MARANELLO MOTORSPORT team Principal Mark Coffey says his team is close to locking in a driver line-up that will help avenge their disappointing Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour campaign this year.
Entering this year’s race as defending champions, the No. 88 McDonald’s Ferrari and a slower car made contact in the opening practice and was too badly damaged to continue for the remainder of the weekend – ending their campaign for back-to-back wins on the Friday.
After a strong season in this year’s Australian GT Championship, Coffey is already anticipating next February’s event as his team seeks to return to the top step of the podium.
“It’s been a long twelve months but the pieces are coming together,” he explained.
“We’re not far from putting the final pieces in place to lock in who will join Mika (Salo) in the No. 88 McDonald’s car next year. We think it will be a team that can challenge for victory again.
“We’ve had a good year in Australian GT and with the continued growth of the 12-hour, we’re keen to be back at the front and make up for the disappointment of this year.”
Finnish ace Mika Salo, part of the 2014 race-winning squad, has already been announced to return to the team as has major sponsor McDonald’s.
“It’s flattering to know that a lot of drivers from around the world know who Maranello Motorsport is and what we can do – winning Bathurst does that for you.” Coffey added.
“We love the event and we are doing everything we can to win it again, so we’re excited to be close to confirming who’ll be driving the no. 88 car.
Coffey said he was also excited to be part of the expanded Ferrari presence planned for next February’s event.
Announced earlier this year, more than 100 classic and modern Ferrari models will be present at the circuit while a ‘Concorso de Eleganza’ – a display of concourse condition classic and contemporary Ferrari models – will be open to fans across the Bathurst 12 Hour weekend as will a showroom of current products, including the brand new Ferrari 488 GTB.
“We’ve got a great relationship with Ferrari and we’re excited to represent the brand,” Coffey said.
“The reaction when we were the first team to win a major long-distance race at Bathurst for the brand was incredible.
“It’s exciting to see what they are planning for the event and it will be a very good time to be competing with a Ferrari on track – we know we’ll get a lot of support.”