Massa announces team line up for Granja Viana 500 assault

SÃO PAULO – Felipe Massa has announced on Monday night the official line up of the Santander sponsored two-kart team for this year’s edition of Granja Viana 500 Mile. Right after his arrival in the circuit, the Ferrari ace has confirmed that will fight for his third victory in the outstanding Brazilian endurance race along with Lucas di Grassi, Felipes Apezzato, Felipe Lapenna, Victor Guerin, J£lio Campos and his younger brother Dudu. Stock Car local Pop¢ Bueno, who appeared in the provisional entry list besides Massa and Di Grassi, has decided not to race due to personal reasons.

Massa got to the kart track joined by his brother early in the evening, when the heavy showers that hit the track seemed to calm down. He saw the action from the pitwall before dressing his reds overall to start practicing around 8 p.m. "I think we set up a very strong group of racers, capable of facing Rubens Barrichello’s favorite team", commented Massa. Eight-times winner and Granja Viana 500 record holder alongside his old friend Tony Kanaan, Barrichello elected not attend the second general test session because of the rain. His partners Felipe Giaffone, Renato Russo and Indy Lights star Bia Figueiredo carried out the set up duties behind the wheel of the legendary kart number 72.

Julio Campos, currently lying second in the Brazilian Stock Car Light standings, teamed up with Massa in the maiden Granja Viana 500 win back in 1997. At that time the entire team included young karting drivers in their early careers. One of them was João Paulo Bertuccelli, who was also at Granja Viana just to review his friends. "Right from that moment we were able to realize that Felipe was in another level", he reminded.

Granja Viana 500 test session will resume on next Monday. The race will happen on December 4th and 5th.