R.Ferri Motorsport and AIM Autosport RACING WITH FERRARI Announce 2013 GRAND-AM Rolex GT Series Effort; Max Papis and Jeff Segal to Share Driving Duties
Vaughan, ON. - In an exclusive announcement at Ferrari of Ontario, R.Ferri Motorsport and AIM Autosport RACING WITH FERRARI have announced a newly formed effort to compete in the 2013 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series, beginning with the 51st running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona on January 26-27, 2013.
Hosted by Ferrari of Ontario/Alberta President Remo Ferri, the event featured the first look at the team’s new Ferrari 458 Italia GT Grand Am racecar, as well as the naming of the driver line-up for the No. 61 entry. Max Papis makes his return to sports car racing and the famed Ferrari marque, joining two-time and reigning Rolex Series GT Champion Jeff Segal for the full-season campaign.
Segal also participated in the American Le Mans Series last year with ESM Ferrari for one race, but said he is committed to the R. Ferri/AIM Motorsport Ferrari team for 2013 and beyond, when the Grand Am and ALMS series will officially merge.
“My focus is very much on this program. Especially when you look at what’s in line to happen in 2014 when the series converge, I think being with a team like this that has the upward mobility to continue in that series, this is where I want to be.”
Addressing the media, Ferri spoke of his passion for Ferrari racing and his enthusiasm for the project.
“We’re now trying to put together a great opportunity and a dream of winning the 24 hours of Daytona. Max is a great driver; a high profile driver. The AIM Autosport team has been great through the entire process and is definitely the right choice. We decided to create a Canadian entry. Our expectation is to continue the pedigree of Ferrari cars. It is part of our DNA, and it is a great part of my life. We are now ready to take it to the next level.”
The No. 61 car will join last year’s championship No. 69 FXDD entry, and Segal spoke of the strength the second car will give the team and drivers.
“We have two bullets in the gun now. I think we’re much better off this year. I’m looking forward to a team car on track, someone that you’re not worried about hitting you. We did a lot of development last year in terms of the evolution of the technical specifications of the car, not just handling, but reliability and serviceability. To that end we did a lot of the hard work last year. This year with two cars, we’re less focused on the development and more on the fine-tuning. With two cars we can try two different setups and get through a large amount of work in half the time.”
Ian Willis, Team co-owner and lead engineer commented, “This is a great opportunity for AIM Autosport to be able to expand our program from one to two cars. The addition of the Ferrari of Ontario entry alongside the 2012 Championship Winning FXDD program is a tribute to our team and the success that we’ve achieved this past year.”
The new driver combination for the No. 61 is touted as a serious contender in the 2013 Rolex GT Sports Car Series, and the upcoming Rolex 24 at Daytona. Andrew Bordin, Team co-owner stated, “We’re excited at this driver pairing of Max and Jeff. Each of them brings so much experience to the team, having both been involved with Ferrari in the past years. We know that we have the right combination.”
The on-track debut for the R.Ferri Motorsport and AIM Autosport RACING WITH FERRARI effort is slated for the upcoming Roar Before the Rolex 24 at Daytona, January 6-8, 2013. Additional announcements regarding the full AIM Autosport two-car driver line-up will be released in the comings weeks.
AIM Autosport RACING WITH FERRARI is the only Canadian team registered in the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series to have won the GT Series Championship.
