Ferrari World (news)

General rehearsal in Monza

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 5 March - The tests dedicated to the participants in the Italian and European Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli just ended at the Autodromo Nazionale in Monza: 22 cars went onto the track for this special day of testing, enabling the drivers of some in the single-marque's racing series participating teams to gain confidence with the F430 Challenge after the long winter break.

On the occasion of the first race on the 2010 calendar, held in Monza on 28 March, the two divisions in the single-marque Championship, will be joined by the first Superstars GT Sprint series' race with F430 GT2s. During the weekend with the participants in the Trofeo Pirelli and the gentlemen drivers from the Coppa Shell, Ferrari clients will have the possibility to go onto the track for some free practice sessions, while admiring the spectacular show offered by the intense racing programme.

Racing in Homestead

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:00:00 GMT

From 12 to 14 March Florida’s Homestead circuit will host the first race in the North American Ferrari Challenge series. The extraordinary event on the agenda at the track south-west of Miami and considered one of the most spectacular and modern circuits in the States will offer the opportunity to admire the F430s on the track during the first race in the prestigious US-series of the single-marque Championship as well as historical single-seaters from Maranello’s F1 Clienti department and the lab cars from the exclusive 599XX and FXX programmes, on the track or some free practice sessions.

Testing Day Ferrari Challenge

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 28 February 2010 – On the upcoming 5 March the Autodromo Nazionale in Monza will host a test dedicated to the participants in the Italian and European Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli.

On this special occasion the drivers of both series will go onto the track for a special training session on the track where the first race of the 2010 season will be held on 28 March.

A very special test

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:00:00 GMT

Campagnano (Rome), 26 February 2010 – A special test day just ended at the Autodromo Piero Taruffi in Vallelunga for the Gran Turismo supplied by Ferrari Corse Clienti to the winners of the 2009 Ferrari Challenge in collaboration with Pirelli, supporting the manufacturer from Maranello with enthusiasm in promoting young talents, supplying safe and ecologically correct high-performance tyres. Giorgio Sernagiotto, winner in the Italian series in the Trofeo Pirelli, Stefano Gai and Yannick Mallegol, Champions in the Italian and European Coppa Shell dedicated to gentlemen drivers respectively, took turns behind the wheel of a F430 GTC supplied by the team AF Corse.

Today was also the debut of the equipe Jean Alesi and Giancarlo Fisichella on board of the victorious car from the team from Piacenza lead by Amato Ferrari, which will start in the Le Mans Series. This was the second experience behind the wheel of a F430 after the test in Fiorano last October for the French driver, who started as the official Scuderia Ferrari driver from 1991 to 1995: “I’m really happy to be back in the Ferrari family, having such a great adventure ahead, sharing the car with other drivers, something I’ve never done. When I raced I shouted only for myself, now Vilander and Fisichella will be my preferred drivers!”

For Fisichella, who is also the third driver in the Formula 1 Team from Maranello, this was the first test session and the first time on board of a GT2 with the challenge of the racing series ahead. At the end of the test session the Roman spoke about the great difference between the enormous grip and performance of a single-seater and the weight and completely different aerodynamics of the GT2 car: “It went well, this is an honest car, easy to drive, but I need to gain more confidence to find the limit. This is a great experience and I’m honoured that I can fight together with Jean and Toni to defend the colours of Ferrari in GT2.”

The Finnish driver Toni Vilander, who will assist the two Ferraristi in the upcoming season, spoke about a positive day: “It will be nice to pass on my experience to two drivers of their level. Although we just started working I’m sure that this will be an emotional season.”

A winning deal

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:35:00 GMT

Maranello, 23 February - Risi Competizione renewed the important collaboration agreement from four years ago with Krohn Racing from Braselton, Georgia, for the 2010 American Le Mans Series. After the successes reached together, the two teams decided to unite their forces with two prestigious events like the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans coming up.

Next to the victorious car no. 60, raced by the Ferrari from Houston Team and driven by Jaime Melo-Gianmaria Bruni, the second F430 GTC in the race will sport the green and blue Krohn Racing’s livery and will be driven by Tracy W Krohn, Nic Jönsson and Eric van de Poele. Tracy Krohn, the team founder from Georgia, wanted to express his satisfaction about the renewed agreement.

“It’s important to count on professionalism of a team like the one lead by Giuseppe Risi, who know how to give us the necessary support over the last three years, so we could conquer twice a place on the podium in Le Mans and once in Sebring.” For Giuseppe Risi it would not have made sense not renewing the agreement: “After many great results side by side, it will be important to stand united again with a more and more competitive championship ahead.”

Testing day with the F430 in Vallelunga

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 12 February 2010 – On the upcoming 26 February the “Autodromo Pietro Taruffi” in Vallelunga just outside Rome will host a test session with Gran Turismo cars provided by Ferrari Corse Clienti in collaboration with Pirelli with the participation of the 2009 Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli winners. On the same day the F430 GTCs from AF Corse and the CRS Scuderia Italia will go onto the track for a special test session considering the future engagements in the GT2 Championships. One week after the announcement of their participation in the prestigious Le Mans Series Jean Alesi and Giancarlo Fisichella will have their debut behind the wheel of the car from the victorious team from Piacenza, directed by Amato Ferrari. While Alesi, who was an official driver for the Scuderia Ferrari from 1991 to 1995, will appear on the track after his tests with AF Corse last October, Fisichella, who is the third driver of the Formula 1 team from Maranello, will take part for the first time ever in Gran Turismo competitions. Meanwhile the winners of the Italian and European Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli will have the possibility to go onto the track in a GT2 car, thanks to the prestigious award set up by the organisers of the single-marque Championship in 2009. In the Trofeo Pirelli category Giorgio Sernagiotto and the Frenchman Nicolas Misslin will take turns behind the wheel, while amongst the gentlemen drivers from Coppa Shell Stefano Gai and the equipe with Jean-Marc Bachelier and Yannick Mallegol will drive the GT2 car. Meanwhile Toni Vilander will be the special coach for the participants. The victorious Finnish driver Vilander has been driving the car from the team from Piacenza and will now, in the 2010 season, assist the Ferrari drivers in their adventure on board of the F430.

On the upcoming 12 to 14 March Florida’s Homestead circuit will host this season’s first race

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The extraordinary event, on the programme at the track located South East of Miami and considered to be one of the most spectacular and modern race tracks in the US, offers the possibility to admire the F430 in action, but also the historical single-seaters maintained by Maranello’s F1 Clienti department as well as the laboratory-cars participating in the exclusive 599XX and FXX programmes during their free practice sessions on the track.

AF Corse presenting 2010 programme. Fisichella and Alesi on the track with F430 GTC

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello, 3 February 2010 – Today the AF Corse team presented its motorsport programme for 2010, concentrated on its participation in the international Le Mans Series. Like over the last years the team from Piacenza will use the F430 GTC, the Berlinetta from the Prancing Horse, which has been extremely successful in the world of Granturismo competitions.

This year Amato Ferrari chose a group of very interesting drivers. Next to the successful ‘veterans’ Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander there will be two new drivers from Argentina, Luis Perez Companc and Matias Russo, and a Brazilian, who is already well known in the world of GT motorsports, Jaime Melo. But there are two more names, well known to the fans of Ferrari: Giancarlo Fisichella and Jean Alesi.

Three cars will be started into the LMS: one driven by the two Ferraristi and supported by Vilander, one by the two Argentinians and one by Melo and Bruni.

So Fisichella will not only be the third driver of the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, but also make an experience in the world of Granturismo racing, something he was still missing in his CV. "I’m very happy that I can participate in the AF Corse’s programme and I hope that I can give back the trust they have in me,” the Roman driver said. “Obviously I would have taken the opportunity to race in the Formula, if it had been under the right circumstances, but it didn’t happen. I’m happy to be part of the Ferrari family as a third driver. I can’t wait to test the F430 GTC to get ready for the debut at Paul Ricard on 11 April."

"Coming back to racing in a Ferrari after many years is not just a great pleasure, but especially a great honour,” Jean Alesi said. “I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of a car I already tested in Fiorano a couple of months ago. I want to thank Amato Ferrari for the opportunity and I hope I can deliver some great show to our fans.”

GT test for Challenge champions

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 11 February 2010 – On the upcoming 26 February the “Autodromo Pietro Taruffi” in Vallelunga will host a test with Gran Turismo cars offered in collaboration Pirelli to 2009 champions.

The prestigious prize offers to the winners, who participates in the Italian and European Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, the possibility to drive a F430 GT2. There will be the following drivers behind the wheel of the car provided by the AF Corse Team: from the Trofeo Pirelli Giorgio Sernagiotto and the Frenchman Nicolas Misslin, and from the gentlemen drivers starting the Coppa Shell Stefano Gai and the couple Jean-Marc Bachelier and Yannick Mallegol. Toni Vilander, the Finnish driver with numerous successes on board of the victorious car from the team from Piacenza, will be the exceptional consultant of the day.

Massa on track in 599XX

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Cheste, 31 January 2010 – Today Felipe Massa was the main protagonist on the last day of the Ferrari 599XX’s activities with its debut on the track. The Brazilian driver, who will be busy as of tomorrow in the first official Formula 1 test session this season held at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit, met the clients, who, by purchasing the non-homologated sports Berlinetta, planned exclusively to use on the track, participate in the exclusive programme bearing the same name. After several laps on board of the car Felipe said: “I really enjoyed testing this car, I think it’s extremely powerful and has an exceptional stability. Considering that it has been planned for the track it’s really easy to drive.”

The clients showed great enthusiasm for the Ferrarista sharing the debut of this exceptional car: they now have a series of events ahead of them Ferrari will organise on race tracks in America, Europe and Asia, including the Finali Mondiali. Just like in Valencia on these occasions the cars will be taken care of by the team of official technicians, able to guarantee the necessary support and assistance.

Reflecting break

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello, 29 Janary 2010 – After 14 editions the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge leaves the track for a reflecting break, thinking about its future. The decision to bring the activities on the track to a halt was initiated by Ferrari to study new formulas closer to the needs of the fans of historical cars.

To all, who have participated over the years in this extraordinary racing series a special event at the 2010 Finali Mondiali 2010 as well as further initiatives during the season will be dedicated. Underlining the Company’s enormous attention for the needs of the Historic Challenge protagonists, further events will be set up in a wider framework, not just limited to competitions.

599XX debut in Valencia

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello, 26 January 2010 - On 29, 30 and 31 January the 599XX will debut on the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia. Seven of the clients who bought this non-homologated sports Berlinetta, planned for use on the track, will have the opportunity to drive the car on the Spanish circuit. After the car’s technical presentation the driver’s position will be set up, followed by theoretical instructions regarding telemetry and two driving sessions, where the clients are accompanied by a Ferrari instructor.

The programme includes the participation in a series of events held on the track and organised by Ferrari on different race tracks in America, Europe and Asia, including the Finali Mondiali: like in Valencia on these occasions the cars are assisted by an official team of technicians, able to deliver the necessary assistance and support for the clients.

A talented couple

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello, 20 January 2010 - It has been announced yesterday that the Ferrari F430 GT2 from the Risi Competizione team in the 2010 American Le Mans Series will be driven by Jaime Melo and Gimmi Bruni. The couple from Italy and Brazil, who already won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2008 with the car from Ferrari di Houston, contributed a lot to the development of the victorious car.

For Jaime Melo it will be the fifth participation in this extraordinary racing series after lots of success in the previous seasons. For Bruni, the 2008 FIA GT Champion and with the Scuderia AF Corse winner of the Team and Drivers' title, this will be a great return after having raced already six times with Risi in the years 2007 and 2008.

Ferrari on track at Motor Show

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bologna, 5 December 2009 –Today, at the special track laid out for events at the 34th Bologna Motor Show, the world of Ferrari was on show with a busy day of races and demonstrations. In the Motorsport Arena, in Area 48, eight drivers from the main category of the Trofeo Pirelli and ten gentlemen drivers representing the Coppa Shell, put on show in three acts, while the owner-test drivers of the prestigious FXX Programme were on track in four of the laboratory cars for three un-timed sessions.

At the end of the three races for those in the main category of the Trofeo Pirelli, victory went to Nicola Gianniberti: behind the Forza Service driver, taking his third win from four starts in this amazing event, were Riccardo Ragazzi (Ineco/MP) and Austria’s Philipp Baron (Baron Service), while in the final for the Coppa Shell gentlemen drivers, finishing on top was Gianluca Carboni, driving for the Rossocorsa/Pellin team, for his second win in the Bologna event, followed home by Massimo Mantovani (Motor/Malucelli) and Giuseppe Fascicolo (Rossocorsa/Pellin).

Alongside the busy race programme featuring the F430 Challenge car, the spectators who had packed the stands since the morning, gave an enthusiastic welcome to the Ferrari FXX research and development demonstration, featuring the car of the same name and the traditional show from Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, with Luca Badoer doing a long run of hot laps and a simulated pit stop, at the wheel of the F60, the car used by Ferrari in the 2009 F1 World Championship.

Luca Badoer on the track at Bologna Motor Show

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bologna, 5 December 2009 – The traditional Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro show dedicated to the fans of the Bologna car show, this year held for the 34th time, just ended at the Motorsport Arena, the special track dedicated to events on the track at Bologna fair’s Area 48.

After having greeted the spectators at the exhibition area dedicated to Ferrari at the portico, Luca Badoer, the official test driver from the team from Maranello, went onto the track with a F60, the single-seater Ferrari used in the 2009 season, and whose name celebrates the 60th participation in as many editions of the Formula 1 Championship from 1950 until today.

The Ferrarista went onto the track for a pit stop simulation and a long series of hot laps, delighting the fans on the grandstands, despite the harsh weather conditions. Today was an intense day at the Motorsport Arena when F430s from the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli and Ferrari FXX from the R&D project bearing the same name went onto the track for races and shows.

Before Badoer left the exhibition he said he was thrilled by the experience had: “Since I’ve been part of Ferrari I always wanted to take part in this event, because each time its becoming better and better; the fans’ enthusiasm almost gives you the impression of being at a Grand Prix.”

