IMSA: Scuderia Corsa sets Sebring lineup

IMSA: Scuderia Corsa sets Sebring lineup

IMSA

IMSA: Scuderia Corsa sets Sebring lineup

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2013 Grand-Am Rolex GT champions Scuderia Corsa have nominated an interesting driver lineup for its No. 63 Ferrari F458 Italia, blending youth and experience as the team seeks its first victory at Sebring.

Alessandro Balzan, Jeff Westphal and Lorenzo Case, who shared the No. 63 at the season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona with Toni Vilander, will have open-wheel and sports car veteran Stefan Johansson (pictured, LEFT) filling the fourth and final seat.

“When I look at the lineup of drivers of our No. 63, I am very excited and motivated for Sebring,” said team owner Giacomo Mattioli. “Alessandro, Jeff, and Lorenzo proved to be a very fast combination and we are happy we could keep the three of them together for Sebring. And, on a personal level, I am very excited to welcome my friend of over 30 years, Stefan, to the team.

“His experience and speed will be a great asset for us, in this race which is very important not only to use, but to our partners at Ferrari North America who are celebrating their 60th anniversary. We hope to add a GTD class victory to the long list of Ferrari’s victories at Sebring.”

Johansson, who joined Mattioli’s team as its sporting director in January, told RACER he can’t wait to sample another Prancing Horse.

“I’ve always loved racing; I’ve never stopped and always look to race wherever the opportunities come, and being in a Ferrari is always a special occasion for me,” said the Swede, who drove for Ferrari in Formula 1. “It will be extra challenging because I don’t have that much time in GT cars, but hopefully come race day I’ll be in the groove. I never thought at the age of 57, I’d still be racing almost full time!”

With an overall win at the 1997 24 Hours of Le Mans and two overall wins at the Twelve Hours of Sebring, Johansson is hoping to add another major victory to his résumé next week.

“I won it in 1984 with Joest in the Moby Dick Porsche – the 1000 horsepower car – and again in 1997 with Andy Evans in the Ferrari 333 SP,” said Johansson, recalling an amazing year where he won two of the world’s greatest endurance races in a span of three months. “I’d really like to add a win with Scuderia Corsa in a third decade, and I think we have the team capable of doing it.”

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