Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 Making Debut at Sebring this Weekend

This weekend’s Le Mans Cup 12-hour race that takes place at Sebring is a very special occasion for Ferrari, as the even marks the competition debut of the new Ferrari 458 Italia GT2. This is the opening round of the prestigious American Le Mans Series and of the intercontinental Le Mans Cup.

The Risi Competizione team will try and match the extraordinary series of wins obtained by the F430 GTC over the past four events of this classic race. The new V8-powered sports car, which based on the 458 Italia and developed by Ferrari in conjunction with Michelotto Automobili, will fill the shoes left vacant by its predecessor. For this weekend’s racing, it will be driven by a crew consisting of Brazil’s Jaime Melo and the two Finnish drivers - Toni Vilander and Mika Salo.

In order to celebrate the even, the Risi Competizione team will invite Amedeo Felisa, CEO Ferrari SpA , and Marco Mattiacci, CEO Ferrari North America, with the help of the local dealer from Houston, Texas. Felisa arrived today at the race track in order to see the special event, which will also be witness to a total of eight privately-owned Ferraris taking part in a parade that marks the opening of the race weekend prior to the actual start on Saturday at 10.30 local time.

The now venerable F430 GTC will also be featured in the GTE Pro category, with the experienced Giancarlo Fisichella, Gianmaria Bruni and Pierre Kaffer at the wheel. After this event, the AF Corse team that is fielding the F430 will swap its car for the new 458 Italia GT2, which only recently made its track debut with Fisichella and Bruni on the Le Mans Series official test day.