Maranello, 8 September – The fifth and final course of the first year of the Ferrari Driver Academy, aimed at completing the training of the youngsters chosen from the world of motor sport, has just ended at the Fiorano circuit. Jules Bianchi, Mirko Bortolotti and Daniel Zampieri took turns at the wheel of an F2008, under the guidance of special coach, Giancarlo Fisichella, Scuderia Ferrari’s third driver and Andrea Bertolini, the Maranello firm’s test driver. “It is a real benefit being able to learn as part of a big family like Ferrari,” commented Fisichella during a break in the sessions. “If these guys are here, it’s because they have a great potential and deserve the benefit of such detailed preparation, which looks at every angle of what is needed to be a driver, both on the track and outside it.” The three youngsters drove the same car with just the steering wheel and seat being altered and they each had the use of two sets of tyres; the first one used and the second one new, on a track that was wet in the morning, before drying out in the afternoon. The two youngest drivers, Brandon Maisano and Raffaele Marciello spent the day on a physical and mental training programme, before joining their colleagues at the track, to take part in a technical briefing, with the head of the school, Luca Baldisserri, who was pleased with what had been achieved. “Even though this was a very demanding day, complicated at first by a wet track, all the guys went well and did not make any mistakes,” he said after the work was completed.”

The next event on the Ferrari Driver Academy calendar is scheduled for December at the Vallelunga circuit, when the top three in the Italian Formula 3 series get to take part in a test, as a prize for their achievements.