Ferrari Challenge Show

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello, 3 December 2009 – A very special event takes place this coming weekend on the track at the Motorsport Arena, set up in Area 48 as part of the 34th Motor Show hosted by the city of Bologna. On Saturday 5 December, starting at 9 o’clock, the arena will see eighteen cars from the Italian and European Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli take to the track, first for some qualifying sessions, prior to three races taking place over the course of the day.

Among the Trofeo Pirelli competitors taking part will be Nicola Gianniberti, the runner up of the 2008 Italian series and the past winner of the Bologna show event making a welcome return, in an F430 entered by the Forza Service team and Francesca Pardini, absent since 2004, in Motor/Modena colours, alongside her San Marino team-mate, Andrea Belluzzi. Completing the list of those entered in the main category of the one-make series are Dario Caso (CDP), Riccardo Ragazzi (Ineco/MP), Flavio Pierleoni (Motor/Malucelli), Lorenzo Case (Motor/Piacenza) who was crowned world champion in the last race at the Finals in Valencia and Austria’s Philipp Baron (Baron Service) representing the European series.

The gentlemen drivers entered in the Coppa Shell are represented by world champions Erich Prinoth and Vincenzo Sauto (Ineco/MP), Massimo Mantovani and Francesca Linossi (Motor/Malucelli), Gianluca Carboni and Giuseppe Fascicolo (Rossocorsa/Pellin), Eugenio Amos and Marco Bassetto (Ineco/RAM), Giandomenico Sposito (CDP) and Pietro Zumerle (Motor/Piacenza).

Apart from the races, the Bolognese track also hosts a demonstration in three runs of four of the laboratory cars entered in the exclusive FXX Programme, as well as the traditional appearance of the Formula 1 world, featuring simulated pit stops with Luca Badoer at the wheel of an F60, the car entered by Scuderia Ferrari in the season which has only recently come to an end, whose designation celebrates the historic Maranello team’s participation in all sixty years in which the Formula 1 World Championship has been staged since 1950.

Ferrari and the Bologna Motor Show

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello, 3 December 2009 - The Bologna Motor Show’s 34th edition will dedicate the whole programme on Saturday, 5 December almost entirely to Ferrari, while at the fair’s main entrance the F430 GT2s – the winning cars in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Constructors’ and Team Titles in the 2009 season of the FIA GT – a 599XX – the non-road legal Berlinetta supersportscar – and the 430 Scuderia – the high-performance two-seater road car - will be exposed during the car show. Giancarlo Fisichella, the Scuderia Ferrari’s official test driver, has the honour to take part in the opening ceremony on Friday 4 December. On Saturday 5 December the F430s from the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli and some FXX, the extraordinary laboratory cars from the R&D project with the same name, will be in Bologna for a spectacular show. Directly from the Finali Mondiali in Valencia, eight participants in the Trofeo Pirelli’s main category and ten gentlemen drivers from the Coppa Shell will race in the Motorsport Arena at the Area 48, while the client-test drivers -engaged with the Prancing Horse in the ambitious project of what will be the future Ferraris - will go onto the track for a free practice session. Ferrari’s indissoluble relationship with the world of racing will be represented by the traditional pit stop simulation, with Luca Badoer behind the wheel of a F60, the Scuderia Ferrari single-seater from the 2009 season, whose name celebrates the 60 years the team from Maranello has been participating in the F1 Championships from 1950 until today.

Rossi ignites Vallelunga

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello, 22 November 2009 – The ‘6 Hours of Vallelunga’, the classic endurance race, which has been concluding the motorsport season at the “Piero Taruffi” circuit for the last 19 years just ended in Campagnano outside of Rome. The Gold Cup grid, for the Gran Turismo and Sport categories, saw F430 and GT2 cars in the Open GT series from the AF Corse team, which crossed the line in the following order with Robert Kauffman-Rui Aguas-Niki Cadei and Vimal Mehta-Sean Breslin-Sean Paul Breslin. Less luck for the third car started by the team from Piacenza, victorious in the FIA GT championship, driven by Gimmi Bruni-Marco Cioci-Piergiuseppe Perazzini, who had to retire due to a technical problem. The F430 GT3 from the Team Kessel, which started from the tenth position with Valentino Rossi behind the wheel, had a problem with the engine and had to give up. Rossi, who had driven the second fastest time in the class in yesterday's qualifying, raced the car together with Alessio Salucci and Andrea Ceccato. The race in the class was won by Emanuele Pirro with Chevrolet Corvette, followed by another F430 GT3 from Team Kessel, driven by Emanuele Moncini, Emanuele Naspetti and Aldo Taddeo. The world champion's participation at the Tavullia race literally ignited engines and fans at the legendary race track just outside of Rome, where Rossi had his debut in a GT competition behind the wheel of a Ferrari.

Ferrari celebrates in Valencia

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Cheste (Valencia), 15 November 2009 – Today the whole world of Ferrari went onto Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit to celebrate the end of the motorsport season together with the fans of the Prancing Horse. At its debut on the Spanish track, the 16th edition of this traditional event usually connected to the home race tracks, the F430 taking part in the Italian, European and North American series of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli went onto the track to fight for the world title, while the historical cars from the Shell Historic Challenge held this season’s conclusive race. Apart from the exciting final stages of the motorsport season the spectators could follow the free practice sessions of the historical cars maintained by the F1 Clienti department in Maranello and the Ferrari FXX part of the development programme bearing the same name.

The unforeseeable race held by the Trofeo Pirelli drivers crowned champion Lorenzo Casé: behind the driver from the Motor/Piacenza team Marco Mapelli (Rossocorsa) and the Austrian Philipp Baron (Baron Service) crossed the line, while amongst the gentlemen drivers in the Coppa Shell it was Vincenzo Sauto, with Erich Prinoth and the Ferrari started by the Ineco/MP dealership, who won the title. The Italian crossed the line ahead of Gianluca Carboni (Rossocorsa/Pellin) and Massimo Mantovani (Motor/Malucelli).

In its fourth and final race even the Shell Historic Challenge found its 2009 champion: the Mexican driver Nicolas Zapata, who has been taking part in the extraordinary series dedicated to the jewels from the history of the Prancing Horse for more than ten year, won the overall classification behind the wheel of a magnificent 1956 Ferrari 625 TR. Victory in the race for grid A, for the cars with drum brakes, went to Sean Danaher with the 1938 Maserati 6CM, ahead of Gigi Baulino, behind the wheel of a 1954 Maserati 250F and the new champion Nicolas Zapata. The race for grid B, with cars with disc brakes, was won by Dieter Roschmann with the 1970 Ferrari 512 M, ahead of Darius Ahrabian, behind the wheel of a 1992 F40 LM and Mister John of B with a 1980 Ferrari 512 BB LM.

After the intense racing it was time for an extraordinary show with the protagonists from the Gran Turismo championships: in front of the more than 17,000 spectators Gimmi Bruni, Toni Vilander, Niki Cadei and Alvaro Barba Lopez took turns behind the wheels of two F430 GT2 from AF Corse, the team which won the constructors’ and teams’ titles in the FIA GT Championship, next to the Ferrari, which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, driven by the Risi Competizione team drivers Jaime Melo and Pierre Kaffer. The spectators gave Felipe Massa an enthusiastic welcome: the Brazilian driver, accompanied by Giancarlo Fisichella, Marc Gené and Luca Badoer, performed behind the wheel of a F60 at the traditional Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro show, while he was joined on the track by the local hero and future Ferrari driver

Grand Finale in Valencia

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Valencia, 15 November 2009 – The moment of the star attraction of the four-day-long Finali Mondiali Ferrari, on Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit under a sunny sky and extremely mild temperatures, is finally here.

This morning the last two races for grid A and B in the Historic Challenge, the Finali Mondiali, the season’s conclusive moment for the Coppa Shell and the Trofeo Pirelli, a race with all the drivers from the different classes, in two runs dedicated to the Trofeo Pirelli and Coppa Shell drivers will be held. Furthermore there will be more free practice sessions of the historical single seaters, taken care of by the F1 Clienti department, and of the Ferrari FXX, part of the prestigious development programme.

In the afternoon the eagerly awaited Formula 1 show will attract the spectators also due to the return of Felipe Massa behind the wheel of a single-seater - after his accident in Hungary - and Fernando Alonso, who will greet the Ferraristi, who arrived from all over Spain, for a first time. All the official drivers, who will make up the 2010 Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, will be present, while four single-seaters will be used for the show on the track: Felipe Massa and Giancarlo Fisichella behind the wheels of two F60s, while the two official test drivers Luca Badoer and Marc Gené will drive two F2008s.

Season’s grand finale in Valencia

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Cheste (Valencia), 14 November 2009 – Today the adventure of the participants in the Italian, European and North American Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli series ended under the Spanish sun. The 17th edition of the renowned single-marque championship assigned the remaining titles, crowning Nicolas Misslin as the Trofeo Pirelli champion in the European series and Mark McKenzie as his counterpart in the North American series. Under the eyes of a vast number of spectators, who have been populating the Ricardo Tormo di Cheste circuit since the early hours of the morning, the incredible cars taking part in the decisive stage of the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge, eleven Ferrari FXX from the non-competitive development programme bearing the same name and eighteen historical single-seaters maintained by Maranello’s F1 Clienti department went onto the track.

In the Trofeo Pirelli’s main category, reserverd for the F430s, the second race in the Italian series was won by Marco Mapelli: the young driver from the Italian Rossocorsa team crossed the line ahead of Giorgio Sernagiotto (Motor/Piacenza) and Riccardo Ragazzi (Ineco/MP), while amongst the gentlemen drivers in the Coppa Shell Stefano Gai gained his ninth victory this season, winning ahead of Massimo Mantovani (Motor/Malucelli) and Eugenio Amos (Ineco/RAM).

At the end of the race for the European and the North American series – held together, but with separate classifications – the Italian Max Blancardi (Motor/Malucelli) won ahead of the Austrian driver Philipp Baron (Baron Service) and the Frenchman Nicolas Misslin (Stradale Automobile), who just needed a third place to win the title, while the British driver Oliver Morley (Motor/Malucelli) repeated his success from race 1 in the Coppa Shell, crossing the line first, followed by the Hungarian Tibor Valint (Warm Up) and the Frenchman Stephane Clareton (Stradale Automobile). But also the North American series crowned its champion: Mark McKenzie from the Ferrari of Houston team conquered the title, although he concluded the race in third position, behind Scott Tucker (Boardwalk Ferrari) and Harry Cheung (Ferrari of Sylicon Valley).

In the fifth and conclusive race in the extraordinary series dedicated to the historical jewels from the Prancing Horse, victory in the race of grid B, for cars with disc brakes, went to the 1992 Ferrari F40 LM driven by Darius Ahrabian, ahead of the 512 BB LM (1980) with Christian Traber and Mister John of B. In grid B, the race dedicated to the cars with drum brakes, Sean Danaher crossed the line first with the Maserati 6CM (1938), followed by the 250F (1954) with Gigi Baulino and another 6CM (1938) with Willi Balz (1937).

Tomorrow, Sunday 15 November, the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli participants will start into the race for the world title, while in the Shell Historic Challenge the season’s title will be assigned to the new champion in this series. Before the traditional show by the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro more historical single-seaters, which wrote the most wonderful chapters of Formula 1, and the client-test drivers with their Ferrari FXX will go onto the track.

Sky Sport 3 will show the Finali Mondiali live at 10am (Coppa Shell), at 1pm (Trofeo Pirelli) and the great finale at 3pm.

A Saturday high in emotions

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Valencia, 14 November 2009 – While the conclusive moment of the Finali Mondiali Ferrari is getting closer, today the engines of the last round of the historical jewels participating in the Shell Historic Challenge will be started at 9am with the first of the two races here on the Spanish track on the agenda.

Today four races will be started here at this extraordinary event again with the drivers of the Italian, European and North American Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, with the Trofeo Pirelli title still to be assigned in the European series.

Meanwhile the spectators are awaiting with anticipation for the free practice sessions with a whole 18 cars maintained by the F1 Clienti department in Maranello and eleven FXX from the development programme bearing the same name.

Valencia crowns Challenge champions

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Cheste (Valencia), 13 November 2009 - Today the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli crowned with one race to go two new champions for the 2009 season at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit, at the seventh and last round, where, as an exception, also the drivers from the North American single-marque’s series participated. Scuderia Motor/Piacenza is celebrating Giorgio Sernagiotto, the driver from Treviso, who won the title in the Italian series of the Trofeo Pirelli, and the French duo Jean-Marc Bachelier and Yannick Mallegol, who just needed a third place today to win the Coppa Shell. But at the Spanish circuit, dressed in red for the Finali Mondiali Ferrari, there is more than just races: the jewels from the Shell Historic Challenge went onto the track for their free practice sessions and the qualifying, followed by eleven laboratory cars from the exclusive FXX Programme and eighteen historical single-seaters from the F1 Clienti department in Maranello.

In the Italian Trofeo Pirelli Giorgio Sernagiotto dominated the race, conquering victory and title ahead of Marco Mapelli (Rossocorsa) and Lorenzo Casé (Motor/Piacenza), while amongst the gentlemen drivers in the Coppa Shell the new champion Stefano Gai (Rossocorsa) managed again to stay ahead of Massimo Mantovani (Motor/Malucelli) and Eugenio Amos (Ineco/Ram).

At the end of race 1 held by the participants in the European and North American series, victory in the European series of Trofeo Pirelli went Max Blancardi (Motor/Malucelli), crossing the line ahead of the Austrian Philipp Baron (Baron Service) and the Frenchman Nicolas Misslin (Stradale Automobile), while the British driver Oliver Morley (Motor/Malucelli), the Sweden Torbjorn Ekstrand (Autoropa) eand the new champion Jean-Marc Bachelier stood on the Coppa Shell podium. In the North American series Scott Tucker (Boardwalk Ferrari) crossed the line first ahead of Henri Richard (Ferrari of Silicon Valley) and Mark McKenzie (Ferrari of Houston).

