With Sam Bird racing in the Formula E round at New York this weekend with DS Virigin Racing, AF Corse has drafted in Toni Vilander to race in his place in the No. 71 Ferrari 488 alongside Davide Rigon.

This will mark the Finnish IMSA regular's first WEC race since the end of the 2015 season, also with AF Corse. Since then, he's been campaigning with Risi Competizione in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship's GTLM class.

"This drive comes after Risi has decided to skip a few races in IMSA," Vilander told RACER. "I'm looking forward to the weekend. It's been a little while since I've been with AF Corse. Obviously, I know the team, and the car, but the teams are different. Hopefully the weather is consistent so I have more time to get used to the car and get used to things with Davide.

"I got the call from a combined decision by Amato [Ferrari], Mr. [Antonello] Colletta and Christiano Michelotto. Once this race came closer, after Le Mans they started thinking about this race. I don't know how it went with Sam, whether he knew he would do the Formula E race or not. I kept myself ready, even if things don't move forward, that I should be ready, and I got word a few days before the announcement.

"I've only been with the team briefly ahead of this weekend, and already I can tell there's a difference between how AF Corse is now, compared to how it was back when I last raced with them."

Vilander was keen to point out that despite Risi deciding to take a hiatus from IMSA competition due to budgetary issues, he's confident the team will make good on its vow to return before the end of the year, and that the feeling within the team is positive.

"I really enjoy racing with Risi, they have a great spirit," he continued. "We are disappointed to miss races. I don't know the real reason behind the scenes, but I've tried to push that we finish the season. I want us to do Petit Le Mans to defend our win from last season, and maybe a race or two before that to get back in the rhythm."