Raphael Matos joins Risi Ferrari line-up for Petit Le Mans

Matos has been a sportscar regular around his single-seater career for many years, last appearing in the American Le Mans Series with Andretti-Green's Acura LMP2 programme in 2008.

Since losing his full-time IndyCar seat with De Ferran Dragon at the end of last year, he has contested some Grand-Am rounds alongside a short IndyCar programme with AFS Racing.

Matos will join Risi's regular drivers Toni Vilander and Jaime Melo in the #062 Ferrari F458.

"First of all I want to say I'm extremely honored to be part of the Risi Competizione team for Petit Le Mans," said Matos.

"I've followed them for a long time, since I was first involved with the ALMS in 2006, so I knew Risi was totally committed to Ferrari which was a big name and part of my childhood because my father was a huge fan of Ferrari.

"I was very happy to receive the call from Giuseppe Risi, and when the opportunity came up to drive I never hesitated."

Melo believes Matos will cope well with the challenges of the ALMS finale, which is also a round of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup.

"What he needs to bring to the team is confidence in the way he is going to drive the car," said Melo.

"It's a very, very busy track, more than 50 cars, and he needs to be aware we are one of the slower cars in a straight line.

"He has a lot of experience from IndyCar, and some races in ALMS and Grand-Am and he'll be there to support us to get a result."