In the conclusive Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge race, with grid A and B for cars with drum and disk brakes respectively, the fastest lap in the qualifying was driven for grid A by Sean Danaher with a 1038 Maserati 6CM, ahead of Gigi Baulino with a 1958 Maserati 250F and the leader in the overall standings Nicolas Zapata with a 1956 Ferrari 625 TR. In grid B the fastest lap was driven by Darius Ahrabian with a Ferrari F40 LM (1992), followed by Dieter Roschmann with a 512M (1970) and Christian Traber with a Ferrari 512 BBLM (1980).

Tomorrow, Saturday, 14 November 2009, another round of races and new free practice sessions with the single-seaters from the F1 Clienti department as well as with the cars from the exclusive FXX Programme will be held.

Tomorrow Sky Sport 3 will transmit the conclusive Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli races live: at 10:45am race 2 – Europe + North America (repeat at 6pm) and race 2 at 2pm – Italia (repeat at 7pm). On Sunday, 15 November, the same channel will transmit the Finali Mondiali Ferrari live as of 10am (Coppa Shell), at 1pm (Trofeo Pirelli) and at 3:30pm the final celebrations.

Finali Mondiali in Valencia: the competitions have been started

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Valencia, 13 November 2009 - The engines of the fabulous historical cars participating in the Ferrari Historic Challenge woke the Circuito di Cheste this morning in Valencia, where the temperatures continue to be extremely mild under a sunny sky. In the morning the F1 Clienti drivers went onto the track for a 40-minute double-free practice session. The upcoming race 1 of the Challenge Europe and North America will see a fierce fight between participants for the title, which is foreseen for tomorrow. In the afternoon the qualifying for the Shell Historic Challenge and free practice of the F1 Clienti and FXX programme will be held, culminating, in terms of motorsport, with race 1 in the Italian Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli series.

The programme is extremely intense and the hospitality areas are ready to welcome the guests of these exceptional three-day event, held for the first time in Spain. Thanks to the Spanish fans' great participation, this will be an extraordinary weekend.

Finali Mondiali on the track in Valencia

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Valencia, 12 November 2009 – With a special free practice session, which allowed the participants to gain confidence on the track, the Finali Mondiali Ferrari, the Prancing Horse’s traditional event at the end of the motorsport season, started at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit. Since 1994, the first year the Finali Mondiali were held, this extraordinary event leaves Italy and is held in Spain to greet the fans under a sunny sky with temperatures of almost 30°C and the Comunitat Valenciana’s generous hospitality. The intense programme over four days foresees the races for the World Title in the three series – Italia, Europe and North America - the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, the finals of the Shell Historic Challenge, the fascinating Championship dedicated to the historical cars, and the shows with the participants in the international GT competitions, celebrating important results in 2009. The non-competitive appearance of the Formula 1 single-seaters used in past seasons by the Scuderia writing history, and the laboratory cars from the exclusive FXX Programme – involving client-test drivers in the ambitious development of future Ferraris - will add further suspense. The greetings from the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro will conclude the event on Sunday.

Ferrari Parade at Valencia

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Valencia, 11 November 2009 – Enthusiastic spectators for the Ferrari parade this morning at the Paseo de la Alameda: almost 10,000 fans came to see the cars driving through the heart of the city of Valencia on the occasion of the World Finals, the traditional event by the Prancing Horse at the end of the motorsport season, starting tomorrow at the Ricardo Tormo di Cheste Circuit.

Thanks to the support from the Comunitat Valenciana, the event was an occasion for the Spanish fans to see some of the most exceptional cars together with several motorsport jewels from the Prancing Horse: a Ferrari California, a 599 GTB Fiorano, a 612 Scaglietti, the 458 Italia, the latest Ferrari model, a F430 Challenge, aF4 30 GT2 from the international GT Championship and an FXX, from the development programme. The cars animated an exciting show, where also Marc Genè, the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro’s official test driver, was present with the F2008, the 2008 Constructors’ World Champion car.

Star parade in Valencia

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello, 10 November 2009 – Tomorrow at noon Valencia's Paseo de la Alameda will turn into a catwalk for Ferrari. This is a preview of what will happen during the four days at the World Finals, the traditional end-of-the-season festivities, this year for the first time held at the Ricardo Tormo di Cheste circuit, from 12 to 15 November.‬‪

The main road in the city centre will be shut down for traffic to host the exceptional parade of the cars with the Prancing Horse, lead by the F2008, the Constructors' Championship car from 2008, driven by Marc Gené, the official test driver from the Team from Maranello. Next to the single-seater from the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro there will be the latest model from Ferrari, the 458 Italia, but also a California, a 599 GTB Fiorano, a 612 Scaglietti, a F430 Challenge, a F430 GT2 from the international Gran Turismo Championship and one FXX, the laboratory car from the development programme with the same name. After the parade on Paseo de la Alameda the cars will stop in Plaza del Ayuntamiento, where the fans from Valencia can admire them from close up.

Grand Season's final for the F430 GT

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 9 November 2009 – At this season's sixth and last race in the International GT Open and Spanish GT Championship, held over the last weekend at the Portuguese circuit Parco Algarve, two Ferraris won the 2009 titles in both series, racing together in separate classifications.

Marcel Fässler and Joël Camathias, with the F430 GT2 started by Trottet Racing, won the title in the International GT Open. The drivers from the Swiss team held the leadership in the championship over the whole season. Therefore winning the first race held on Saturday was enough for them to gain the title. At the end of race 1 the Ferrari crossed the line ahead of the two Porsche 911 with Gianluca Roda-Richard Lietz and Raymond Narac-Patrick Pilet, while in the second race, held on Sunday, the first F430 crossing the line was the one driven by Marco Cioci and Piergiuseppe Perazzini (Megadrive), behind the three Porsches with Narac-Pilet, Jean Philippe Belloc-Richard Balandras and Roda-Lietz.‬‪

At the end of the races held at the Parco Algarve circuit the Spanish GT Championship was won by the Portuguese drivers Ricardo Bravo and Lourenço da Veiga. In their home race the ASM Team drivers finished only fifth in the first race, with the F430 of Peter Sundberg-Juan Manuel Lopez (Exact Racing), the Porsche 911 with Miguel Amaral-Miguel A. de Castro and the Mosler with Martin Short on the podium. In race 2 the two Portuguese drivers conquered a spectacular victory ahead of the Porsche with Amaral-De Castro and the other Ferrari driven by Sundberg- Lopez.‬‪

Amongst the other important results gained by the F430 over the last weekend there was this season's second victory for Team Daishin orange car in the Japanese Super GT Championship. The only Ferrari GT2 racing in Japan and beautifully driven by Tomonobu Fujii won the race at the Fuji circuit last September and crossed the line first at the last race of this season held at Motegi, ahead of the Mazda RX-7 with Taniguchi-Orime and the Lexus with Orido-Kataoka, who won the Championship.

F430 - Spanish weekend

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 1 November 2009 – The seventh race of the GT Open season, held at the Barcelona, was concluded by Ferrari twice on the podium. At the end of race one the leaders in the standings, Marcel Fässler and Joël Camathias, behind the wheel of a F430 from Trottet Racing, conquered the second place behind the Porsche 911 with Raymond Narac-Patrick Pilet and ahead of the Ferrari with Ferdinando Monfardini-Marco Frezza (Vittoria Competizioni), while in race two the car started by the Victoria Competizioni team crossed the line second, between the Porsches with Narac- Pilet and Gianluca Roda-Richard Lietz. Thanks to this result Marcel Fässler-Joël Camathias stay in the lead of their class with the final race of the Spanish series coming up on the next weekend at the Portuguese Pearco Algarve circuit.

FIA GT - Season’s final

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 26 October 2009 – The F430’s extraordinary adventure in the FIA GT Championship ended with two cars on the podium. After conquering the Constructors’ and Teams’ Title at the French Paul Ricard circuit with one race to go and for the fourth year in a row, the AF Corse Team drivers missed the success in the Drivers’ standings by a whisker, while the BMS and CRS Racing teams gained the second and third place in the final race at the Belgian Zolder race track. In the last two hours of the series - which, after 13 seasons, will be divided into two series in the coming year and changing its name (GT1 World Championship and GT2 Europe) -class victory went to Richard Westbrook with the Porsche 997, followed by the Ferraris with Paolo Ruberti-Matteo Malucelli (BMS Scuderia Italia) and Andrew Kirkaldy-Rob Bell (CRS Racing).
Just a fourth place for the F430 driven by the previous champion Toni Vilander for AF Corse, slowed down by 100 kg of ballast and forced to an additional pit stop to change his car’s tyres.

Another succesful weekend for the F430 GT2

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 18 October 2009 – Over the last weekend Ferrari gained some important success in the international Gran Turismo Championship in the GT2 class’ penultimate race at the Spanish GT Championship, while dominating both conclusive rounds in the Italian GT Championship.

In the fifth round of the Spanish series, held at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit, victory in the first race went to the F430 driven by Peter Sundberg and Juan Manuel Lopez: the duo, racing for the Exakt Racing team, crossed the line ahead of the Porsche 911 with Miguel Amaral-Miguel A. De Castro and the Sun Red 21 with Oscar Fernandez-Jordi Gene. Sundberg and Lopez missed the second win in race two when the Ferrari with Ricardo Bravo and Lourenço da Veiga (ASM Team) crossed the line first. Thanks to this result the ASM Team consolidates its leadership in the Championship ahead of Miguel Amaral-Miguel A. De Castro, coming in third in the second race. The final Spanish GT Championship’s race will be held on 8 November at the Portuguese Parco Algarve race track.

Meanwhile Ferrari celebrated the conclusion of the Italian GT Championship with two places on the podium in Monza. A little bit of disappointment for the few points the Megadrive team with Marco Cioci and Giuseppe Perazzini was missing for conquering the title, which, this year, went to the Porsche 997 with Francisco Cruz Martins and Sascha Maassen. The F430 GT2s dominated the first race with Giuseppe Cirò-Alberto Cerrai, Alessandro Garofano-Rui Aguas (Advanced Engineering) and Marco Frezza-Luciano Linossi (Vittoria Competizioni), while the second race Cirò and Cerrai were again faster than Giuseppe Perazzini and Marco Cioci and the Porsche 997 driven by Guido Formilli Fendi and Saverio Castellaneta.

An appreciated comeback

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello, 13 October 2009 – Thanks to AF Corse’s availability this morning Jean Alesi was back behind the wheel of a Ferrari on the Fiorano circuit. It was a proper test, keeping the promise made to the French driver on the occasion of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and evaluating, through the direct contact with the car, a possible employment in the international Gran Turismo Championships in the near future. After the test, which ended earlier than planned and after 65 laps, Alesi was enthusiastic: “I feel as if I was young again, like at the start of my career, when I still had to demonstrate my ability. It was an unbelievable emotion to get back on the track and I immediately gained confidence with the car, really phenomenal!” 1995 - Alesi’s last season as an official driver of the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro in Formula 1 - didn’t seem so long ago, when he got behind the wheel of the F430 GT2 made available by Amato Ferrari’s AF Corse. Ferrari, impressed by Alesi, who back then was immediately able to drive the same lap times as the best drivers in his category, said: “We didn’t need to use a slot in the afternoon’s programme thanks to Jean’s exceptional performance in a test, where we just had to adjust the driver’s position in the car and refuel; no mechanical modifications were necessary. That’s why we are extremely optimistic as far as a possible involvement of Jean in our 2010 programme is concerned.”

American Le Mans Series – Season’s final

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 11 October 2009 – The race on the Californian Laguna Seca track, the tenths and last round of the American Le Mans Series, ended prematurely for the F430 started by the Risi Competizione Team, due to a collision, for which the team from Houston had to pay a high price. Exactly in the moment when the car was leading the race, the radiator broke and the team had to withdraw the car from the race.

Two weeks after the win at the Petit Le Mans, the spectacular endurance race on the Road Atlanta circuit in Georgia, the excellent start in the race today and an extraordinary Pierre Kaffer behind the wheel, surprised by the Jaguar with Paul Gentilozzi – Marc Goossens - abruptly changing their racing line - weren’t enough and the race came to an early end after just 49 laps. At the end place one and three went to the two Porsche 911 with Jörg Bergmeister-Patrick Long and Wolf Henzler-Pierre Ehret, while second place was gained by the Corvette with Jan Magnussen – Johnny O'Connell. The season’s record for the American team is definitely positive, winning all the endurance races 2009 in its class.

Challenge staged in Vallelunga

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Vallelunga (Roma), 11 October 2009 – This season’s sixth round of the Italian Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli started today at the Pietro Taruffi circuit in Vallelunga, just outside Rome. The participants in the Italian single-marque’s racing series went onto the track for the first free practice sessions and the qualifyings next to the drivers starting in the last race of the Trofeo Abarth 500 for a double qualifying session.

At the end of the qualifying for both series but with separate classifications the pole position in the Trofeo Pirelli was gained by Giorgio Sernagiotto (Motor/Piacenza) followed by Marco Mapelli (Rossocorsa) and Dario Caso (CDP). While amongst the gentlemen drivers in the Coppa Shell the best lap time was driven by Gianluca Carboni (Rossocorsa/Pellin) who tomorrow will start from the pole position just ahead of the Rossocorsa teammates Stefano Gai e Tommaso Rocca. Tomorrow’s races will be extremely exciting, because they might already decide the first titles of the 2009 season.

The start is foreseen for 10:50am: apart from the races the event offers the clients the opportunity to take their cars onto the track, thanks to the ‘Emozioni in pista’ programme.

Tomorrow’s races of the Italian Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli will be shown live on Sky Sport Extra at 11:30am (race 1) and at 3:20pm (race 2). Sky Sport 2 will reshow race 1 on Monday 12 October at 9:45am and at 5pm, while race 2 will be shown again on Tuesday 13 October at 9:45am and at 5pm as well as on Thursday 15 October at 10pm.

