Petersen/White Lightning to Contest 2007 with Ferrari F430 GT

[Zytek_Fan]

It's a good motorsport news day

Petersen/White Lightning Racing announced that it will campaign a Ferrari F430 GT in the American Le Mans Series for 2007. The two-time GT2 class Series champions have switched from Porsche to Ferrari machinery in pursuit of a third consecutive championship.

The Las Vegas, Nevada-based team will benefit from the highest level of factory support from the Italian manufacturer. The F430 GT will be painted up in the team’s traditional neon yellow, red and white livery. Michelin tires will be equipped on the car which the team expects to take delivery by mid-February.

“We are very excited about the new chapter that is beginning at Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing for the 2007 season and beyond,” Team Owner Michael Petersen said. “To race a Ferrari has been a dream of mine ever since my father brought home his first Ferrari when I was very small. We’ve had great success with Porsche in the past and have made many good friends there and we wish them all the best. But, as things change, as they so often do, we were presented with an opportunity of a new partnership with Ferrari that we could not pass up.”

“This is one of the most exciting days in the history of our team,” Team Manager Dale White said. “Ferrari is synonymous with motorsports throughout the world. To represent the legendary automaker in the American Le Mans Series is a great privilege. Mike and I see this as an opportunity to go from a longtime relationship to a long-term partnership. This move aligns us much more closely with a manufacturer.”

A longtime Porsche competitor, Petersen/White Lightning Racing captured 17 class wins, over 20 podiums and two wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Porsche 911. It will now be a change to the Italian F430, but the goal remains the same: to win.

“After winning the [GT2] Driver and IMSA Cup titles last year and all three championships in ‘05, we were presented a lot of interesting options,” White said. “We were approached by several manufacturers about entering their cars in GT2, in classes outside of GT2 and even outside the Series. But, we want to race in the most competitive series and in the most competitive class. That’s GT2. To win, you need to have a strong team and a close working partnership with a manufacturer. Ferrari has a strong appreciation of our program, what we have accomplished and what we hope to accomplish. Obviously, we share those same feelings about Ferrari. We are looking forward to working closely with Ferrari as a partner, not as a customer.”

“We were informed mid-way through last season that our drivers would be moved to other teams next year,” White added. “That left us in a difficult spot but with an easy choice once Ferrari laid out their ideas of a working relationship. They outlined what Mike and I have been looking for and the decision was made. It’s what is right for the team.”

“To be able to represent Ferrari in the American Le Mans Series is quite an honor for us,” Petersen added. “We are looking forward to an awesome partnership as it should be one hell of a ride.”

Full details regarding the teams driver lineup and sponsors will be released in the coming weeks.

[Zytek_Fan]

The F430 GT will carry the neon yellow, red and white livery that has been identified with the team since debuting in the American Le Mans Series in 1999. As it has done since 2003, the Petersen/White Lightning entry will ride on Michelin racing tires. The team will take delivery of the mid-engine, 1100 kg (2,425 lbs) machine in Italy at Ferrari Corse Clienti in mid-February. Delivery will be followed by a private “shakedown run” at Ferrari’s famous Fiorano test track in Maranello. The Petersen/White Lightning F430 will make its North American debut in a multi-day test at Sebring International Raceway in March.

The move to the Ferrari F430 GT follows a long and successful history with Porsche. Since 1998, Petersen/White Lightning has campaigned Porsche 911-derived cars capturing 17 class wins, over 20 podiums and prestigious victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (twice), 24 At Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans (twice). Petersen/White Lightning, which will compete in its first Euromilhoes Dakar rally next month, has won nine American Le Mans Series GT2 races.

The V8-powered Italian exotic will be in its second season of professional sports car racing in 2007. The F430 GT provided the most intense competition to the Petersen/White Lightning entry as sought its second championship in 2006. Petersen/White Lightning went on to win three events, the Driver Championship with Jörg Bergmeister (Langenfeld, Germany) and the IMSA Cup title. Patrick Long (Las Vegas, Nev.) finished second in the Driver title chase.

A bit more info

[fisetdavid26]

It looks great, and powerful too. Can't wait to see this against Porsche's and Aston Martin's at Le Mans.

[092326001]

nice car hopefully there'll be more cars to overthrow aston martin and corvette

[Ferrer]

It looks great, and powerful too. Can't wait to see this against Porsche's and Aston Martin's at Le Mans.

Curiously it's less powerful than the road car...

And Aston Martin is a class above this Ferrari, so it'll be faster.

[Dino Scuderia]

Curiously it's less powerful than the road car...

And Aston Martin is a class above this Ferrari, so it'll be faster.

The Ferrari engines are detuned in that class. It's a common practice in racing.

[Cyco]

The issue isn't tuning as much as inlet restrictors

[The_Canuck]

Traitors!!! Although I do like this Ferrari...but still TRAITORS!

[Ferrer]

The Ferrari engines are detuned in that class. It's a common practice in racing.

They are not detuned, or it's problem of the restrictors. It's rather that the F430 GT should be named F400 GT since it runs a 4-litre V8 engine, to benefit of the rules regarding restrictors. It has about 440bhp, compared to the road car's 4.3-litre 490bhp V8.

[Dino Scuderia]

They are not detuned, or it's problem of the restrictors. It's rather that the F430 GT should be named F400 GT since it runs a 4-litre V8 engine, to benefit of the rules regarding restrictors. It has about 440bhp, compared to the road car's 4.3-litre 490bhp V8.

That still fits the definition of detuned.

[Wouter Melissen]

That still fits the definition of detuned.

No it does not. Detuned suggests that they need to cut back on power to preserve the engine. Quite the opposite is true here. This is very highly tuned engine, but restricted by mandatory restrictors. The choice to cut the displacement was made because a larger displacement would be punished relatively more with smaller diameter restrictors.

[Wouter Melissen]

Traitors!!! Although I do like this Ferrari...but still TRAITORS!

Please read before making idiotic comments. Porsche told them that they would not allocate them any factory drivers for 2007, so it's Porsche that left this Le Mans class winning team hanging. Ferrari stepped up and will give Petersen the highest level of factory backing available for the F430 GTC program.

[Dino Scuderia]

No it does not. Detuned suggests that they need to cut back on power to preserve the engine. Quite the opposite is true here. This is very highly tuned engine, but restricted by mandatory restrictors. The choice to cut the displacement was made because a larger displacement would be punished relatively more with smaller diameter restrictors.

Engines are also detuned to meet rule requirements in certain classes, not only to preserve them.

[Ferrer]

Engines are also detuned to meet rule requirements in certain classes, not only to preserve them.

Anyway as Wouter said this engine is not detuned, it's just smaller than the road going engine. From the 4-litre starting point they have made as performing as it's possible with the current regulations.

[Wouter Melissen]

Engines are also detuned to meet rule requirements in certain classes, not only to preserve them.

That's called restricted. It's not like the rules dictate a maximum compression ratio for example.