The 2011 Le Mans Series got off to a great start for Ferrari, who won the Le Castellet 1000 Kms [class win - Ed]. The six hour endurance race held at the Paul Ricard HTTT circuit, saw victory in the LM GTE PRO class go to the 458 Italian GT2 entered by JMW Motorsport and crewed by the duo of Rob Bell and James Walker. The second step of the podium belonged to the new AF Corse V8 sports car, driven by Giancarlo Fisichella and Gimmi Bruni who, having started from pole were always front runners, crossing the line ahead of the Hankook Team Farnbacher 458 Italia GT2 of Farnbacher and Simonsen. The second AF Corse 458 Italia GT2 came fourth thanks to the efforts of Jaime Melo and Toni Vilander who, having also been a front runner for much of the race, missed out on a podium position because of a technical problem.

Antonello Coletta, head of Ferrari Corse Clienti was very pleased with the potential shown by the 458 Italia GT2 prepared by his department along with Michelotto Automobili. “We have started the season with our first pole and a first win, which shows our car is competitive enough to make its mark on a high level international competition like the Le Mans Series.”

Equally encouraging was the performance of the Maranello cars in the LM GTE AM category, with second, third and fourth places going to the AF Corse F430 GTC of Perazzini, Cioci and Lemeret, the Kessel Racing Ferrari crewed by Broniszewski-Peter and the CRS Racing crew of Hummel, Christidoulou, Quaife. The class was won by the Felbermayr Proton Porsche, which saw Ragginger, Ried and Long take turns at the wheel. The next round of the championship takes place over the weekend of 8 May on the legendary Belgian circuit of Spa-Francorchamps, which will also stage the second round of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup.