Although the race if 150 miles from their headquarters in Houston, Risi Competizione is looking forward to this weekend’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship round at Circuit of The Americas as its “home race”.

The Texan squad finished second here last year with Giancarlo Fisichella and Pierre Kaffer and the Italian ex-Formula 1 ace returns in 2016 with his new full-time partner, Toni Vilander.

This year will be Vilander’s first IMSA race but third time competing at COTA (2013, 2014 and 2015). He has two FIA World Endurance Championship  podiums (2013 and 2014) with AF Corse in a Ferrari 458 LMGTE Pro class.

“First of all, I like COTA. It’s a very nice circuit, a last generation circuit,” Fisichella said.

“It has some very nice corners, especially the first part, the high speed corners, where it is left right left right. It’s a very challenging circuit. It could be a good circuit for us. In the past I raced with WEC and the last couple of years in IMSA. I’m looking forward to it.”

There will be plenty of Risi fans on site at COTA to cheer on the Ferrari squad in their “home” race this weekend.

“I enjoy that. It will be extra power for us,” Fisichella said.

“It’s very important for us to have people around the circuit cheering for us. It is our home grand prix and very important for us to get on the podium.”

The Italian ex-Formula 1 ace is a big fan of the city of Austin – a venue where he will be showing off more than just his driving skills this weekend.

“Austin is very nice place, a nice town. There are lots of fantastic restaurants, especially the beef is very good,” Fisichella said.

“I have been there for F1 weekends and it’s unbelievable.

“Wednesday there is a big event for my Risi Competizione team at a champagne club and discothèque and there will be lots of people and we will raise money for charity. I will do the DJ, which is my hobby. I like it. I think we will enjoy this event all together with our team, with other racing people and our fans.”

#F1 winner, @IMSA ace & DJ! @OfficialFisico is multi-talented! Check him out in Austin on Wed night #LoneStarLeMans pic.twitter.com/Umhp8hfc6z

— Michelin Alley (@MichelinAlley) September 13, 2016