The eighth round of the American Le Mans Series, the Grand Prix of Mosport, took place in Bowmanville, Ontario / Canada on the 30th August 2009. With the Grand Prix of Mosport the final spurt for the championship title in the GT2 class of the ALMS started for Pierre Kaffer and the Risi Competizione Team.
The event began very promising for the Ferrari crew who is second in the championship. Pierre did a top time in his stint in practice and handed over the F430 to Jaime Melo on P3. In his sixth lap Melo did a fatal mistake which scared the hell out of the team - in turn 1 Melo had some understeering, went off line and got on the slippery grass ending up in the wall causing extensive damage to the left side and rear of the car.
For the team it was clear that no qualifying will be possible because serious repairs were necessary. The Risi Team did an unbelievable job - the car was ready on time for the start of the eighth round of the ALMS but of course the team had to start from the back of the grid.
Pierre after the shock of not being able to qualify the car: "Sadly we have to start the race from the back of the grid but I am not angry or disappointed but I feel sorry for the team. That is racing. It will be difficult for us but we will do our best."
After the bad luck the race ran amazingly. Pierre's team mate Jaime Melo did the start from the back of the grid and was able to get up to P5 in the first ten laps and further up to P2 till the first pit stop. Due to the perfect timing of the pit stop in a full course caution period Pierre took over the lead in the GT2 class. In the next laps there were a lot of changes in leadership but the two yellow Corvettes and the red Risi F430 with Pierre Kaffer were always up front. At the end the Corvette C6.R #3 of Jan Magnussen and Johnny O´Connell won with 0.3 seconds in front of Kaffer and the Risi Ferrari.
Pierre after the race: "I have never experienced a race like that! Unbelievable what was going on. The last 30 laps were absolutely the best fight I have ever experienced on a race track. The fight with the #3 (Jan Magnussen) was not only for the spectators and the media a great show, I also enjoyed it very much even if I couldn't pass the Corvette at the end. The first place was so close but Jan defended it very hard. After the race when he fall out of the car being exhausted he said to me that he has never faught so hard for a position.
Generally after the race the hell was let loose. Hundreds of fans and media representatives were swept off their feet by the "best race ever " in the ALMS. Second place is super especially after such a fight and we collected points to close up on the leading Flying Lizard Porsche which came fifth.
I am looking forward to the next race and more exciting fights."
