AF Corse looking to open points account at Spa
Looking to repeat its 2012 race-winning form, AF Corse will line up two Ferrari 458 Italia against the Aston Martin and Porsche factory teams in the LMGTE Pro category, and another two 458 Italia GT2 in the LMGTE Am category for the 6 Hours of Spa this weekend. In addition, technical management of the 8Star Motorsport Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 will be handled by AF Corse.
The only Italian team engaged in the WEC, AF Corse is the reigning champion in LMGTE Pro, while Ferrari also hold the GT Constructors’ title.
LMGTE Pro: The duo who dominated in 2012, Giancarlo Fisichella and Gianmaria Bruni, are ready to come back and fight for the top position in the No.51 Ferrari 458 Italia. In the opening race at Silverstone, in the middle of April, some unlucky incidents affected their race and they finished in 5th place.
On the other hand, on the same track the No.71 Ferrari 458 Italia opened its championship in great style: Kamui Kobayashi and Toni Vilander made their debut as teammates and took second place in the LMGTE Pro category. Kobayashi raced for the first time in his career in an endurance race in a GT car, after having arrived in the WEC directly from F1.
LMGTE Am: Following the order of the entry list, in the Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 No. 54 are Howard Blank, Yannick Mallegol and Jean Marc Bachelier. The FIA WEC represents a new challenge for this trio after gaining a lot of experience in the main European GT competitions. At the wheel of the Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 No.61 are Jack Gerber, Marco Cioci and Matt Griffin: the three drivers capable of reaching the top positions.
The No.81 Ferrari 458 Italia will fly the colors of the 8 Star Motorsport team with the drivers Enzo Potolicchio, Rui Aguas and Matteo Malucelli. The Venezuelan and Portuguese pair had to settle for third place at Silverstone, a positive result that could have been better were it not for another car hitting them in the second last lap. What they have already demonstrated puts them amongst the most likely candidates for first place in the category, and they will no doubt be helped with the addition of Matteo Malucelli to their line up for the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps WEC.
