Bruni has become a Sebring specialist – scoring pole here for the past three seasons. The past two years he has been the fastest qualifier for AF Corse.

The Italian is no stranger to Risi either. He previously drove for the Texas-based squad in 2010 and 2008 in ALMS competition. Bruni will drive this weekend with Olivier Beretta and Matteo Malucelli.

“I am very happy to be back here with Risi Competizione – Mr Risi making his comeback after one year. It is great for the team, the crew and the engineers. All the work that everyone has put in has really paid off,” Bruni said.

“Tomorrow is another day but at least today we have achieved our goal.

“I like this circuit a lot ever since I came here for the first time with Risi with Jaime Melo and Mika Salo. I always like it and we had a great result in 2010. I like the bumpy circuits because it makes it a bit difficult – its not easy for everybody. That is the challenge.”

Bruni was .12 seconds ahead of Corvette Racing’s Oliver Gavin with the pair of factory Aston Martins in third and fourth.