If you thought Risi Competizione’s season has been rough – spare a though for Italian ex-Formula 1 racer winner Giancarlo Fishicella who hasn’t completed a single race lap in the TUDUR United SportsCar Championship yet.

Today at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring while in the lead of the GTLM category, Matteo Malucelli crashed the No.62 Ferrari 458 Italia out of the endurance race as it approached its fourth hour – the car was out before Fishicella was able to get a race lap.

Fishicella also missed out on getting “race miles” at Daytona after the dramatic crash with Memo Gidley.

Italian Malucelli, who was uninjured in the accident, was on the first green lap after the third full course caution period. Unfortunately, an attempt to re-join the race (in order to get the car back for repairs) caused further dramas when he ended up on the racing line and was struck by the Porsche of Dane Christina Nielsen.

The damage was assessed by the team as being too severe to repair at the track and the car has been withdrawn from the race.

Gianmaria Bruni had started the race amid the 63-strong field and quickly showed the strong pace of the Ferrari. The team elected to stop for fuel and new Michelin tires during the first full course caution period which fell 20 minutes after the start.

The Risi crew gained four places in the GTLM order, and the #62 re-joined the race third in class behind one car which had not yet pitted and another which didn’t change tires. As the race went green again, Bruni pounced on the Viper and took the lead – a position the Ferrari was holding until the crash.

“The car was running very well after we switched from our qualifying tires to new ones – like most of our competitors,” teammate Gianmaria Bruni said.

“I was able to pull away when I got a clean lap, into the lead, and the pit stops had been amazing – very, very quick and clean and I think the quickest of everyone in our class. The strategy was also looking good so it’s difficult to find the words to say how we’re feeling now.

“I feel so sorry for Giancarlo and all the team, especially after they worked so hard to repair the car yesterday. To have this happen again is the last thing we wanted.”