Risi Competizione

[JohnBM01]

GTPlanet, I might start coming up with more threads on personalities and teams than usual racing talk. I have a lot of time between now and when the Indy 500 takes place. So let's do this. This thread is on Risi Competizione. You're here to talk about the team, some classic moments with the team, classic racing moments with them, what you think about them in general, and all that. So let's do the intro before you do the replying.

WEBSITES:
http://www.risicompetizione.com/ (official)
http://www.risicompetizione.com/go/history.html (more info)
http://www.italiaspeed.com/2006/motorsport/sportscars/alms/01/101.html (closeup of the Risi Competitzione F430 GT)

According to the team's website, they were founded in the year I had seen my first race on TV (Texaco GP of Houston, 1998). They are led by Giuseppe Risi. This team seen action both in America and around Europe. They even do some client work for Ferrari and Maserati race cars. Whoever can forget the non-eligible Maserati MC12, which made plenty of controversy without turning one wheel? The car wasn't up to FIA spec, so it came in as a "guest" for last year's ALMS championship. They are campaigning the beautiful Ferrari F430 in the ALMS. They hope to knock Porsche off the top of the mountain as the new king of GT2 racing. Anthony Lazarro finished his ride in P3 in the GT2 class at Sebring. The series heads to Houston for the May 11-13 ALMS event in Houston. It will a Friday Night street fight as they try to take down their other GT2 competition. Perhaps their signature win was when they won the inaugural Petit Le Mans with my favorite race car of all-time, the Ferrari 333SP. They would go on to do considerably well in many prototype ranks at Daytona and Le Mans. This is a solid race team based in what city? Well- Houston, Texas, USA. So you could say they are the sportscar racing pride of Texas, not to mention Houston and Southeast Texas.

Care to continue? Go right ahead. One more link:
http://www.motorsport.com/photos/petitlm/plm98/petit12.jpg (winning car of the 1998 Petit Le Mans)

NOW you can begin (if you'd like).

 

[McLaren]

I remember when they ran the Calpont 360s.

#35 was in Dallas' Auto Show a few years back, but was only there for the last day. Could never get a picture as it was around the year Ferrari finally came. Afterwards, it went to Ferrari of Dallas for about 2 days on display, and then left.

I have photos, but they aren't digital.
I know the dealer also had a 333SP on display opening day years back, but was not the famous Risi. Only a solid red one.

 

[JohnBM01]

Well, my favorite race car of all-time is the Ferrari 333SP. I've seemed to love the Momo Ferrari, which is NOT a Risi Competizione product for what I know. I just thought that I'd start this thread as the Lone Star Grand Prix has one of its own racing in its hometown. That is of course, Risi Competizione in Houston. This is still a great team regardless of what they race. I sometimes feel like Ferrari needs to return to prototype action. I'm not saying that they should take away from Scuderia Ferrari, but more like the turn-key deal they had last decade. Everyone from Risi Comptizione to Doran Racing to JMB Giesse had 333SP's. Those were beautiful automobiles and wouldn't it be interesting if Porsche's P2 effort has to go against a Ferrari P2 or even P1?

Just something to think about. Anyone else want to talk about Risi Competizione?

 

[Mulsanne]

I can still remember cheering like mad watching the Risi 360 beat the Porkers at Lime Rock a few years ago. Hopefully, we'll be seeing a repeat of that many times this season and in seasons to come.

Although I am also a fan of the MOMO Ferrari, one of the best-looking 333SP examples was the one Risi ran in the 2001 Daytona 24 Hours. The one simply painted red with a white circle with #12 on it. Simple, yet elegant. IIRC, it was the last one Michelotto had built and the owner wanted it to have a racing heritage before sending it to his collection, so they entered Daytona with it.
http://www.racingsportscars.com/photo/2001/Daytona-2001-02-04-012.jpg

I was at Daytona in 2002 when they also ran a 333SP. I remember standing at the bottom of the banking in the middle of the night, watching the cars go by looking like they were on a wall. In the middle of the packs of flat-six Porsches buzzing by monotonously, here was this glorious V12 sound and a beautiful red car flying past. Mmmmmm......

 

[Kylehnat]

The Risi 360. One of the best looking cars on the grid, and such a sweet sound out of that V8

Maybe this year they can take the fight to Porsche and take a GT2 win with the F430

 

[dougiemeats]

It's a shame that the Maserati no longer competes, even if there was a lot of controversy surrounding it. Despite all of the negative attention it received, there were some moments when the Maserati made the racing exciting.

Lime Rock Park comes to mind. The Corvettes were dominating despite Ron Fellows' incident. Meanwhile, the Saleen had an excellent battle with the Maserati until the end. The battles for 3rd place were often the most exciting in my opinion.

I must admit I never really paid much attention to the GT2 class before last year, but Risi Competizione is my favorite team from that class this season. I do remember a 360 beating the Porsches one year, was that the Risi? Edit: I missed Mulsanne's post... the one I'm thinking of was in fact the Risi Competizione 360.

Houston will be fun to watch. Let's hope for a Risi Competizione win in its home streets and a good race overall.

 

[JohnBM01]

More Risi Competizione love, you say? Well, here's some more love here:

http://www.fast-autos.net/vehicles/Ferrari/2006/F430_GT/

These pictures are of Risi Competizione's newest ALMS-GT2 weapon. The car is beautiful and fast. This is a wonderful race car which the team hopes can stage a potentially successful campaign. I'm sure any car that can take down the Porsche juggernauts deserves some respect.