Two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans class-winning Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing stated that it will campaign the Ferrari F430 GT in the American Le Mans Series beginning in 2007. The two-time, GT2 class Series Champions will enter their first race under the legendary banner of the Ferrari prancing horse at the season-opening Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 17.
The move to the most renowned name in motorsports comes on the heels of two consecutive American Le Mans Series Driver Championships for the Michael Petersen-owned and Dale White-managed team. The program will see the highest level of factory support the Nevada-based organization has enjoyed in its impressive sports car racing career.
However, the partnership with Ferrari Corse Clienti stops short of a full-factory effort allowing the No. 31 to pursue a third consecutive IMSA Cup championship for privateer entrants. 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 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.