Two more GT2 430's in ALMS the 2008 season!

2008 promises to be a VERY interesting season for GT2 in ALMS with Jim Tafel now switching to the 430's. The car appears to be the same coloration as the Porsches they ran in the late part of this season. The Prancing Horse now takes on an additional meaning with their Tafel Racing of the four-legged variety - they are the owners of Street Sense - Kentucky Derby Winner this year.

Can't wait for Sebring ! ! !

From ALMS:

Tafel Racing will field two Ferrari F430 GTs next year in the GT2 class of the American Le Mans Series.
Tafel Racing is heading in a different direction for the 2008 American Le Mans Series season after announcing it will campaign two Ferrari F430 GTs in the highly competitive GT2 class. The move comes following a 2007 season that saw the Cumming, Ga.-based team record six podium finishes and third place in both the drivers and team championships using Porsche power.

But Ferraris record of nine class wins in 12 races, 11 GT2 pole positions and the class manufacturer title, and the driver and team championships with Risi Competizione made team owner Jim Tafel look hard at a switch.

"We spent the majority of the 2007 season in the rear-view mirror of the Ferrari teams," said Tafel, who also drives for the team. "We took a long hard look at what it would take to get back on a level playing field with teams like Risi Competizione and Petersen Motorsports, and after much soul searching and a very informative visit to Ferrari and Micheletto, who build the cars for Ferrari, we saw that the only way forward was to make the change."


Jim Tafel: ""We took a long hard look at what it would take to get back on a level playing field" with other Ferrari teams in GT2.
The team will have at least one of its two Ferraris on the track for the annual American Le Mans Series Winter Test at Sebring International Raceway on January 28-30. Also coming in the near future are announcements regarding drivers and sponsorship plans.

"It's very hard to change a manufacturer after the success we have had," said Tony Dowe, team vice president and technical director. "Our sophomore year in the American Le Mans Series will be critical to our future planning. After the enormous effort that we made in 2007, we felt we needed a different foundation from which to move forward. After looking at all of the options it was clear that the move to Ferrari was our best opportunity to win races in 2008. The open communication that we already have with Micheletto has helped to confirm that we have made the right decision to go to the Prancing Horse for 2008."

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Carol

 

Hi there - Audi is going to run an R10 in LMS - Pirro and possibly Biela - I read where Allan wanted to run LMS but looks like he and Dindo will stay here and go for a ninth victory. You're correct Michael, something new on a constant basis. The 430's are going to be prevelant this year - Risi - 2, Tafel - 2, PWL - 1, Corsa - 1. Yep, square on the Mid-Ohio ticket info from other thread - just haven't done it yet.

Carol

 

SLC race is a Sunday race . . . . 19 May at 1 pm local time - 3 hour race - Miller Motor Sports Park

Laguna Seca is 18 October . . . . starts at 3 pm local - 4 hour race

here's a link to the schedule for 2008 - definitely going to be a good one!

http://www.americanlemans.com/Schedule/SeasonSchedule.aspx

Carol