First Champion in Challenge named

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Vallelunga (Rome), 11 October 2009 – Today this Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli season’s first champion was named at the Pietro Taruffi circuit in Vallelunga just outside Rome: Stefano Gai, the 23-year-old Rossocorsa driver, won the title in the Coppa Shell, the series dedicated to the gentlemen drivers, one race ahead of the end of the season. Next to the F430s, which started in this season’s sixth race, today the participants in the last round of the Trofeo Abarth 500 and the clients behind their own Ferrari wheels - thanks to the ‘Emozioni in pista’ programme - went onto the track.

At the end of the two races with separate classifications Giorgio Sernagiotto (Motor/Piacenza) won race 1 in the main category of the Trofeo Pirelli, ahead of the Rossocorsa team drivers Marco Mapelli and Emanuele Moncini, while Marco Mapelli won race 2, his second win this season, ahead of Giorgio Sernagiotto and Andrea Belluzzi (Motor/Modena). Amongst the gentlemen drivers in the Coppa Shell the first victory went to Andrea Crescentini (Motor/Piacenza), ahead of Tommaso Rocca (Rossocorsa) and Gianluca Carboni (Rossocorsa/Pellin), while the second race was won by Gianluca Carboni followed by the new champion Stefano Gai and Vincenzo Sauto (Ineco/MP).

Classifications

Trofeo Pirelli Italia
Sernagiotto 226
Mapelli 191
Belluzzi 171

Coppa Shell Italia
Gai 218
Rocca 169
Mantovani 141

Motor/Piacenza driver Lorenzo Casé’s intervention and the collaboration of the Autodrodomo di Vallelunga and AF Corse enabled the Rotary Club Guidonia Montecelio and Civitavecchia to make a dream for 15 differently abled youths come true: getting onto the track on board of a Ferrari, while raising awareness of the Polioplus campaign, to sustain the fight against this disease.

The Italian racing series will be back on the track at Valencia on the Ricardo Tormo track on the occasion of the World Finals from 13 to 15 November.

The Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Italy will be re-shown on Sky Sport 2 on Monday 12 October at 9:45am an 5pm (race 1), on Tuesday 13 October at 9:45am and 5pm, and on Thursday 15 October at 10pm (race 2).

GT test for Alesi

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello, 9 October 2009 – Thanks to the never-ending work of AF Corse on 13 October Jean Alesi will be back behind the wheel of a Red on the Fiorano circuit. The Frenchman, official driver of the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro from 1991 to 1995, will sit behind the wheel of a Ferrari 430 GT2 from the team managed by Amato Ferrari. The extraordinary event - a test drive of 60 laps - will fulfil a long-cherished desire and rate with this in-depth contact with the car a possible engagement of Alesi in the International Gran Turismo competitions.

Ferrari Challenge on the track in Vallelunga

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello, 9 October 2009 – Tomorrow the sixth round of the Italian Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli will start at Vallelunga’s Pietro Taruffi circuit, together with this season’s last race in the Abarth 500 Trophy and another opportunity for the clients to get onto the track in their own cars, thanks to the ‘Emozioni in pista’ programme.

In the Italian series Giorgio Sernagiotto (Motor/Piacenza) leads the Trofeo Pirelli standings with 186 points, followed by Marco Mapelli (Rossocorsa) with 153 and Andrea Belluzzi (Motor Modena) with 147. Amongst the Gentlemen Drivers Stefano Gai (Rossocorsa) leads with 197 points in the Shell Cup, ahead of his teammate Tommaso Rocca with 142 points and Massimo Mantovani (Motor/Malucelli) with 117.

The qualifyings will start on Saturday at 9am, while all the races will be held on Sunday.

The Italian Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli can be seen live on Sky Sport Extra on Sunday at 11:30am (race 1) and at 3:20pm, (race 2). Sky Sport 2 will reshow race 1 on Monday 12 October at 9:45am and at 5pm, while race 2 will be shown on Tuesday 13 October at 9:45am and at 5pm as well as on Thursday 15 October at 10pm.

Four in a row for Ferrari in Fia GT

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Watch the Photogalley

Maranello (Modena), 4 October – The unstoppable success series of the F430 GT2 goes on in the international Gran Turismo competitions. At the race on the Paul Ricard HTTT circuit in Castellet, this FIA GT Championship’s seventh run, Ferrari and AF Corse gained with one race to go the constructors’ and teams’ title for the fourth time in a row, while in Monza the extraordinary cars dominated both races in the sixth round of the international GP Open.

On the French track, open to spectators for the first time after ten years, victory went to the car with number 50 of the AF Corse team with the excellent Gimmi Bruni and Toni Vilander behind the wheel. They crossed the line ahead of the Porsche 911 with their all-time rivals Emmanuel Collard and Richard Westbrook, investigated at the end of the race. Also the other F430 from the unbeatable team, with the drivers Niki Cadei – Alvaro Barba Lopez, made it onto the podium. As far as the drivers’ title is concerned the Championship is still open and will be decided on the Belgian Zolder circuit on 25 October and after the stewards’ verdict.

The sixth race of the GT Open Championship, held on the alst weekend in Monza, was dominated in both runs by the Ferrari with Marcel Fässler and Joël Camathias: at the end of the first run the Trottet Racing team drivers crossed the line ahead of the Porsche 911 with Gianluca Roda and Richard Lietz and the Advanced Engineering F430 with Michele Rugolo and Giacomo Ricci, while they won the second run on a podium completely in red ahead of the Ferrari with Raffaele Giammaria-Alessandro Bonetti (Racing Team Edil Cris) and Rugolo-Ricci, crossing the line third again.

The last round of the Spanish series will be held on the Montmelò circuit on the weekend of 1 November

Ferrari conquers Petit Le Mans

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 28 September 2009 – Thanks to Saturday’s victory at the Petit Le Mans, the spectacular endurance race on Georgia’s Road Atlanta circuit, the ninth run in the prestigious American Le Mans Series, Ferrari gained success in its class in every race in the 2009 season.

At the end of a race held under incessant rain, suspended for almost four hours due to the bad track and weather conditions, the F430 GT2 started by Risi Competizione team and driven by the extraordinary Jaime Melo, Pierre Kaffer and Mika Salo crossed the line eighth in the overall classification after 170 laps and 694.96 kilometres, ahead of the BMW with Dirk Müller - Tommy Milner- Jörg Müller and the Porsche 911 driven by Wolf Henzler- Dirk Werner. After the win at the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, conquering victory in the 10-hour race represents an uninterrupted series of success for the Team from Houston, started in 2008.
The racing series will be back on the track on 11 October on the Californian Laguna Seca circuit.

Meanwhile in this season’s sixth round of the Italian Gran Turismo championship Ferrari dominated both races held on the Mugello circuit. In race 1 the team formed by Alberto Cerrai and Giuseppe Cirò gained this season’s first success behind the wheel of the F430 started by Advanced Engineering, ahead of another Ferrari with Alessandro Bonetti and Raffaele Giammaria (Edilcris) and the Porsche 997 with Francisco Cruz Martin – Richard Lietz. At the end of a fierce race Marco Cioci – Giuseppe Perazzini (Megadrive) gained the top spot on the podium in race 2, conquering a well-deserved win ahead of the Porsches with Cruz Martins – Lietz and Luca Formilli Fendi – Saverio Castellaneta. The conclusive race of the Italian series will be held on the Monza circuit on the weekend of 18 October

Misslin dominates in Valencia

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Valencia, 27 September 2009 – The seventh round of the Ferrari Racing Days just ended at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit with the sixth race of this season for the participants in the European Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli. Apart from the intense racing with the participation of some colleagues from the Italian series - who came to Valencia gaining confidence with the track for the upcoming Finali Mondiali 2009 - new free practice sessions were held with the historical single-seaters taken care off by Maranello’s F1 Clienti department and the cars participating in the exclusive FXX Programme. Gimmi Bruni, member of the AF Corse team and exceptional coach of the client-drivers behind the wheel of their historical single-seaters, followed the action on the track from up close, before going onto the track for some “hot laps” behind the wheel of the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 2008 World Champion car, the F2008.

Nicolas Misslin dominated both races of the main class in the Trofeo Pirelli. In race 1 the French driver from the Stradale Automobile team won ahead of Lorenzo Casé (Motor/Piacenza) and the Austrian Philipp Baron (Baron Service), while the order was inverted in race 2, when the Frenchman crossed the line ahead of Baron followed by Casé. Amongst the Coppa Shell gentlemen drivers the top spot on the podium was taken by Jean-Marc Bachelier: the French driver behind the wheel of the F430 from the Motor/Piacenza team won the race ahead of Andrea Crescentini (Motor/Piacenza) and the Hungarian Csaba Spitzmueller (Warm Up). At the end of race 2 it was Andrea Crescentini who crossed the line first ahead of the Frenchman Yannick Mallegol (Stradale Automobile) and once again the Hungarian Csaba Spitzmueller.

Standings

Trofeo Pirelli Europe
Misslin 198
Baron 191
Blancardi 179

Coppa Shell Europe
Bachelier/Mallegol 212
Valint 176
Frodig 127

The Italian series of the single-marque championship will be back on the track on 10 October in Vallelunga, when also the Trofeo Abarth 500 will be held, while the next race for the European series is set for the weekend of 15 November at the Finali Mondiali in Valencia.

ALMS – Ferrari endurance triumph

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

After last night’s victory at the Petit Le Mans, the spectacular race held at the Road Atlanta circuit in Georgia – the ninth round of the prestigious American Le Mans Series - the Risi Competizione team from Houston received the title for the team, which represented Ferrari the best in the Gran Turismo competitions over the last ten years.

After the victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, winning the 10-hour race, which was hit by constant rain, represents the successful completion of a long series of incredible success.

The race had been interrupted for four hours due to the terrible weather and track conditions. At the end the F430 GT2 - with extraordinary Jaime Melo, Pierre Kaffer and Mika Salo behind the wheel - crossed the line eighth in the overall classification and first in their class.

Challenge back in Valencia

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Valencia, 26 September 2009 – The first day for the participants in the European Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli series and some of their colleagues from the Italian series busy in the sixth event of the season – with the free practice sessions and the qualifying – ended at the Ricardo Tormo di Cheste circuit in Valencia. A remarkable number of Italian drivers benefitted from the event to race on the track where also the upcoming Ferrari Finali Mondiali will be held. An exceptional guest from the world of the international Gran Turismo competitions at the box was Gimmi Bruni, part of the AF Corse Team in the FIA GT Championship. He followed the client-drivers who went on the track today with the historical single-seaters taken care of by Maranello’s F1 Clienti department and went for some laps in the F2008, the Constructors’ World Champion car from the last Formula 1 season.

In the two qualifying sessions held in the afternoon by the cars from the European series, which hasn’t been at the Spanish track since 2006, the best lap times were driven by the F430s with the French driver Nicolas Misslin (Stradale Automobile), the Italian Lorenzo Casé (Motor/Piacenza) and the Austrian Philipp Baron (Baron Service). In the Shell Cup for Gentlemen Drivers the best lap was driven by the French duo Jean-Marc Bachelier and Yannick Mallegol from the Motor/Piacenza team, followed by the Hungarian Csaba Spitzmueller (Warm Up) and the Italian Andrea Crescentini (Motor/Piacenza).

The competition will start tomorrow morning at 9am, while the event will end with more free practice sessions by the historical F1 single-seaters and the extraordinary FXX, from the programme with the same name.

Ferrari Racing Days at Valencia

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 24 September 2009 – The next weekend this season’s seventh round of the Ferrari Racing Days will be held at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit, where the F430s participating in the European Ferrari Challenge Pirelli Trophy will get on the track, as well as the 14 single-seaters coordinated by Maranello’s F1 Clienti department and six FXX, the extraordinary laboratory cars from the programme with the same name and their client-test drivers.

Ahead of the race in Spain the Austrian Philipp Baron (Baron Service) leads the standings in the European series with 157 points, followed by Frenchman Nicolas Misslin (Stradale Automobile) with just one points less and the Italian Max Blancardi (Motor/Malucelli) with 154 points; Frenchmen Jean-Marc Bachelier and Yannick Mallegol (172 points; Motor/Piacenza Team) lead the standings amongst the Gentleman Drivers in the Shell Cup, followed by the Hungarian Tibor Valint (Warm Up) with 155 points and the Swede Magnus Frodig (Formula Automobile) with 126. The race will offer the participants the opportunity to get used to the track where the World Finals – the traditional conclusion of the motorsport season - will be held in November.

The event will start on Friday, 25 September, with a recognition lap of the historical single-seaters; on Saturday the free practice sessions and the qualifyings will be held, followed by the races and the events without timekeeping on Sunday.

F430 wins in France and Portugal

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 21st September 2009 – A weekend with exceptional results for the F430s, protagonists in two new rounds of the FIA GT Championship and the International GT Open as well as in the sixth round of the Ferrari Challenge USA held in Milville at the New Jersey Motorsports Park, on the occasion of the final meeting of the US-American Ferrari Racing Days.

In the sixth round of the FIA GT Championship, held at the Portuguese race track of Portimão at the Algarve, Niki Cadei and Alvaro Barba Lopez gained victory in the GT2 class: the AF Corse team drivers ended their race after 64 laps, or 300.8 kilometres, ahead of the leaders in the standings Emmanuel Collard and Richard Westbrook with Porsche 997 and the BMS Scuderia Italia’s F430 driven by Paolo Ruberti and Matteo Malucelli. Penalised by a neutralisation while they were leading the race, Gimmi Bruni and Toni Vilander only gained sixth place and are now three points behind Westbrook-Collard in the drivers’ standings. In the team standings AF Corse leads with five points ahead of the second placed team, while Ferrari holds the leadership in its class, 43 points ahead of Porsche.
The next race will be held at the French Paul Ricard circuit in Le Castellet on the weekend of 4th October.

