Risi Ferrari isn't at Le Mans, but the team is providing technical support to the No. 59 Luxury Racing Ferrari F458 Italia. Photo credit: Rick Dole for Michelin North America

This is the fifth in a 24 Hours of Le Mans preview series. Check back to michelinracingusa.com for more features and posts in the coming days.

No. 59: Stephane Ortelli, Frederic Makowiecki, Jaime Melo, Luxury Racing, has Risi technical support

The flagship Ferrari squad of the American Le Mans Series, Houston-based Risi Competizione, is not going to this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans and will instead focus solely on its ALMS campaign with its new F458 Italia. However, a large contingent of Risi drivers and team members will be present at Le Mans with two European-based Ferrari teams.

Risi itself is providing technical support to the French team Luxury Racing. Risi drivers current and past, however, are split between Luxury and Italy’s AF Corse.

Each teams is entered in the full seven-round Intercontinental Le Mans Cup with Ferraris. Both got their introduction to U.S. racing back at Sebring in March; AF Corse ran the older F430 GT that race as an F458 wasn’t yet available. At Le Mans, AF Corse has three cars entered and Luxury two.

Dave Sims, team manager for Risi Ferrari, is helping lead the crew for the No. 59 Luxury Racing Ferrari F458 Italia. Photo credit: Rick Dole for Michelin North America

At Sebring, ex-Risi ace Gianmaria “Gimmi” Bruni captured the pole and finished fifth in class with fellow ex-Risi drivers Giancarlo Fisichella and Pierre Kaffer. Bruni, Fisichella and full-season Risi pilot Toni Vilander are among the favorites for the GTE Pro class win now in a F458 at Le Mans.

Luxury adds Risi’s Jaime Melo, one of the fastest and most fearless ALMS pilots, to go along with its full-season lineup of Stephane Ortelli and Frederic Makowiecki in its No. 59 car. The No. 59 car features most of Risi’s crew, led by team manager Dave “Beaky” Sims.