AF Corse

AF Corse is an Italian auto racing team founded by former racing driver Amato Ferrari in 1995 in Piacenza. Strongly linked to the Maserati and Ferrari brands, AF Corse currently competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship, GT World Challenge Europe, European Le Mans Series, Asian Le Mans Series, DTM, and International GT Open, and are four-time champions of the GT2 class of the former FIA GT Championship.[1] The team has also entered cars under Advanced Engineering, AT Racing, PeCom Racing, Spirit of Race, Formula Racing, 8Star Motorsports and MR Racing, and in association with Michael Waltrip Racing (AF Waltrip).

Italy AF Corse
Founded1995
Team principal(s)Amato Ferrari
Current seriesFIA World Endurance Championship
GT World Challenge Europe
European Le Mans Series
WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
Asian Le Mans Series
International GT Open
British GT Championship
DTM
Former seriesItalian Superturismo Championship
FIA GT Championship
FIA GT1 World Championship
World Series Formula V8 3.5 (as Spirit of Race/SMP Racing)
Noted driversJames Calado, Antonio Fuoco, Antonio Giovinazzi, Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen, Alessandro Pier Guidi
Teams'
Championships
2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 FIA GT2, 2011 ILMC LM GTE-Pro, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017 FIA WEC GTE-Pro, 2020 GTWC Endurance, 2021 DTM
Drivers'
Championships
2006, 2007, 2008 FIA GT2, 2011 FIA GT3, 2013, 2014, 2017 FIA WEC GTE-Pro, 2020 GTWC Endurance, 2021 DTM

History

In 1995, Amato Ferrari (no relation to the family of Enzo Ferrari and his Ferrari car company) retired from driving and chose to concentrate on team management, initially entering the Italian Superturismo Championship. Following the series' demise in 1999, Ferrari launched a new team known as AF Corse (in English, "AF Racing"), named for his initials. The team turned to sports car racing, and within a year was contracted by Maserati. AF Corse was tasked with the development, maintenance, and transport of the Trofeo Cup, a one-make series based on the Maserati Coupé. The company would continue in this position until 2005.

During 2004, Maserati approached AF Corse about running their latest development in sports car racing: the new Maserati MC12 for the international FIA GT Championship. The team aided Maserati in testing and developing the car before running the two new racers in their home event at Imola. Drivers Fabrizio de Simone, Andrea Bertolini, Mika Salo, and Johnny Herbert were all be assigned to the team, eventually earning AF Corse two victories before the season ended.[2] Once the development of the MC12 was satisfied, the company returned to running the Trofeo Cup, as well as running a Maserati Light in the 2005 Italian GT Championship.

One of AF Corse's Ferrari F430 GT2s.

AF Corse returned to the FIA GT Championship in 2006. This time however they would be running the latest Ferrari offering, the Ferrari F430, as well as competing in the series' lower category, the GT2 class. Salo was retained in the driving line-up, while newcomers Rui Águas, Jaime Melo, and Matteo Bobbi completed the standard line-up. Victory was earned in the team's debut at Silverstone, and another two were earned over the season, including at the Spa 24 Hours. AF Corse won the class championship, beating fellow Ferrari competitor Scuderia Ecosse.[3] The company retained their connection to Maserati however, entering a trio of cars in the new FIA GT3 European Championship.

As defending champions, AF Corse remained in the FIA GT Championship in 2007, although much on the team changed. While the Ferrari F430s remained, all new drivers were introduced to the team. Dirk Müller, Toni Vilander, Gianmaria Bruni, and Stephane Ortelli took over driving duties for the season, while Motorola announced their full sponsorship of the squad. The two cars dominated the 2007 season, winning nine of the ten events on the schedule and wrapping up another championship.[1]

For 2008, AF Corse expanded to a three car team in the GT2 class. Vilander and Bruni are retained in the lead car, while Biagi returns to the squad to be joined by Christian Montanari in the second entry. The third car will be run under the Advanced Engineering name, with Argentinian Matías Russo and Luís Pérez Companc.