At the Magny-Cours circuit the F430s concluded both races of this season’s fifth round in the International GT Open Championships on the podium. At the end of race 1 Marcel Fässler and Joël Camathias, behind the wheel of the Ferrari started by the Trottet Racing Team, crossed the line first, ahead of the two Porsches 997 driven by Gianluca Roda-Richard Lietz and Raymond Narac-Patrick Pilet respectively. In the second race - dominated by the Porsches with Manuel Giao-Pedro Couceiro and Narac-Pilet - Marco Cioci and Piergiuseppe Perazzini from Megadrive gained third place with their Ferrari.
The Spanish racing series will start at the Monza race track on the weekend of 4th October for this season’s sixth race.

On the New Jersey Motorsports Park circuit victory in the first race of the US-American Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli went to Mark McKenzie (Ferrari of Houston), followed by Scott Tucker (Boardwalk Ferrari) and Zac Brown (Ferrari of Silicon Valley), while Tucker, leader of the standings, crossed the line first in race 2, ahead of Henri Richard (Ferrari of Silicon Valley) and Steve Hill (Ferrari of Newport Beach). Amongst the jewels racing in the Shell Historic Challenge, amongst cars with disk brakes, Todd Morici won both races behind the wheel of a 512 BB/LM, ahead of Leigh Keno, driving the same Ferrari model, and Stephen Dudley with a 308 GTB/M. In the races for cars with drum brakes MHP with a Ferrari 250 TR won ahead of Peter Giddins (Maserati 250F) and Jon Shirley (Maserati 300S).
The next meeting with the US-American drivers will be held at the Ferrari World Finals in Valencia from 13th to 15th November

Ferrari takes Le Mans Series title and triumphs in Spain

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 14th September 2009 – A memorable weekend has just come to an end for the F430, competing in GT international races. Its performance in the Silverstone 1000 Km race was enough to give Ferrari the constructors’ title in the prestigious Le Mans Series, while there were also wins in another round of the Spanish GT championship.

In the fifth and final round of the Le Mans Series, held at Silverstone, Ferrari took the constructors’ cup, the second time the title has come its way in the two years that this prize has been awarded, thanks to a win for Robert Bell and Gianmaria Bruni, driving the car entered by JMW Motorsport. It was an amazing race: starting from second on the grid, they ended up sliding down the order after a particularly hectic start and then made up ground in the final two hours to catch and pass the Spyker C8 of Tom Coronel and Jarek Janis and the Porsche 997 of Patrick Pilet and Raymond to take the win, thus handing the much sought after title to the Prancing Horse marque, while finishing second in the class, missing out on first place by just one point.

At Spain’s Albacate circuit, the F430 GT2 cars dominated both races of the fourth round of Spanish GT Championship. At the end of Race 1, Peter Sundberg and Juan Manuel Lopez (Exakt Racing) stood on the top step of an all-Ferrari podium, ahead of Ricardo Bravo and Lourenço da Veiga (ASM Team) and Josep Mayola and Marc Carol (PCR Sport). In the second race, run in darkness, the Manuel Cerqueda and Alain Sicart car, entered by Automobil Club D’Andorra, managed to get the better of the Porsche of Miguel de Castro and the F430 of Ricardo Bravo and Lourenço da Veiga. The next round of the Spanish series takes place at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit over the weekend of 18 October.

On track with the Reds in Brno

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Brno, 6th September 2009 –The Czech crowd gave a warm welcome to the Ferrari Racing Days: on the final day of the event, held at the Masaryk Brno circuit, no less than 35,000 fans backed the grandstands to see the F430s in action in the Italian and European Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, as well as the historic cars in the Shell Historic Challenge, as they tackled a busy race programme. Also on track for some free practice runs were historic single-seaters, run by the F1 Clienti department of Maranello.

In the Italian Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, Giorgio Sernagiotto managed to come out on top once again in the second event, beating Marco Mapelli (Rossocorsa) and Andrea Belluzzi (Motor/Modena): thanks to this great double victory, the young Motor/Piacenza driver consolidates his lead in the classification. The same can be said for Stefano Gai, who by winning Race 2, confirms his place at the top of the order in the Coppa Shell, at the end of a race that duplicated the result of Race 1, with team-mates Tommaso Rocca and Massimo Mantovani (Motor/Malucelli) second and third respectively across the finish line.

The second race for those competing in the European one-make series saw Philipp Baron take the win he missed out on after Monza: crossing the line behind the Austrian Baron Service driver were Germany’s Bjorn Grossmann (Autohaus Gohm) and France’s Nicolas Misslin (Stradale Automobile), while among the gentleman drivers in the Coppa Shell, the top step of the podium was occupied by Hungary’s Csaba Spitzmueller (Warm Up) who beat France’s Stephane Clareton (Stradale Automobile) and the German Frank Gelf (Eberlein Kassel).

Results

Trofeo Pirelli Italia
Sernagiotto 186
Mapelli 153
Belluzzi 147

Coppa Shell Italia
Gai 197
Rocca 142
Mantovani 117

Trofeo Pirelli Europa
Baron 157
Misslin 156
Blancardi 153

Coppa Shell Europa
Bachelier, Mallegol 172
Valint 155
Frodig 126

In the second race of the Shell Historic Challenge, in the Grid “A” + “B” race which combines cars with drum brakes and those with discs, victory went to Dieter Roschmann in his 1970 Ferrari 512 M, who crossed the line ahead of Darius Ahrabian, driving the incredible 1992 F40 LM and Larry Kinch at the wheel of a 1980 Ferrari 308 Michelotto GR4.

Marc Gené, Scuderia Ferrari’s official test driver, oversaw the owner-drivers on track today in the historic single-seaters run by the F1 Clienti department of Maranello: at the end of the first run of free practice, the Spaniard did a few laps in the F2008, the car that won last season’s Formula 1 Constructors’ champion championship and a Ferrari FXX, the laboratory car owned by seven times Formula 1 world champion, Michael Schumacher.

The European series of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli and the historic single-seaters will be back on track at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo Circuit from 25 to 27 September, alongside cars entered in the prestigious FXX programme, as well as the Spanish round of the Trofeo 500 Abarth. The sixth round of the Italian one-make series has a longer wait until it takes place in Vallelunga over the weekend of 11 November.

The second race from the Italian Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli will be shown, recorded, on Sky Sport 2 tonight at 20 and 23.45.

The Challenge takes to the track in Brno

Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Brno, 5th September 2009 – Today the Ferrari Racing Days got underway at the Masaryk Brno circuit, featuring the F430s entered in the fifth round of the Italian and European series of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli and the historic jewels competing in the third round of the Shell Historic Challenge. Apart from the racing action, this amazing track also saw action from some legendary single-seaters, run by the F1 Clienti department of Maranello: Marc Gené, Scuderia Ferrari’s official test driver, oversaw the owner-drivers as they tackled four free practice sessions.

In the main category of the Italian Trofeo Pirelli, the first event ended in a win for Giorgio Sernagiotto: the standard bearer for the Motor/Piacenza team came home ahead of Andrea Belluzzi (Motor/Modena) and his team-mate, Lorenzo Casè, while among the gentlemen drivers in the Coppa Shell, the top step of the podium was occupied for the sixth consecutive time, by Stefano Gai (Rossocorsa) ahead of his team-mate, Tommaso Rocca and Massimo Mantovani (Motor/Malucelli).

Among those entered in the European series of the Trofeo Pirelli, it was the German driver, Bjorn Grossmann (Autohaus Gohm) who took the top slot, followed home by Austria’s Philipp Baron (Baron Service) and the Slovak racer Jan Danis (Scuderia Praha). In the Coppa Shell, victory went to France’s Jean-Marc Bachelier (Motor/Piacenza) who crossed the line ahead of two drivers, Csaba Spitzmueller and Tibor Valint, entered by the Hungarian team, Warm Up.

In the”A” and “B” Grids in the Shell Historic Challenge, for cars fitted with drum brakes and those with discs, it was Dieter Roschmann who was first past the chequered flag, at the wheel of a 1970 Ferrari 512 M, followed home by Pierangelo Maselli driving a 1976 Ferrari 308 GTB and Harry Leventis in a 1964 Ferrari Dino 206 SP.

Tomorrow’s programme features the final races and further practice sessions for the historic single-seaters, while Marc Gené will do some exhibition laps at the wheel of two very special cars: the F2008 that won last year’s Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship and one of the Ferrari FXX laboratory cars, this one actually owned by seven times Formula 1 World Champion, Michael Schumacher.

The second race in the Italian Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli will be shown live on Sky Sport 2, tomorrow at 11.55. The same channel will then replace Race 1 at 11 and Race 2 at 15.30, 20 and 23.45.

Ferrari Racing Days at Brno

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 2nd September 2009 – This coming weekend, the Masaryk Brno Circuit provides the setting for the sixth round of this season’s Ferrari Racing Days. It will be the first time that this event takes place at the circuit better known for staging the MotoGP and features the third round of the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge and the fifth rounds of the Italian and European Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli. Alongside the F430 Challenge and the historic cars taking part in a busy race programme, also on the card will be no less than thirteen single seaters run by the F1 Clienti Department of Maranello, making it the biggest gathering of Ferrari cars ever seen in the Czech Republic. Marc Gené, the official test driver for Scuderia Ferrari, will follow the drivers entered in the F1 Clienti programme in their free practice sessions over the weekend and will also drive a few hot laps at the wheel of two very special cars: the F2008, winner of last season’s Formula 1 Constructors’ title and a Ferrari FXX, the laboratory car which belongs to seven times Formula 1 world champion, Michael Schumacher, who is happy make the car available for such an amazing event.

Going into this round, Giorgio Sernagiotto (Motor/Piacenza) arrives as leader of the Italian Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli on 145 points, with the young Rossocorsa team racer, Stefano Gai, leading the gentlemen drivers in the Coppa Shell, on 155 points. In the European leg of the one-make series, the French driver, Nicolas Misslin (Stradale Automobile) leads the Trofeo Pirelli with 130 points: on a tally of 140 points, the Coppa Shell is headed by the Motor/Piacenza crew of Frances Jean-Marc Bachelier and Yannick Mallegol. Three months on from the round held at France’s Le Vigeant circuit, the classification amongst the historic cars sees Massimo Sordi still leading, thanks to the 60 points he picked up at the wheel of his 1957 Maserati 200 SI, followed by Nicolas Zapata and his 1956 Ferrari 625 on 54 points and Mister John of B, driving a 1980 Ferrari 512 BB LM, two points down.

The event gets underway on Friday 4 September, with the initial rounds of free practice, followed on Saturday by qualifying and the first round of races, ending on Sunday with the second set of races.

The two rounds of the Italian Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli will be shown live on Sky Sport 3, on Saturday 5 September at 18.10 (Race 1) and by Sky Sport 2, Sunday 6 September at 11.55 (Race 2.) Sky Sport 2 will show repeats of Race 1 on Saturday at 23.45 and Sunday at 11. The same channel will then repeat Sunday’s Race 2 at 15.30, 20 and 23.45.

F430 back on the track

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 31 August 2009 – After a long summer break on the last weekend the F430 GT went onto the track again in the international Gran Turismo racing series with two prestigious events such as the FIA GT Championship and the American Le Mans Series.‬‪‬‪

Four weeks after the race at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium the FIA GT was back on the track, this time in Budapest, for this season's fifth race. On the long and twisty Hungarian track the Ferrari started by AF Corse, with Toni Vilander and Gimmi Bruni behind the wheel, conquered the second place, despite a ballast of 100 kg; only the Porsche 997, driven by Emmanuel Collard and Richard Westbrook was faster. Meanwhile the F430 with Paolo Ruberti and Matteo Malucelli (BMS Scuderia Italia) gained, with a third place, this season's best result.
Thanks to these results AF Corse stays ahead in the race for the Teams’ and Drivers’ title, while Ferrari consolidates its lead in the championship, before the cars will start at the next race held at the Parco Algarve circuit in Portugal on the weekend of 20 September.

ln the Mosport Grand Prix, held at the Mosport International Raceway in Bowmanville (Ontario, Canada), this season's eighth race in the American Le Mans Series, Risi Competizione's F430, with Jaime Melo and Pierre Kaffer, crossed the line second, after they had to start from the back of the starting grid. In the end they were placed between the two Corvettes C6-R with Jan Magnussen-Johnny O’Connel and Olivier Beretta-Oliver Gavin.‬‪
The Ferrari of Houston Team, despite the second place, is now just 31 points behind the leader in the standings, with the Petit Le Mans in sight, the spectacular 10-hour race on 26 September on the Road Atlanta circuit in Braselton, Georgia.‬‪‬‪

Look at the Photogallery

Ferrari Racing Days – On track with Marc Gené

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello, 27th August 2009 – Scuderia Ferrari official driver Marc Gené will be leaving his mark upon the famous Ferrari Racing Days in Brno which will take place this September 4 to 6. The Spaniard has recently won the traditional 24 hours of Le Mans and will certainly make a huge impressions on all motorsport enthusiast who will visit the well-known Masaryk circuit. Marc Gené, official test driver of the Formula1-team since November 2004, having his second appearance in the Czech Republic, will burn some hot laps on the traditional Moto GP track when driving the debuts of two very special cars: the F2008, winning-car of last year’s Formula 1 World Championship Constructor’s title, and the stunning Ferrari FXX. Formula 1 fans will thus be able to experience the sheer power of the car which allowed Felipe Massa to be fighting for the Drivers’ World Championship until the very last minute of last season and the personal car of seven time Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher, who is happy to make it available for this special event. The legendary Ferrari brand and its local representative Scuderia Praha will stage the wheel to wheel fights of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge and the so-called programme F1 Clienti, where the ex-cars of different eras and different Ferrari stars such as Michael Schumacher, Niki Lauda or Jean Alesi will have demo-races around the track. The event will therefore allow to see some of the most beautiful single-seaters of the history of motorsports in action. Since many years, the Ferrari Racing Days are established as one of the highlights in the calendar of all motorsport fans. This meeting will make up to the biggest Ferrari event in Central Europe this year with the most Ferrari cars ever at the same time in this country.

