Defend Grand-Am Rolex GT champion Jeff Segal Launches New N. 61 AIM R.Ferri with Ferrari in Rolex 24 hours of Daytona testing

The two-time reigning GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series GT champion Jeff Segal officially kicked off his title defense Friday at the Roar Before the Rolex 24 hours of Daytona debut on the track of the new No. 61 AIM Racing R.Ferri Motorsport Ferrari F458.

Segal will run throughout the 2013 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series season with new teammate Max Papis, for the first time in the past six years has partnered with a driver other than Emil Assentato. Segal and Assentato co-led the championship GT 2012, the second duo in the last three years, but will guide other AIM / R.Ferri Ferrari this season.

Born in Italy, Papis in 2004 GRAND-AM Rolex Replica Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype co-champion and 2002 Rolex 24 winner. Segal and Papis will co-drive the No. 61 R.Ferri AIM Racing Motorsport Ferrari with entrance through a new collaboration between AIM and Remo Ferri.

"The partnership between AIM and Remo Ferri has enormous potential, and I'm really excited for the full season with Max Papis," said Segal. "It is a name that has been around for a long time in sports car racing, IndyCar, Formula 1 and NASCAR."

Segal and his No. 61 AIM / R.Ferri teammates chose to sit first practice Friday because of constant rain. Absent, which is a top driver in the No. 69 AIM Autosport Team FXDD Ferrari, also joined his team in the transmission of session wet.

"A little bit" of a slow start today, "said Segal." Like every other time, it did not do a service. No one wants their first laps with a brand new car to be in the rain. So we waited a bit, "and then in the afternoon we went out and worked through 'agenda, as you would have with a brand new car."

The weather improved and Segal took to the track for the second practice session on Friday. After he and his teammates completed 18 laps in the session, the No. 61 R.Ferri AIM Motorsport Racing with Ferrari team move its attention in the next two days of testing in order to improve the car before the Rolex 24 hours of Daytona.

"We have a lot of things done, I'm very happy," said Segal. "There is still much work to be done before it is really ready to race, and that's why we are here."

Segal and Papis will co-drive the No. 61 AIM / R.Ferri with Ferrari with a European talent Giancarlo Fisichella and Toni Vilander Rolex 24 hours of Daytona.

Test Roar Replica Rolex continues to Daytona on Saturday and Sunday.