GRAND-AM: Lazzaro Signs To Partner with Assentato

GRAND-AM

GRAND-AM: Lazzaro Signs To Partner with Assentato

Reigning 2012 GT co-champion Emil Assentato will pilot the No. 69 Team FXDD Ferrari 458 Italia alongside Anthony Lazzaro next season.

Marshall Pruett | Posted November 28, 2012

Assentato hopes to claim his third Rolex GT title with new teammate Anthony Lazzaro in the No. 69 Ferrari. (Photo: AIM)

Reigning 2012 GT co-champion Emil Assentato will pilot the No. 69 Team FXDD Ferrari 458 Italia with open-wheel and sports car standout Anthony Lazzaro next season. Lazzaro replaces 2012 co-champion Jeff Segal who will move over to the new sister No. 61 entry with co-driver Max Papis.

“Coming back with Aim Autosport and Ferrari is a great privilege at any time but, at this stage of my career, it is more than I could ask for," said Assentato. "I am also very excited to have Anthony Lazzaro join our team in 2013, which will be a great asset as Aim Autosport RACING WITH FERRARI will run two cars this year. The 2012 season was the perfect season for Jeff and I.”

For Lazzaro, the full-time drive with the Rolex GT champions is a great career boost.

“I am very honored to be joining the championship winning team from 2012," he said. "Having driven with Emil in the past, I know we can win races and fight for the championship in 2013. The atmosphere in the team, although serious, is also fun.

“The advantages of running two cars will be that the development process goes much faster. Now, Jeff and Max will carry the load of the development on track which will allow Emil to get more seat time.”

Marshall Pruett is SPEED.com's Auto Racing Editor, and covers the IndyCar Series. Before joining SPEED, Pruett worked in open-wheel racing for 20 years as a mechanic and engineer. He also contributes to RACER, Road & Track and Racecar Engineering. Follow him @MarshallPruett.