24 Hours of Spa – Two Ferraris on the podium

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 27 July 2009 – Two F430 GT2 concluded the 24 Hours of Spa, one of the oldest and most fascinating endurance races in the history of motorsport, held this year for the 62th time and valid for the fourth round of the FIA GT championship. On the other side of the Atlantic the same cars, in the Challenge version, went on the track in the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli North American racing series.

The prestigious race held at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium was won by the AF Corse team, with Gianmaria Bruni, Toni Vilander, Jaime Melo and Luis Perez Companc. The drivers concluded the race with 540 laps, which is 3,782.16 kilometres, ahead of the Porsche 911with Martin Ragginger, Luigi Lucchini, Marco Holzer and Bryce Miller. Third place went to the Ferrari from CRS Racing, driven by Andrew Kirkaldy, Robert Bell, Peter Kox and Antonio Garcia.

Thanks to this result Ferrari maintains the leadership in its class in the Constructors' standings and AF Corse consolidates its first position in the Teams' standings, while Bruni- Vilander are now leading in the Drivers’ standings. The next FIA GT will be held on 30 August at the Hungaroring, in Budapest.

At the Mont Tremblant circuit in Canada the F430, starting in the North American Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, and the historical jewels from the Shell Historic Challenge met for the fifth appointment of the Ferrari Racing Days. At the end the win went to Scott Tucker: in the first race the Boardwalk Ferrari driver was faster than Mark McKenzie (Ferrari of Houston) and Zak Brown (Ferrari of Silicon Valley), while he crossed the line ahead of the two Ferrari of Silicon Valley driver, Zak Brown and Henri Richard in the second race.
The first race in the Historic Challenge for cars with disk brakes was dominated by Lawrence Stroll with a 512 M Sunoco, keeping Nick Longhi (512 BB/LM) and Stephen Dudley (308 GTB/M) under control, while Jim Fuchs, behind the wheel of a 512 BB/LM, ended the race Ahead Stephen Dudley (308 GTB/M) and Jon Shirley (250 GTO).
Meanwhile both races for cars with drum brakes were won by Peter Giddings with Maserati 250 F, followed by Jon Shirley (Maserati 300S) and Greg Whitten (Alfa Tipo B).
The American Ferrari Racing Days will get back on the track on 20 September at the New Jersey Motorsports Park.

Ferrari Racing Days at Mont Tremblant

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 22nd July 2009 - Round five of the Ferrari F430 Challenge is set for Le Circuit Mont Tremblant July 24-26. Located 90 miles northwest of Montreal with the breathtaking Laurentian Mountains as its backdrop, Mont Tremblant is also the home track for the Ferrari Driving Experience.

Going into Mont Tremblant, Mark McKenzie (Ferrari of Houston) holds onto first place, with 1320 points after Round 4 at Road America. Scott Tucker (Boardwalk Ferrari – Dallas, TX) and Zak Brown (Ferrari of Silicon Valley) have swapped places; Tucker now in second a 145 markers behind McKenzie with Brown a further 40 points behind in third. In 2008 Tucker won one of the two races at Tremblant while McKenzie had a more trying weekend. Looking for an exciting battle at the front among these championship contenders.

Also returning to Tremblant is the Ferrari Historic Challenge. The action is always hot when these front and rear engined thoroughbreds from the past take to the twists and turns of the challenging Le Circuit Mont Tremblant.

Le Circuit spans fifteen turns and numerous elevation changes that make 2.65-mile circuit one of most demanding circuits in the world. It’s so challenging that seven-time Formula One Champion Michael Schumacher has dubbed it "the little Nurburgring."

Weekend on the track with the F430s

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 20 July 2009 – Over the last weekend the F430 GTs were the main protagonists in several races, gaining important results in the last events of prestigious series such as the American Le Mans Series and the Spanish and Italian GT national championships.

The Northeast Grand Prix, back at the Lime Rock Park circuit at Lakeville in Connecticut, was this season’s fifth race valid for the American Le Mans Series. The F430, started by the Risi Competizione Team and driven by Jaime Melo and Pierre Kaffer, gained second place in the race behind the Porsche 911 with Patrick Long and Jörg Bergmeister, and ahead of the BMW with Bill Auberlen and Joey Hand. At the end of the race, interrupted by a drive through penalty caused by speeding, due to a malfunctioning of the car’s speed limiter, and a contact with Long’s car on lap 26 when Kaffer sat behind the wheel, the Ferrari Houston team consolidated its second place in the standings in its class, while getting ready for the next race, held at the Mid-Ohio circuit (Lexington, Ohio) on the weekend of 9 August.

On the occasion of the third Spanish GP Championship race, held at the Portuguese track of Estoril, Ferrari conquered first and third place on the podium, thanks to a formidable performance by Ricardo Bravo and Lourenço da Veiga (ASM Team) as well as Manuel Cerqueda and Alan Sicart (Automobil Club Andorra). Second place, between the two F430s, went to the Porsche 997 with Miguel Amaral and Miguel de Castro.
The Spanish series’ next race will be held at the Albacete circuit on the weekend of 13 September.

Meanwhile at Misano Adriatico the Italian Gran Turismo Championship participants met for this season’s fourth race. The F430s started by Advanced Engineering gained second and third place in race 1, thanks to Alberto Cerrai-Giuseppe Cirò and Alessandro Garofano-Rui Aguas, behind the Porsche 997, driven by Francisco Cruz Martins and Sascha Maassen. The second race, held on Sunday, was dominated by Ferrari, winning ahead of the Porsche thanks to Massimiliano Mugelli and Thomas Kemenater (Scuderia Play Team) ahead of Cruz Martins-Maassen and Cerrai-Cirò. The Autodromo Internazionale in Imola will be the stage for the next round of the Italian series on the weekend of 6 September.

Ferrari Challenge at Road America

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 29th June 2009 - The legendary rolling hills, daunting straights and demanding corners of Road America challenged both man and machine when the Ferrari Challenge rolled into the picturesque Wisconsin resort of Elkhart Lake this past weekend. Leading the time sheets in qualifying was Boardwalk Ferrari's Scott Tucker who was looking to close the 180 point gap to championship leader Mark McKenzie of Ferrari of Houston. Outside pole was captured by Ferrari of Silicon Valley's Zak Brown whose teammate Henri Richard occupied the fourth position split by a resurgent James Henley of Ferrari of Beverly Hills in third.

When the green flag dropped, Tucker motored into the lead with Brown nipping at his heels and that is the way it stayed for the ensuing 16 laps. Brown looked racy over the first 10 laps filling Tucker's mirrors at every turn. It was Tucker's pace and consistency; however, that got the better of Brown as the Boardwalk Ferrari driver was able to nudge out a gap in the last third of the race and hold it to the checkered. Brown's stablemate Richard was able to claim the final podium position after spirited race long battle with Henley.

The drive of the race however belonged to championship leader McKenzie who drove from the back of the grid, capturing the fastest race lap along the way, to finish fourth. Also sporting a remarkable drive was 2007 Challenge champion Mike Zoi of The Collection (Coral Gables, FL). Starting in 19th, Zoi was able to mount a charge and finish with solid points in sixth.

Sunday's action began with Tucker claiming the pole over Ferrari of Beverly Hill's James Henley. McKenzie keen to keep his championship lead slotted into P3. Rounding out the fast 5 were Saturday's protagonists Brown and Zoi.
When the green flew McKenzie served noticed to the field that his Saturday performance was no fluke, immediately attached his car to second place Henley's rear bumper. By lap 2 McKenzie lined up Henley on the exit of turn 7 and executed a textbook overtaking maneuver into 8. From their McKenzie immediately closed the gap to Tucker and began the hunt, looking for a way past. On fourth lap, the normally precise Tucker made a rare error at turn 11 and lost the drive off the corner. This was all that McKenzie needed as he summoned the attention of all 500 cavallini and motored by. From here the two leaders moved in lock step, but today belonged to championship leader McKenzie. At the checkered, McKenzie was able to pull out a 3 second lead over his rival.

Turning in a sensational drive was third place finisher Henri Richard of Ferrari of Silicon Valley. After starting sixth, Richard stayed behind teammate Brown in fifth for first 13 laps before dispatching with courtesy and worked his way past. On the last circuit, Henri was able to catch and pass Henley to capture the last step on the podium. With this Richard was able to move up the championship standing three places to fourth overall.
Now with Road America in the rearview mirror, the action moves north of the border to picturesque Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant in Quebec. With Tucker 145 markers back, the stage for a dramatic end to the championship is set.

English weekend for the Reds

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 6th July 2009 – This weekend just gone saw Ferrari competing in another round of the GT Open Championship at the Donington Park circuit and taking part in the traditional Goodwood Festival of Speed, one of the most incredible gatherings of historic cars, sports, collectors and race cars, bringing together fans from all around the world.

In the fourth round of the GT Open Championship, held on the English circuit, one week on from the Spa-Francorchamps round, Ferrari finished on the podium in both events. The F430 entered by the Advanced Engineering team and driven by Michele Rugolo and Giacomo Ricci took third place in Race 1, behind the Porsche 997s of Raymond Narac-Patrick Pilet and Manuel Giao-Pedro Couceiro. Doing even better was the Trottet Racing crew of Marcel Fassler and Joel Camathias, whose great performance saw them sandwiched between the Porsches of Narac-Pilet and Gianluca Roda-Richard Lietz.
The next round, along with the Spanish series takes place on the Valencia street circuit over the weekend of 30 August.

The weekend also featured the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England, which has been held at Goodwood House in West Sussex since 1993. As always it hosted big names and fantastic cars that have played a part in the history of an unforgettable era in motor sport, from the earliest cars of the last century up to the very latest F1 cars, including Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro test driver Marc Gené at the wheel of an F2008. Other Ferraris taking part were a Scuderia Spider 16M, a 599 HGTE and the company’s latest car, the California.

Ferrari on track at Paul Ricard

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Le Castellet (Var), 5th July 2009 – This was the final day of the Ferrari Racing Days event at the French Paul Ricard HTTT circuit of Le Castellet, featuring the fourth rounds of the Italian and European Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, with cars entered in the exclusive FXX Programme also completing some free practice sessions.

In the main class of the second race in the Italian Trofeo Pirelli, Giorgio Sernagiotto (Motor/Piacenza) redeemed Race 1 defeat, crossing the line ahead of Marco Mapelli (Rossocorsa) and his team-mate Lorenzo Case. Among the gentlemen drivers in the Coppa Shell, Stefano Gai (Rossocorsa) pulled off a fantastic double, taking his fifth consecutive win ahead of Eugenio Amos (Ineco/Ram) and Massimo Mantovani (Motor/Malucelli.)

As for the European Trofeo Pirelli, French driver Nicolas Misslin (Stradale Automobile) confirmed his dominance, getting the better of Czech Republic driver Robert Pergl (Scuderia Praha) and Max Blancardi (Motor/Malucelli.) The finishing order past the chequered flag in the Coppa Shell saw Yannick Mallegol (Motor/Piacenza) first, followed by Tibor Valint (Warm Up) and Stephane Clareton (Stradale Automobile.)

Results

Italian Trofeo Pirelli
Sernagiotto 145
Mapelli 123
Belluzzi 113

Italian Coppa Shell
Gai 155
Rocca 106
Prinoth/Sauto 91

European Trofeo Pirelli
Misslin 130
Blancardi 127
Baron/Pergl 119

European Coppa Shell
Bachelier/Mallegol 140
Valint 139
Frodig 109

The next round of the Italian and European series of the Ferrari Challenge Pirelli Trophy takes place over the weekend of 6 September at Brno. It will provide another opportunity to admire in action the single-seaters prepared by the F1 Clienti department of Maranello and the historic cars entered in the third round of the Shell Historic Challenge. The FXX programme will be back on track in Spain, at Valencia, over the weekend of 27 September.

Repeats of Race 2 can be seen this evening on Sky Sport 2 at 20h and 23h, on 6 July at 9h30 and 17h and 9 July at 17h. The first race of the Italian Ferrari Challenge Pirelli Trophy can be seen on the same channel on 7 July at 17h and on Wednesday 8 July at 9h30.

The Challenge and surprises at Paul Ricard

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Le Castellet (Var), 4th July 2009 – The Ferrari Racing Days event running all weekend got underway today at the Paul Ricard HTTT circuit. This is the fifth round of the Italian and European Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli series and today the F430s took part in qualifying and the first races. Also on track, ten examples of the Ferrari FXX, completing a few free practice sessions. As a curtain raiser, yesterday, the French track hosted an exciting karting race, featuring drivers and those working at the circuit.

In the Italian round, at the end of an action-packed race, Rossocorsa driver Andrea De Lorenzi came out on top on the main category of the Trofeo Pirelli. Crossing the line behind him were standard bearers for the Motor/Piacenza team, Giorgio Sernagiotto and Lorenzo Casè. Among the gentlemen drivers in the Coppa Shell, there was a fourth consecutive victory for Stefano Gai (Rossocorsa,) who finished ahead of his team mate Tommaso Rocca and Massimo Mantovani (Motor/Malucelli) who drops to fifth, to the benefit of Giandomenico Sposito (CDP) following post-race scrutineering.

As for the European Trofeo Pirelli, it was the F430 Challenge of the Motor/Malucelli team, driven by Max Blancardi who took the win, beating the German Bjorn Grossman (Autohaus Gohm) and France’s Nicolas Misslin (Stradale Automobile,) while in the Coppa Shell race, victory ended up going to Frenchman Jean-Marc Bachelier (Motor/Piacenza,) ahead of fellow countryman Stephane Clareton (Stradale Automobile) and Hungary’s Tibor Valint (Warm Up.)

On the card for tomorrow, Sunday 5 July, are the concluding races and more free practice sessions for the ten cars entered in the exclusive FXX Programme.

Replays of the first race in the Italian series of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli will be shown on Sky Sport 2, this evening at 20h00 and 23h00, on 5 July at 14h00, 7 July at 17h00 and Wednesday 8 July at 9.30. Race 2 will be shown live on Sunday 5 July at 15h00 and will be repeated, again on Sky Sport 2, at 20h0 and 23h00, the 6 July at 9h30 and 17h00 and on 9 July at 9h30 and 17h00.

