MikeJim

Risi Competizione's red Ferrari F458 that was rear-ended by Memo Gidley's Corvette DP at the Daytona 24 Hours will have to be rebuilt from the firewall back at an estimated cost of a half-million dollars.

And the clock is ticking toward Sebring on March 15.

The F458's frame was destroyed in the crash, along with the gearbox and plenty of other expensive items behind the rear firewall. Estimates to acquire a new chassis and purchase all of the assorted replacement items fall in the $500,000 range, leading Mayer and the team's ace crew to wait for those components to appear before blending them with the salvageable pieces from the damaged car.

"The impact pushed everything forward – pushed the engine into the firewall – and broke pretty much everything around it, so there's not much there to be saved," said Risi team engineer Rick Mayer. "If there was anything positive, it's that after he was hit, he spun around and came back down and hit the rear again, so the front was mostly untouched.

"And it came down lightly for such a big impact; it was only one lateral g or something close to it so there wasn't that extra vertical forces put through the car. Everything from the driver's seat forward was pretty untouched, so we'll do crack testing on all the suspension, the brakes are probably OK, and anything else we can look at and verify will be used."

"Time's getting shorter every day, so we won't make the Sebring test (on Feb. 20-21) with the red car; we'll be there with the green [Krohn] car, and then we'll have to push to hopefully get ready for the 12 Hours," said Mayer. "We've been fast at Sebring in the past, but missing the test won't help with most of the other teams there learning while we're putting together a new car."​

http://www.racer.com/index.php/56-gr...st-crash-moves

GuyIncognito

does that imply that Risi manages the Krohn car as well? I thought that was a separate race team operated out of Road Atlanta.

Coochas

Out of curiosity, do professional race teams use any sort of track insurance? I would imagine the premiums would be astronomical but in a situations like this,....

93 FireHawk 968

Amazing that with a $500K repair bill they will rebuild. I figured the car would be written off and start fresh salaving whatever parts that can be saved. I guess it reflects the true value of the race ready 458's.

Cory M

Risi runs Ferrari's for Krohn, the GrandAM DP stuff is different and I believe was run by Nick Jonsson of Kinetic.

RickBetterley

In the past there was some physical damage insurance for race teams, but they had very high deductibles and premiums (duh, you say). I think one source was Dave Empringham's company (Laurel). But that was a few years back at least.
A quick Google search didn't yield any current on track race car insurance, though.
I can see why.

Coochas

Thanks Rick. I should've figured you would know.

reidry

I think the article is a bit misleading. They are replacing the frame so basically they are taking a new donor car and scabing on the salvagable parts from the wrecked car.

Ryan

RickBetterley

If its risk management, I'm your guy!

LostSouth

We had it when we ran the Mazda at Daytona 2 years ago. If I recall correctly it was roughly $50k with a $50k deductible. We were a one off deal, which I would assume resulted in higher numbers.

DreamCarrera

What is the price of a new F458 GTE race car? Also, is Malucelli(458 driver at time of crash) on the hook for the $500K?

I would think that given the extent of the damage to the Daytona car, the team would purchase a new car and use the wrecked car as a parts car. The price of a new 458 must be astronomical...

BostonDMD

What is the purse value for P1 in a racing venue where the race car cost is north or $500K? I just can't imagine..... it must be 2 or 3 times the value of the car.....

Veloce Raptor

Nope...much much less, IIRC (maybe I am wrong)

LuigiVampa

That makes more sense. How could that car be anything but totaled after that impact? Crazy.

reidry

Absolutely correct. The purses in sports car racing are paltry compared to NASCAR, Indy and F1.

In the prototype class winning Daytona and Sebring combined is something like 200k.

Just look at the dollars and cents. NASCAR fills the infield and front stretch stands. NASCAR is covered by prime networks. Walmart has NASCAR and NASCAR driver merchandise on the shelves. When was the last time you saw any Grand-Am, ALMS, or IMSA merchandise anywhere other than during a race at the track.

Sad, but true.

Ryan