Miguel Molina will join Risi Competizione at this weekend’s Roar Before the Rolex 24, in an all Spanish-speaking lineup for the team’s foray into the GT Daytona class.
The Ferrari factory driver, fresh off victory in last month’s Gulf 12 Hours, is expected to be confirmed for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season-opener alongside Martin Fuentes, Ricardo Perez and Santiago Creel in the No. 82 Ferrari 488 GT3.
It will mark Molina’s debut in the Florida endurance classic after contesting the FIA World Endurance Championship last year in an AF Corse-run Ferrari.
The former Audi DTM ace joins the Houston-based team, which expands into a two-car operation for Daytona, in fielding a GT3-spec Ferrari for the first time.
Risi had considered taking part in selected end-of-season WeatherTech Championship races with the car last year, as well as initially appearing on the entry list for the Hankook 24 Hours of COTA.
The team has at least two GT3-spec 488s in its possession, each owned by customers.
Risi’s GTLM Future Not Yet Clear
Newly crowned GT World Champion Alessandro Pier Guidi is so far the only confirmed driver in Risi’s GT Le Mans class entry at the Roar, although is expected to be filled by an all-factory lineup for the race.
Sportscar365 understands that longtime Risi driver Giancarlo Fisichella is unlikely to return to the team this year.
Additionally, the team’s GTLM entry is not yet confirmed for the full season, with Risi reportedly not opting to submit a full-season ‘Premium’ entry for 2018.
The team withdrew from IMSA competition following the 24 Hours of Le Mans last year but returned for the final three races of the season, with Fisichella and Toni Vilander scoring podiums in those rounds.