In 2010, the FIA GT Championship was dissolved and two new championships were born from it. The GT1 class of the former series became the FIA GT1 World Championship while the GT2 class formed the FIA GT2 European Championship. The GT2 series was suspended due to lack of entries. As a result, the AF Corse team joined the Le Mans Series. For the 2010 season, the team fielded three Ferrari F430 GT2s for the series' GT2 class. Drivers Matías Russo and Luís Pérez Companc campaigned the #94 Ferrari with Toni Vilander and former Grand Prix drivers Jean Alesi and Giancarlo Fisichella in the #95. ALMS regulars, with the Risi Competizione team, Jaime Melo and Gianmaria Bruni drove the Ferrari #96.

In 2011 AF Corse entered the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup with brand new Ferrari 458 Italia GT2s as well as the FIA GT3 European Championship with Ferrari 458 Italia GT3s. AF Corse won the ILMC in the GTE-Pro category, including the final round at Petit Le Mans. It also won the FIA GT3 driver's championship with Francisco Catellaci and Federico Leo.

The team also joined the International GT Open for the 2010 season in the Super GT class, which is largely reminiscent of the GT2 rules in the Le Mans Series. The team fields two Ferrari GT2 cars for drivers Jack Gerber & Rui Águas in the #6 car and Pierre Kaffer and Álvaro Barba in the #8 Ferrari. AF Corse will also field a third Ferrari (#7) for the AT Racing team with drivers Alexander Talkanitsa and his son Alexander Talkanitsa Jr.

For 2012, AF Corse competed in a variety of sports car championships throughout Europe and globally, including the FIA World Endurance Championship and GT1 World Championship with Ferrari F458 Italia GT2s and Ferrari F458 Italia GT3s, including a co-branded for GTE-Am class car with Michael Waltrip Racing, AF Waltrip. At the 24 Hours of Le Mans, amateur driver Piergiuseppe Perazzini collided with the No. 8 Toyota driven by overall-contender Anthony Davidson, sending the Toyota airborne at the Mulsanne Corner. Perazzini's Ferrari also flipped and landed on its roof after hitting the tyre barrier. Davidson suffered two broken vertebrae in the crash but was able to pull himself from the car in the immediate aftermath of the accident - though of course he was forced to abandon the race.[4] The AF Corse #51 car driven by Gianmaria Bruni, Giancarlo Fisichella and Toni Vilander won the GTE Pro race beating Corvette, Porsche and Aston Martin.

Results

24 Hours of Le Mans

Year Entrant No. Car Drivers Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2007 Italy AF Corse
United Kingdom Aucott Racing
78 Ferrari F430 GT2 United Kingdom Joe Macari
United Kingdom Ben Aucott
United Kingdom Adrian Newey
GT2 308 22nd 4th
2008 Italy AF Corse 78 Ferrari F430 GT2 Italy Thomas Biagi
Finland Toni Vilander
San Marino Christian Montanari
GT2 111 DNF DNF
2009 Italy AF Corse 78 Ferrari F430 GT2 Italy Gianmaria Bruni
Argentina Luis Pérez Companc
Argentina Matías Russo
GT2 317 26th 6th
2010 Italy AF Corse SRL 95 Ferrari F430 GT2 Italy Giancarlo Fisichella
France Jean Alesi
Finland Toni Vilander
LMGT2 323 16th 4th
96 Argentina Luis Pérez Companc
Argentina Matías Russo
Finland Mika Salo
LMGT2 - DNS DNS
2011 Argentina PeCom Racing 49 Lola B11/40 Argentina Luis Pérez Companc
Argentina Matías Russo
Germany Pierre Kaffer
LMP2 139 DNF DNF
Italy AF Corse SRL 51 Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 Italy Giancarlo Fisichella
Italy Gianmaria Bruni
Finland Toni Vilander
LMGTE Pro 314 13th 2nd
61 Ferrari F430 GTE Italy Piergiuseppe Perazzini
Italy Marco Cioci
Republic of Ireland Seán Paul Breslin
LMGTE Am 188 DNF DNF
Italy AF Corse 71 Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 United States Robert Kauffman
United States Michael Waltrip
Portugal Rui Águas
LMGTE Pro 178 DNF DNF
2012 Argentina PeCom Racing 49 Oreca 03 Argentina Luís Pérez Companc
Germany Pierre Kaffer
France Soheil Ayari
LMP2 352 9th 3rd
Italy AF Corse 51 Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 Italy Giancarlo Fisichella
Italy Gianmaria Bruni
Finland Toni Vilander
LMGTE Pro 336 17th 1st
71 Italy Andrea Bertolini
Monaco Olivier Beretta
Italy Marco Cioci
LMGTE Pro 326 22nd 4th
81 Italy Piergiuseppe Perazzini
Italy Niki Cadei
Republic of Ireland Matt Griffin
LMGTE Am 70 DNF DNF
Italy AF Corse-Waltrip 61 United States Robert Kauffman
United States Brian Vickers
Portugal Rui Águas
LMGTE Am 294 31st 6th
2013 Argentina PeCom Racing 49 Oreca 03 Argentina Luís Pérez Companc
Germany Pierre Kaffer
France Nicolas Minassian
LMP2 325 10th 4th
Italy AF Corse 51 Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 Italy Giancarlo Fisichella
Italy Gianmaria Bruni
Italy Matteo Malucelli
LMGTE Pro 311 21st 5th
54 France Yannick Mallégol
France Jean-Marc Bachelier
United States Howard Blank
LMGTE Am 147 DNF DNF
55 Italy Piergiuseppe Perazzini
Italy Lorenzo Casè
Hong Kong Darryl O'Young
LMGTE Am 305 26th 2nd
61 South Africa Jack Gerber
Republic of Ireland Matt Griffin
Italy Marco Cioci
LMGTE Am 305 27th 3rd
71 Monaco Olivier Beretta
Japan Kamui Kobayashi
Finland Toni Vilander
LMGTE Pro 312 20th 4th
2014 Russia SMP Racing 27 Oreca 03R Russia Sergey Zlobin
Russia Anton Ladygin
Finland Mika Salo
LMP2 303 37th 12th
37 Russia Kirill Ladygin
Italy Maurizio Mediani
France Nicolas Minassian
LMP2 9 DNF DNF
72 Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 Italy Andrea Bertolini
Russia Viktor Shaytar
Russia Aleksey Basov
LMGTE Am 196 DNF DNF
Italy AF Corse 51 Italy Gianmaria Bruni
Italy Giancarlo Fisichella
Finland Toni Vilander
LMGTE Pro 339 15th 1st
60 United States Peter Ashley Mann
Italy Lorenzo Casè
Italy Raffaele Giammaria
LMGTE Am 115 DNF DNF
61 Argentina Luís Pérez Companc
Italy Marco Cioci
Italy Mirko Venturi
LMGTE Am 331 22nd 3rd
62 France Yannick Mallégol
France Jean-Marc Bachelier
United States Howard Blank
LMGTE Am 295 38th 14th
71 Italy Davide Rigon