Ferrari Racing Days at Paul Ricard

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 1st July 2009 – The French circuit Paul Ricard HTTT at Le Castellet will host the Ferrari Racing Days’ fifth appointment - with the Italian and European Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli - over the upcoming weekend. Meanwhile also ten cars, which are part of the exclusive FXX Programme will go on the track for several free practice sessions.

Before the Championship’s French stage the classification in the Italian Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli division is lead by Giorgio Sernagiotto (Motor/Piacenza) and Marco Mapelli (Rossocorsa) with 105 points, while amongst the gentleman drivers in the Coppa Shell Stefano Gai (Rossocorsa) leads with 114 points. The Austrian driver Philipp Baron (Baron Service) leads the Trofeo Pirelli – European series - with 100 points, while the Hungarian Tibor Valint dominates the Coppa Shell with 105.

The event will start on Friday 3rd July with the first free practice sessions, followed by the qualifyings and the first races on Saturday. The second round of the races will conclude the race weekend in France on Sunday.

The first Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli race will be shown on Sky Sport 2, on Saturday 4th July at 5pm. Reruns of race 1 can be seen on the same channel at 8pm and 11pm, on 5th July at 2pm, on 7th July at 5pm and on Wednesday, 8th July at 9:30am. Race two will be shown live on Sunday 5th July at 3pm; the reruns will be shown on Sky Sport 2 at 8pm and 11pm, on 6th July at 9:30am and at 5pm, and on 9th July at 9:30am and 5pm.

Weekend on the track with the Reds

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 29th June 2009 – In the GT Open Championship’s third round, held at the Belgian Spa-Francorchamps circuit, Ferrari gained a place on the podium in both races. At the end of the first race it was Michele Rugolo with Giacomo Ricci, behind the wheel of a F430 from Advanced Engineering, who crossed the line third, behind the Porsche with Raymond Narac-Patrick Pilet and Gianluca Roda-Richard Lietz, while the Trottet Racing team car gained second place in race 2, between the Porsches with Roda-Lietz and Pedro Couceiro-Manuel Giao, thanks to an exceptional performance by Marcel Fassler and Joel Camathias.
The fourth race of the Spanish series will be held on the upcoming weekend at the Donington circuit.

In the fourth round of the North American Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, back on the track of Road America in Wisconsin, victory went to Scott Tucker (Boardwalk Ferrari) in the first race, followed by Zak Brown and Henri Richard, behind the wheels of two F430 from the Ferrari of Silicon Valley. At the end of and exciting second race Mark McKenzie (Ferrari of Houston) crossed the line ahead of Scott Tucker and Henri Richard.
In first race in the Shell Historic Challenge, for cars with disc brakes, was won by Lawrence Stroll with a 512 M Sunoco, followed by Jim Fuchs (512 BB/LM) and Chuck Wegner (512 BB/LM); Fuchs gained victory in race two followed again by Wegner and Stephen Dudley (308 GTB/M). The two races for historical cars with drum brakes had the same outcome: Peter Giddins (Maserati 250F) ahead of Jeff O’Neill behind the wheel of a sister car and Chuck Wegner (Maserati 200SI).
The North American racing series will be back on the track at Mont Tremblant in Canada, on 26th July.

Destination Spain for World Finals

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello, 22nd June 2009 - The world of Ferrari will celebrate the end of the 2009 motorsport season with its fans in Spain: from 12th to 15th November the Ricardo Tormo Circuit at Valencia will host the next Ferrari World Finals.‬‪ During the Finals the decisive races for the F430 in the Italian, European and North-American Ferrari Challenge Pirelli Trophy series will be held, while also the historical cars of the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge will go onto the track for their final race.‬‪ As usual the single-seaters from Maranello's F1 Clienti department, the laboratory cars from the exclusive FXX Programme and the victorious F430 GTs can also be seen on the track.‬‪

Another successful weekend for the F430

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 22nd June 2009 – Ferrari brought home three important victories in the international Gran Turismo competitions on the last weekend in the GT2 class, in the new FIA GT and Italian GT Championship races.

In this season’s third race in the FIA GT Championship, held under torrential rain at the German race track of Oschersleben, Toni Vilander and Gianmaria Bruni won their first race of the year. Thanks to this result the AF Corse team’s Italians, crossing the line ahead of Marco Holzer-Sean Edwards with the Porsche 997 and Stefan Mücke-Frédéric Makowiecki with Aston Martin, were able to consolidate the Ferrari leadership in the Constructors’ standings. The prestigious racing series will be back on 26th July at the legendary Belgian race track at Spa-Francorchamps.

Meanwhile at the Italian GT Championship race at Mugello Ferrari celebrated a triple win in race 1 and a victory in race 2. Both races were won by the F430 with Marco Cioci and Giuseppe Perazzini. In race one the men from the Megadrive team crossed the line ahead of the two Ferraris driven by Massimiliano Mugelli-Thomas Kemenater (SPT) and Rui Aguas-Alessandro Garofano (Advanced Engineering). In the second run the Ferrari drivers were faster than the Porsche 997 with Francisco Cruz Martins-Sascha Maassen and the Lamborghini Gallardo with Matteo Grassotto- Adriano Baso. The next race in the Italian GT Championship will be held on the weekend of 19th July at the Misano Adriatico circuit.

Four-of-a-kind for Ferrari at Le Mans

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Le Mans, 14th June – An extraordinary result for the F430 GT at the 24 Hours of Le Mans: four Berlinette from Maranello on the first four places in the GT2 class at the end of the oldest and most prestigious endurance race in the world. Car number 82 from the Risi Competizione Team, driven by Jaime Melo, Mika Salo and Pierre Kaffer, was the first of the cars from Ferrari crossing the line – this was the 18th overall position with 328 laps driven. This is the second success in a row for Giuseppe Risi’s team at Le Mans with an “encore” in 2009 after the victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring. Place three was also gained by Risi with the team’s second F430 GT, driven by Tracy Krohn, Nic Jonsson and Eric van de Poele. Between these two cars the BMS Scuderia Italia’s Ferrari with Fabio Babini, Matteo Malucelli and Paolo Ruberti came home. The “four-of-a-kind” was completed by the British team JMW Motorsport, with Robert Bell, Andrew Kirkaldy and Tim Sugden behind the wheel.

"I’m proud of this wonderful result. Four cars from Ferrari on the first four places in such a prestigious race is a great satisfaction and I want to congratulate the teams on the result; the teams have worked so hard to prepare the best way possible for this race. I especially want to thank Giuseppe Risi, who with his team has gained the second success in a row,” Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa said. “It was a tough race, especially at the beginning when the cars from Ferrari had to fight against very strong competitors like the Porsches. When night fell Risi’s car took over the lead and didn’t cede. I’m especially pleased by the fact that nine out of ten F430 GT which started into the race crossed the line; this is not only a sign of competitiveness, but also of the car’s great reliability.”

Another five cars from Ferrari can be found on the first ten places in their class (with only a Spyker under the top ten); there are cars from the AF Corse team (sixth with Gimmi Bruni, Luis Perez-Companc and Matias Russo), Team Modena (seventh with Leo Mansell, Pierre Ehret and Roman Rusinov), JMB Racing (eighth with Christophe Bouchut, Yvan Lebon and Manuel Rodrigues), Advanced Engineering (ninth with Patrick Dempsey, Joe Foster and Don Jr Kitch) and Virgo Motorsport (tenth with Michael and Sean McInerney and Michael Vergers). The only Ferrari not crossing the line was the one from the Hankook-Farnbacher team (Alan Simonsen-Dominik Farnbacher-Christian Montanari); the car had to retire in the morning due to a mechanical problem.

In the end one should remember that a tiny bit of Ferrari can also be found in the overall win: Marc Gené, the official Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro test driver, sat behind the wheel of the Peugeot.

Montezemolo flagman at 24 Hours of Le Mans

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Le Mans, 13th June 2009 - An exceptional flagman today at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The 77th edition of the oldest and most prestigious endurance race was started by Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo, invited by the ACO to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first overall victory by a car from Maranello, the one gained with the 166 MM with Luigi Chinetti and Lord Selsdon in 1949.
Together with Montezemolo the French Prime Minister François Fillon and ACO President Jean Claude Plassart started the race.

Before he started the race Luca di Montezemolo walked down the grid to greet all the participants, especially the drivers racing the ten 430 GT, making Ferrari the most represented brand in this edition of Le Mans. Montezemolo, greeted by the spectators, threw several hats into the crowd.

"I'm extremeley honoured by the possibility to start this fantastic race,representing the essence of the spirit of competition we love so much at Ferrari," Montezemolo said before leaving Le Mans. "It was a great feeling here and I will always remember it with pleasure, with this flag I received on this wonderful day." Montezemolo received the French flag with today's date, a tradition for all the flagmen at Le Mans.

Montezemolo at the track in Le Mans

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Le Mans, 13th June 2009 - "It's great to see so many people here for a car race, it's a fantastic atmosphere." Meeting the press after a lap on the track in a Ferrari California with Jean Alesi behind the wheel, Luca di Montezemolo didn't hide his satisfaction about the packed grandstands at Le Mans:
"Thinking about all these enthusiastic people and about the empty grandstands at Istanbul last week I think that there's something wrong. But today I don't want to sadden myself by talking about Formula 1," the Ferrari Chairman said. "You all know our position, we've told you more than once: we want stability, certain rules, a clear and transparent governance system and the possibility to let the teams work the way they already showed they can work on a reduction of the costs. I really hope that we can find a solution: I'm convinced that there are responsible people at the FIA,who know about the situation."

Montezemolo as a flagman at the 24 Hours raised many questions as far as a probable return of the manufacturer from Maranello in the future to such a competition is concerned. "A Ferrari at Le Mans? Why not?," Montezemolo said. "If we should not race in Formula 1 anymore this would be an option: obviously not with a car with a Diesel engine, but maybe with a hybrid, who knows. In this race you can really see the values of competition in the areas of sports and technology, but I have to say again that the life, the heart and the soul of Ferrari are with Formula 1. This year, also because of the rules we can call "grey", it doesn't go too well, but we will never give up. Where we will be in 2011? For sure this situation will be resolved somehow: we will race in a Formula 1 with characteristics we want to keep or there will be some sort of alternative."

Montezemolo at Le Mans

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Le Mans, 13th June 2009- This morning Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo arrived at Le Mans where at 3pm the world's most prestigous 24 Hour race will be started. Montezemolo is accompanied by Vice President Piero Ferrari, CEO Amedeo Felisa and the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro Team Principal Stefano Domenicali.

The Ferrari delegation met the President of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest Jean Claude Plassart, who remembered the numerous participations of cars from Ferrari in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This year ten 430 GT will start in the GT2 category.

"There is a historical connection between Ferrari and the 24 Hours and I am glad to be here to start one of the races of which I admire the spirit of competition you can feel here," Montezemolo said. "We have many things in common; for example the connection to the terroir: I can see the people living here and they are happy and proud to host this great event and collaborate to set it up, just like it happens at Maranello. It's true that many years have passed since the last overall win of a Ferrari in this race and I have a dream, which is also a wish, to see sooner or later an official car starting in the race."

Later on Montezemolo met the team principals of the teams starting at Le Mans with cars from Maranello, talking also to some of the drivers who wrote the history of Ferrari: Jacky Ickx and Jean Alesi.

The arrival of Montezemolo followed a success of a Ferrari on the track. A 250 LM, driven by the Brazilian Carlos Monteverde, won the Le Mans Legend, the race for historical car which once competed in this 24 Hour race. Place three went to another Ferrarista, Tony Dron, with his 246S, while the Lister Jaguar with Justin Law came in second.

F430 Wins in Italy and Spain

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 8th June 2009 – On the last weekend the F430 GT2 conquered victories in two new events, part of the international Gran Turismo series: the F430 GT2 won at the Jarama circuit, on the occasion of this season’s second round in the Spanish GT Championship, and at the Magione circuit in the second race of the Italian Gran Turismo Championship.

At the Spanish circuit the F430 driven by Peter Sundberg and Juan Manuel Lopez from the Exakt Racing Team won the race ahead of the Ferrari with Manuel Cerqueda-Alan Sicart (Automobil Club D’Andorra) and the Porsche 997 with Miguel Amaral-Miguel A. De Castro. The victory couldn’t be repeated in race 2, when the Porsche with Amaral-De Castro crossed the line first, ahead of Ferraris with Manuel Cerqueda-Alan Sicart and Francesc Gutierrez-Luis Villalba (Motor Competicion).
The next race in the Spanish GT Championship will be held on the weekend of 19th July at the Estoril circuit in Portugal.

One week after the first race at Vallelunga the second round of the Italian racing series was held at the race track in Umbria, where Ferrari celebrated a triple win in race 1, thanks to the Megadrive Team drivers Marco Cioci-Giuseppe Perazzini, followed by Thomas Kemenater-Massimiliano Mugelli (Scuderia Play Team) and Matteo Cressoni-Mattia Pavoni (Edil Cris Racing Team). In race 2 the F430s from the Advanced Engineering team, driven by Alessandro Garofano-Rui Aguas and Alberto Cerrai-Giuseppe Cirò, crossed the line second and third, behind the Porsche 997 with Francisco Cruz Martins and Sascha Maassen.
The Italian Gran Turismo Championship will be back on the weekend of 21st June at the Mugello circuit.

Shell Historic Challenge – Passion and solidarity

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Le Vigeant (Poitou-Charentes), 7th June 2009 – Today the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge’s second round came to an end at the French Circuit du Val De Vienne. The Challenge was held at the Sport & Collection event, dedicated to cancer research. The event is one of the most important meetings for historical cars with its slogan “ 500 Ferrari contre le cancer”. Thanks to the support of Maranello’s F1 Clienti department three historical single-seaters were sent onto the track: the car used by Felipe Massa in the 2006 Championship and the Ferrari 333 SP, the splendid car, which marked Ferrari’s comeback to the "Sport Prototype" races in 1993.

