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Posted on August 11, 2014

Ferrari Gallops to Victory with Michelin in Tudor Championship GTLM Class at Road America

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ELKHART LAKE, WIS. (August 10, 2014) - Patience, pit work and race pace were rewarded today as the Risi Competizione Ferrari of former F1 standout Giancarlo Fisichella and co-driver Pierre Kaffer brought home the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship GTLM class victory for Ferrari and Michelin here at Road America.

After a disastrous start to the season, which twice saw the team’s Ferrari 458 Italia eliminated before Fisichella ever got in the car at Daytona and Sebring, the Houston based team, led by team principal Giuseppe Risi, has kept focus, made some adjustments, including the addition of Kaffer, and now sees its customary success. Today’s victory on the challenging 4.0 mile circuit dubbed America’s National Park of Speed and follows a pole and runner-up finish at the recent Brickyard Grand Prix at Indianapolis.

The Risi Ferrari win led a Michelin technical partner sweep of the top eight spots in the factory dominated GTLM class. BMW Team RLL pole winner John Edwards and Dirk Mueller finished second followed closely by the Dodge Viper SRTs of Jonathan Bomarito / Kuno Wittmer and Viper’s Dominik Farnbacher with Marc Goossens. Porsche North America’s Patrick Long and Michael Christensen rounded out the top five

The championship leading Corvette Racing duo of Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia finished sixth, followed by teammates Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner and the BMW of Bill Auberlen and Andy Priaulx completed a Michelin sweep of the top eight spots in the GTLM class.   

Fisichella moved up from his ninth place GTLM starting position to fifth in the early going. When the leaders all pitted together during a caution period it was the Ferrari that leapt to the front. “We made a good start and the team made a fantastic pit stop. We came out in front and that was the key to race,” said Fisichella of his first victory in the series. “It was great day for us.”

It was not quite that easy. When the race resumed, Fisichella stormed away to a seven-second lead before handing off to Kaffer who, despite a series of caution flags, was able to withstand every challenge in the balance of the two hour 45 minute race.

“Mr. Risi is a really patient man and today we are all happy to bring a win for Ferrari, for the Risi team and for Michelin,” said Kaffer.

“We congratulate our friends at Risi Competizione Ferrari, Giancarlo and Pierre on their first victory of the season,” said Chris Baker, director of motorsports, Michelin North America.

“It is an indication of the quality of the teams, the level of GTLM competition and our commitment to all of our technical partners that in the first eight GTLM races of the TUDOR Championship, eight different Michelin drivers have won the pole, eight have set fastest race laps, all of our teams have at least three podiums and four of our five teams have now scored wins” said Baker.

The next stop on the TUDOR Championship is at Virginia International Raceway on August 24.

For more information, visit www.michelinmedia.com or contact:

John Love                                                                             Brian Remsberg

EMC Strategic Communications                                     Michelin North America

mobile: 313 506 2114                                                        office: 864 458 5908

office: 248 816 0106                                                          brian.remsberg@us.michelin.com

john@emcstrategic.com                                                    

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About Michelin North America

Michelin, the leading mobility company, is working with tires, around tires and beyond tires to enable Motion for Life. Dedicated to enhancing its clients’ mobility and sustainability, Michelin designs and distributes the most suitable tires, services and solutions for its customers’ needs. Michelin provides digital services, maps and guides to help enrich trips and travels and make them unique experiences. Bringing its expertise to new markets, the company is investing in high-technology materials, 3D printing and hydrogen, to serve a wide variety of industries — from aerospace to biotech. Headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, Michelin North America has approximately 22,500 employees and operates 34 production facilities in the United States and Canada. (michelinman.com