Germany Pierre Kaffer
Monaco Olivier Beretta
LMGTE Pro 28 DNF DNF
81 Australia Stephen Wyatt
Italy Michele Rugolo
United Kingdom Sam Bird
LMGTE Am 22 DNF DNF
2015 Italy AF Corse 51 Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 Italy Gianmaria Bruni
Italy Giancarlo Fisichella
Finland Toni Vilander
LMGTE Pro 330 25th 3rd
55 United Kingdom Duncan Cameron
United Kingdom Alex Mortimer
Republic of Ireland Matt Griffin
LMGTE Am 241 DNF DNF
61 United States Peter Ashley Mann
Italy Raffaele Giammaria
Italy Matteo Cressoni
LMGTE Am 326 31st 5th
71 Italy Davide Rigon
United Kingdom James Calado
Monaco Olivier Beretta
LMGTE Pro 332 21st 2nd
83 France François Perrodo
France Emmanuel Collard
Portugal Rui Águas
LMGTE Am 330 26th 4th
Russia SMP Racing 72 Russia Viktor Shaytar
Russia Aleksey Basov
Italy Andrea Bertolini
LMGTE Am 332 20th 1st
2016 Italy AF Corse 51 Ferrari 488 GTE Italy Gianmaria Bruni
Italy Alessandro Pier Guidi
United Kingdom James Calado
LMGTE Pro 179 DNF DNF
71 Italy Davide Rigon
Italy Andrea Bertolini
United Kingdom Sam Bird
LMGTE Pro 143 DNF DNF
55 Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 United Kingdom Duncan Cameron
United Kingdom Aaron Scott
Republic of Ireland Matt Griffin
LMGTE Am 289 43rd 11th
83 France François Perrodo
France Emmanuel Collard
Portugal Rui Águas
LMGTE Am 331 27th 2nd
Denmark Formula Racing 60 Denmark Johnny Laursen
Denmark Christina Nielsen
Denmark Mikkel Mac
LMGTE Am 319 35th 6th
2017 Italy AF Corse 51 Ferrari 488 GTE United Kingdom James Calado
Italy Alessandro Pier Guidi
Italy Michele Rugolo
LMGTE Pro 312 46th 11th
71 Italy Davide Rigon
United Kingdom Sam Bird
Spain Miguel Molina
LMGTE Pro 339 21st 5th
Switzerland Spirit of Race 54 Switzerland Thomas Flohr
Italy Francesco Castellacci
Monaco Olivier Beretta
LMGTE Am 326 41st 12th
55 United Kingdom Duncan Cameron
United Kingdom Aaron Scott
Italy Marco Cioci
LMGTE Am 331 28th 2nd
Singapore Clearwater Racing 60 Singapore Richard Wee
Portugal Álvaro Parente
Japan Hiroki Katoh
LMGTE Am 327 40th 11th
61 Malaysia Weng Sun Mok
Japan Keita Sawa
Republic of Ireland Matt Griffin
LMGTE Am 330 31st 5th
Hong Kong DH Racing 83 United States Tracy Krohn
Sweden Niclas Jönsson
Italy Andrea Bertolini
LMGTE Am 320 42nd 13th
2018 Italy AF Corse 51 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo United Kingdom James Calado
Italy Alessandro Pier Guidi
Brazil Daniel Serra
LMGTE Pro 339 22nd 7th
52 Finland Toni Vilander
Brazil Pipo Derani
Italy Antonio Giovinazzi
LMGTE Pro 341 20th 5th
71 Italy Davide Rigon
United Kingdom Sam Bird
Spain Miguel Molina
LMGTE Pro 338 24th 9th
Switzerland Spirit of Race 54 Ferrari 488 GTE Switzerland Thomas Flohr
Italy Francesco Castellacci
Italy Giancarlo Fisichella
LMGTE Am 335 26th 2nd
Singapore Clearwater Racing 61 Republic of Ireland Matt Griffin
Malaysia Weng Sun Mok
Japan Keita Sawa
LMGTE Am 332 35th 8th
Japan MR Racing 70 Monaco Olivier Beretta
Italy Eddie Cheever III
Japan Motoaki Ishikawa
LMGTE Am 324 38th 9th
2019 Italy AF Corse 51 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo United Kingdom James Calado
Italy Alessandro Pier Guidi
Brazil Daniel Serra
LMGTE Pro 342 20th 1st
71 Italy Davide Rigon
United Kingdom Sam Bird
Spain Miguel Molina
LMGTE Pro 140 DNF DNF
Switzerland Spirit of Race 54 Ferrari 488 GTE Switzerland Thomas Flohr
Italy Francesco Castellacci
Italy Giancarlo Fisichella
LMGTE Am 327 43rd 12th
Singapore Clearwater Racing 61 Republic of Ireland Matt Griffin
