Ferrari North America VIR Pre-Race Report

August 18, 2015 (Englewood Cliffs, N.J.) – The Oak Tree Grand Prix, a GT-class only affair for the IMSA United SportsCar Championship, provides the production-based machinery of the USCC the opportunity to shine. At last year’s race, no cars shined brighter than the bright red Ferraris of Risi Competizione and Scuderia Corsa, with the challenging VIR circuit providing an ideal place to prove the Ferrari 458 Italia’s capabilities.

A thrilling battle in the closing stages of the race set up a last-lap pass for victory as Giancarlo Fisichella drove the no. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia into the lead of the GT-LeMans class with three corners remaining, cementing the second consecutive win for the team. Not far behind, a wild race for the no. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia saw the car cross the finish line in second position in the GT-Daytona class.  Risi Competizione arrives at this year’s Oak Tree Grand Prix after another hard-fought race in which Fisichella and Kaffer finished in third place at Road America. Scuderia Corsa drivers Bill Sweedler and Townsend Bell finished just off the GT-Daytona podium at Road America, in fourth position.However, their fourth-place finished allowed Bell and Sweedler to tighten the battle for the GT-Daytona driver’s championship. A mere nine points behind the championship leaders, they now sit in third position in the class. Ferrari is currently second in the GT-Daytona manufacturer championship.The Oak Tree Grand Prix will be shown live on Sunday, August 23 at 1:00 PM ET on FOX Sports 1, with qualifying streamed live on Saturday, August 22 at 4:40 PM ET on IMSA.com.