Italy Matteo Cressoni
Argentina Luís Pérez Companc
LMGTE Am 331 37th 7th
Japan MR Racing 70 Monaco Olivier Beretta
Italy Eddie Cheever III
Japan Motoaki Ishikawa
LMGTE Am 328 41st 10th
2020 Italy AF Corse 51 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo United Kingdom James Calado
Italy Alessandro Pier Guidi
Brazil Daniel Serra
LMGTE Pro 346 21st 2nd
52 Germany Steffen Görig
Switzerland Christoph Ulrich
Sweden Alexander West
LMGTE Am 80 DNF DNF
54 Italy Francesco Castellacci
Italy Giancarlo Fisichella
Switzerland Thomas Flohr
LMGTE Am 330 39th 13th
71 United Kingdom Sam Bird
Spain Miguel Molina
Italy Davide Rigon
LMGTE Pro 340 NC NC
83 France Emmanuel Collard
Denmark Nicklas Nielsen
France François Perrodo
LMGTE Am 339 26th 3rd
Switzerland Spirit of Race 55 United Kingdom Duncan Cameron
Republic of Ireland Matt Griffin
United Kingdom Aaron Scott
LMGTE Am 78 DNF DNF
Japan MR Racing 70 Monaco Vincent Abril
Japan Kei Cozzolino
Japan Takeshi Kimura
LMGTE Am 172 DNF DNF
2021 Italy AF Corse 51 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo United Kingdom James Calado
Italy Alessandro Pier Guidi
France Côme Ledogar
LMGTE Pro 345 20th 1st
52 United Kingdom Sam Bird
Spain Miguel Molina
Brazil Daniel Serra
LMGTE Pro 331 37th 5th
54 Italy Francesco Castellacci
Italy Giancarlo Fisichella
Switzerland Thomas Flohr
LMGTE Am 329 39th 11th
83 France François Perrodo
Denmark Nicklas Nielsen
Italy Alessio Rovera
LMGTE Am 340 25th 1st
Italy Cetilar Racing 47 Italy Antonio Fuoco
Italy Roberto Lacorte
Italy Giorgio Sernagiotto
LMGTE Am 90 DNF DNF
Switzerland Spirit of Race 55 United Kingdom Duncan Cameron
Republic of Ireland Matthew Griffin
South Africa David Perel
LMGTE Am 109 DNF DNF
2022 Italy AF Corse 21 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo United Kingdom Simon Mann
Switzerland Christoph Ulrich
Finland Toni Vilander
LMGTE Am 339 41st 8th
51 United Kingdom James Calado
Italy Alessandro Pier Guidi
Brazil Daniel Serra
LMGTE Pro 350 29th 2nd
52 Spain Miguel Molina
Italy Antonio Fuoco
Italy Davide Rigon
LMGTE Pro 349 30th 3rd
54 New Zealand Nick Cassidy
Italy Francesco Castellacci
Switzerland Thomas Flohr
LMGTE Am 340 39th 6th
61 Monaco Louis Prette
United States Conrad Grunewald
France Vincent Abril
LMGTE Am 339 42nd 9th
83 Oreca 07 France François Perrodo
Denmark Nicklas Nielsen
Italy Alessio Rovera
LMP2 (Pro-Am) 361 24th 4th
Switzerland Spirit of Race 55 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo United Kingdom Duncan Cameron
Republic of Ireland Matt Griffin
South Africa David Perel
LMGTE Am 339 43rd 10th
71 France Franck Dezoteux
France Pierre Ragues
France Gabriel Aubry
LMGTE Am 127 DNF DNF
2023 Italy AF Corse 21 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo United Kingdom Simon Mann
Belgium Ulysse de Pauw
France Julien Piguet
LMGTE Am 21 DNF DNF
54 Italy Francesco Castellacci
Switzerland Thomas Flohr
Italy Davide Rigon
LMGTE Am 312 31st 5th
80 Oreca 07 United Kingdom Ben Barnicoat
France Norman Nato
France François Perrodo
LMP2 (Pro-Am) 183 DNF DNF
Italy Ferrari AF Corse 50 Ferrari 499P Italy Antonio Fuoco
Spain Miguel Molina
Denmark Nicklas Nielsen
Hypercar 337 5th 5th
51 United Kingdom James Calado
Italy Antonio Giovinazzi
Italy Alessandro Pier Guidi
Hypercar 342 1st 1st
Italy Richard Mille AF Corse 83 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo Argentina Luis Pérez Companc
Italy Alessio Rovera
France Lilou Wadoux
LMGTE Am 33 DNF DNF

Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters

Year Car Drivers Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points D.C. T.C.
2021 Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020 New Zealand Liam Lawson 16 3 4 1 10 227 2nd 1st
Thailand Alex Albon 14 1 1 3 4 130 6th
New Zealand Nick Cassidy 2 0 0 1 0 11 16th
2022 Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020 New Zealand Nick Cassidy 11 2 1 1 2 64 13th 7th
Brazil Felipe Fraga 14 1 1 1 2 60 16th
Turkey Ayhancan Güven 2 0 0 0 0 7 23rd
France Sébastien Loeb 2 0 0 0 0 0 32nd

AF Corse-Waltrip

ItalyUnited States AF Corse-Waltrip
Founded2011
Folded2013
Team principal(s)Michael Waltrip
Rob Kauffman
Former seriesFIA World Endurance Championship (2012)
Rolex Sports Car Series (2012–2013)
Noted driversUnited States Michael Waltrip (WEC/RSCC)
United States Rob Kauffman (WEC/RSCC)
Portugal Rui Águas (WEC/RSCC)
United States Travis Pastrana (RSCC)
United States Brian Vickers (WEC)
United States Clint Bowyer (RSCC)

AF Corse-Waltrip, also known as AF-Waltrip, is a former professional sportscar team. The company was a 50–50 partnership between Michael Waltrip Racing NASCAR co-owners Michael Waltrip and Rob Kauffman. In 2011, Michael Waltrip Racing entered into a technical alliance with AF Corse to provide them sportscars to race in the FIA World Endurance Championship and Rolex Sports Car Series. AF Corse-Waltrip shut down their sportscar team in 2013 to concentrate on NASCAR.

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

Year Class Car Engine Driver No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Rank Points
2012 LMGTE Am Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 Ferrari 4.5 L V8 61 SEB SPA LMS SIL SÃO BHR FUJ SHA 4th1 1081
Portugal Rui Águas 4 DNS 4 2 4
United States Rob Kauffman 4 DNS 4 2 4
United States Michael Waltrip 4
United States Brian Vickers DNS 4 2
Italy Marco Cioci 1 4
Italy Piergiuseppe Perazzini 1
Republic of Ireland Matt Griffin 1
Brazil Enrique Bernoldi 3
Brazil Xandy Negrão 3
Brazil Francisco Longo 3

^1 There was no drivers championship that year, the result indicates team rank in the LMGTE Am Trophy.

Rolex Sports Car Series Points

Year Class Car Engine Driver No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Rank Points
2012 GT Ferrari 458 Italia Ferrari 4.5 L V8 56 DAY BIR HOM NJ BEL LEX ELK WAT IMS WAT MON LGA LIM
Portugal Rui Águas 35 11 14 15
United States Robert Kauffman 35 11 14 15
United States Travis Pastrana 35
United States Michael Waltrip 35
2013 GT Ferrari 458 Italia Ferrari 4.5 L V8 56 DAY TXS BIR ATL BEL LEX WAT IMS ELK KAN LGA LIM
Portugal Rui Águas 17 14 14
United States Robert Kauffman 17 14 14
United States Clint Bowyer 17
United States Michael Waltrip 17

References

  1. "2007 Champions". FIA GT Championship. Archived from the original on 27 March 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
  2. "Team Biography: AF Corse Motorola". FIA GT Championship. Archived from the original on 12 March 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
  3. "2006 Champions". FIA GT Championship. Archived from the original on 27 March 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
  4. "Anthony Davidson breaks back after Le Mans 24 Hour accident". BBC Sport. BBC. 17 June 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
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