The second race of the historical jewels from the Prancing Horse, where also cars from Maserati have been starting since 1999, was a blueprint of the first race, which was held yesterday: in grid “A”, for cars with drum brakes, victory went to Stefan Schollwöck behind the wheel of a 1932 Maserati 4CM, followed by Gigi Baulino with a Maserati 250 F (1954) and Nicolas Zapata with a Ferrari 625 TR (1956). Grid “B”, dedicated to the cars with disk brakes, was dominated again by the 1980 Ferrari 512 BB LM of Mister John B, followed by the two Ferrari F40 (1992) with Darius Ahrabian and Christian Chavy.

After the races at Le Vigeant Massimo Sordi is now the overall leader with 60 points followed by Nicolas Zapata with 54 and Mister John of B with 52 points.

The next Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge race will be held on 6th September at the Brno circuit in the Czech Republic; it will be this season’s sixth appointment with the Ferrari Racing Days.

History on the track at Le Vigeant

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Le Vigeant (Poitou-Charentes), 6th June 2009 – Two months after the season’s first race, held at Monza, today the Circuit du Val De Vienne was the stage for the second day on the track of the drivers taking part in the European series of the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge. The Championship’s second race for historical cars is part of the “Sport et Collection - 500 Ferrari contre le cancer” event, founded in 1995, to collect money for cancer research.

Today the cars went on the track for the second session to get to know the French track. The afternoon’s qualifying set the order for the following first race’s starting grid.

At the end of the race for the cars with drum and disk brakes, grid “A” was won by Stefan Schollwoeck, behind the wheel of a 1932 Maserati 4CM, followed by Gigi Baulino with a Maserati 250 F (1954) and Nicolas Zapata with a Ferrari 625 TR (1956). Victory for the cars in grid “B” went to the 1980 Ferrari 512 BB LM with Mister John B, followed by the F40 LM (1992) with Christian Chavy, now part of the historical car races, and the Ferrari 308 GTB (1976) with Pierangelo Masselli.

The event will end tomorrow with the second part of the races and the opportunity to admire the three historical single-seaters Maranello’s F1 Clienti department as well as the Ferrari 333 SP, the splendid car from 1993, with which Ferrari returned to the "Sport Prototype" category.

At Vigeant against cancer

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 4th June 2009 - This season's second Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge appointment will be held at the Val de Vienne circuit at Le Vigeant, together with the Sport & Collection event, a charity appointment, held for the 15th time this year and one of the most important events as far as historical cars are concerned. This year's slogan is "500 Ferrari contre le cancer". The event is dedicated to cancer research, while this year almost 1,500 cars are expected at the start. The weekend's packed programme includes not only racing on the track, but also some free practice sessions for the historical single-seaters from the F1 Clienti department in Maranello, amongst them the car raced by Felipe Massa in the 2006 F1 Championship and a spectacular Ferrari 333 SP, the car which marked Ferrari's return to what was once known as sports-prototype racing.

Meanwhile the overall classification is lead by Massimo Sordi with 35 points, conquered with his 1957 Maserati 200 SI, followed by Darius Ahrabian with a 1992 Ferrari F40 LM (25 points) and Nicolas Zapata with a 1956 Ferrari 625, just one point further back.

The race weekend will start on Friday with the first free practice sessions, followed by more free practice sessions, the qualifyings and the first race on Saturday, while Sunday will be dedicated to the second and last race of the competition.

Valuable points for the F430

Mon, 18 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 18th May 2009 – It was a busy weekend for the F430s, entered in three major international GT series, the FIA GT Championship, the American Le Mans Series and the Spanish Open GT Championship.

After the season opener two weeks ago at Silverstone, the FIA GT series was back on track at the shortest and tightest circuit of the season, the 2.7 kms of Adria, for the only two hours of night racing on the calendar. At the end of an action packed race, the two F430s entered by the Italian AF Corse squad, made it to the second and third steps of the podium, behind the Porsche 997 of Emmanuel Collard and Richard Westbrook. Gimmi Bruni, in a car shared with Toni Vilander, had the misfortune to make contact with Englishman Tim Mullen at the first corner, but, despite having to make an unplanned pit stop, still managed to finish second, ahead of the sister Ferrari crewed by Alvaro Barba Lopez and Niki Cadei.

The next round of the FIA GT Championship takes place at Oschersleben in Germany, over the weekend of 21 June. The fourth round of the American Le Mans Series, the Utah Grand Prix took place at Salt Lake City’s Miller Motorsports Park. The Risi Competizione Ferrari, driven by Jaime Melo and Pierre Kaffer took third place, behind the two Porsche 911s of Joerg Bergmeister-Patrick Long and Wolf Henzler-Marc Lieb. The Houston Ferrari team thus picked up valuable points going into the next round, scheduled for 19th July at the Lime Rock circuit, in Lakesville, Minnesota.

The second round of the Open Spanish GT Championship took place at the Portimão circuit in the Algarve, Portugal, with the crew of Giacomo Ricci and Michele Rugolo (Advanced Engineering) taking second place in Race 1, behind Gianluca Roda and Richard Lietz in a Porsche 997 and ahead of the sister car of Pedro Couceiro and Manuel Giao. Race 2 saw Ferrari come out on top thanks to Marcel Fassler and Joel Camathias. The crew entered by the Swiss team, Trottet Racing, crossed the line ahead of the Giao-Couceiro Porsche and the F430 of Marco Cioci and Piergiuseppe Pierazzini (Megadrive).

The Spanish series is back in action at Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps circuit, over the weekend of 26 July.

A very italian affair

Sun, 17 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Imola (Bologna), 17th May 2009 – Fans gave a warm reception to the return of the Ferrari Racing Days at Imola’s renovated Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari. The final day of the event drew a big crowd to the Italian circuit, to watch the F430s competing in the Italian and European series of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, as well as admiring the historic Formula 1 cars prepared by the F1 Clienti Department of Maranello complete some un-timed laps.

In the main category of the Italian one-make series, Marco Mapelli took his second win of the weekend, in a race that saw the Safety Car on track for much of it, after an accident at the start. The Rossocorsa driver finished ahead of Dario Caso (CDP) and Riccardo Ragazzi (Ineco/MP). Among the gentlemen drivers in the Coppa Shell, Stefano Gai won the third race of the season, crossing the line ahead of Massimo Mantovani (Motor/Malucelli) and Eugenio Amos (Ineco/RAM).

The second race of the European one-make series ended with a win for Max Blancardi. After winning Race 1 yesterday, the Italian Motor/Malucelli team driver was back on the top step of the podium again, ahead of Austria’s Philipp Baron (Baron Service) and Bjorn Grossmann (Autohaus Gohm). As for the F430s in the Coppa Shell, victory went to Italy’s Peter Reichegger (Rossocorsa/Pellin) followed home by Hungary’s Tibor Valint (Warm UP) and Frenchman Yannick Mallegol (Motor/Piacenza).

Classification

Trofeo Pirelli Italy
Sernagiotto/Mapelli 105
Belluzzi 93
Ragazzi 90

Coppa Shell Italy
Gai114
Sauto/Prinoth 77
Rocca 74

Trofeo Pirelli Europe
Baron 100
Grossmann 96
Misslin 94

Coppa Shell Europe
Valint 105
Mallegol/Bachelier 98
Frodig 85

The next round for both series of the one-make championship takes place at the Le Castellet circuit, over the weekend of 5 July and will once again feature a chance to see the cars entered in the prestigious FXX Programme.

Sky Sport 2 will show replays of Race 1 on 18 May at 9.30 and 19 May at 17. The same channel will replay the second race on 19 May at 9.30 and 20 May at 17.

Wins for Mapelli and Blancardi

Sat, 16 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Imola (Bologna), 16th May 2009 – After a long period undergoing modernisation, Imola’s Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari is once again the scene of exciting and spectacular racing and this weekend, it is hosting the fourth round of the season of the Ferrari Racing Days. The facility, redesigned in futuristic style by Hermann Tilke, was the backdrop to the second busy of track action for drivers in the Italian and European series of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli and for no less than 19 single seaters run by the F1 Clienti Department of Maranello, these cars taking part in some free practice sessions. Special guest and a valued adviser to the owner-drivers was Marc Gené, the Scuderia Ferrari test driver, who did a few laps at the wheel of two cars raced by Michael Schumacher: an F2001 and a 2006 F1 248.

In the main category of the Italian Trofeo Pirelli, Marco Mapelli took his first win of the season. The Rossocorsa driver beat series leader Giorgio Sernagiotto (Motor/Piacenza) and Andrea Belluzzi (Motor/Modena) in Race 1. Among the gentlemen drivers in Coppa Shell, first across the line was Stefano Gai (Rossocorsa), followed home by Erich Prinoth (Ineco/MP) and Tommaso Rocca (Rossocorsa).

In the European Trofeo Pirelli, victory in the first race went to Italy’s Max Blancardi (Motor/Malucelli) ahead of the German Bjorn Grossmann (Autohaus Gohm) and French Nicolas Misslin (Stradale Automobile). As for the Coppa Shell, the order on the podium was Warm-Up’s Hungarian driver Tibor Valint, Sweden’s Magnus Frodig (Formula Automobile) and French Stephane Clareton (Stradale Automobile).

Tomorrow sees the second round of races in both series of the one-make championship and a chance once again to admire the on track action from the historic Formula 1 cars, completing two more series of free laps.

The second race in the Italian series of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli will be shown live on Sky Sport 2 on Sunday 17 May at 15.30. Repeats of Race 1 will be broadcast on the same channel tonight at 1.30, 17 May at 12, 18 May at 9.30 and 19 May at 17. Race 2 will be shown on 19 May at 9.30 and 20 May at 17.

Ferrari Racing Days at Imola

Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 14th May 2009 – On the upcoming weekend the Ferrari Challenge Pirelli Trophy Championship returns to Imola’s renovated “Enzo e Dino Ferrari” circuit, for this season’s fourth Ferrari Racing Days appointment. The race track in Emilia-Romagna will host another round of the competitions in the Italian and European single-marque racing series, Pirelli Trophy and Shell Cup – with both series’ races held together with separate classifications. On the same weekend spectators will have the possibility to admire the historic single-seaters from Maranello’s F1 Clienti Department and the cars taking part in this season’s third Abarth 500 Trophy race.

At the moment the Italian Ferrari Challenge Pirelli Trophy series’ classification is lead by Giorgio Sernagiotto (Motor/Piacenza) with 76 points, while the young Rossocorsa team driver Stefano Gai leads the gentleman drivers in the Shell Cup standings with 72 points.

Meanwhile the Pirelli Trophy Europe is lead by the Austrian Phillip Baron (Baron Service) with 70 points, while with the same amount of points the Frenchmen Jean-Marc Bachelier and Yannick Mallego from the Motor/Piacenza team are leading the Shell Cup standings.

The event will start on Friday, 15th May with the first free practice sessions, followed by the qualifyings and the first races of the European and Italian Pirelli Trophy and Shell Cup on Saturday. Sunday, the Ferrari Racing Days’ third and last day, sees the second races and more free practice sessions for the F1 Clienti single-seaters.

The two races of the Italian Ferrari Challenge Pirelli Trophy can be seen on Sky Sport 2 on Saturday, 16th May at 3:45pm (race 1) and on Sunday, 17th May at 3:30om (race 2). Reruns of race 1 on the same channel can be watched on 16th May at 1:30am, on 17th May at 12pm, on 18th May at 9:30am and on 19th May at 5pm. Reruns of race 2 on 19th May at 9:30am and on 20th May at 5pm.

Ferrari triple in Spa 1000 Km, Ferrari Festival record in Japan

Mon, 11 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 11th May 2009 –Three cars in the top three places in class: that was the outcome of the Spa 1000 km for the 430 GT2 at the second round of the prestigious Le Mans series, held yesterday on the historic Spa-Francorchamps circuit.

Victory went to car number 84 run by the Modena team and driven by Jaime Melo, Leo Mansell and Antonio Garcia, who completed 129 laps, finishing eighteenth overall. Also on the podium were the crew of the British JMW Motorsport team, made up of Gimmi Bruni and Robert Bell, second with 128 laps to their name and the German FBR squad of Pierre Ehret and Dominik Farnbacher, also on 128 laps.
Ferrari thus keeps the lead in the class in this important series that will be back in action on 2 August at the Portuguese Portimao circuit.

The same weekend, the Belgian track also hosted the second round of the British GT championship, in which the Rosso Verde F430 GT3, driven by Allan Simonsen and Hector Lester, took second place in Race 2, behind the Dodge Viper of Aaron Scott-Craig Wilkins and ahead of the Mosler MT900 of Martin Short-Gregor Fisken.
The next round of the British series, the third on the calendar, is scheduled for the weekend of 31 May at Rockingham circuit.

Against the backdrop of Mount Fuji, around six hundred Ferraris took part in the Ferrari Festival of Japan, the sixth running of this traditional event, organised by Ferrari Japan, at first equalling and then overtaking over the two days of the event, last year’s Guinness world record of 499 cars.
At Fuji around 3000 owners and fans were able to admire the entire Maranello range, with three notable firsts: the New California, now available on the Japanese market, the 599 HGTE and the 599XX, an evolution from the prestigious FXX Programme, which on this occasion saw five owner-test drivers take to the track for some untimed sessions, at the same time as three single-seaters run by the F1 Clienti Department.

Ferrari Challenge North America third appointment

Thu, 07 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Weather was the topic of the weekend as rain was forecast for all three days of the event. The clouds and a steady rain persisted for Saturday's qualifying making the Infineon circuit closely resemble San Francisco's famous bay. With water soaking some of the trickiest portions of the track, it was rainmeister Francesco Piovanetti who set the early fast time. In the waning minutes of the session, it was regular table leaders Ferrari of Houston's Mark McKenzie and Richard Fant and Boardwalk Ferrari's Scott Tucker who were able to put their web-footed cavallini up front with Piovanetti following in fourth.

At the start of Race 1 it was Tucker getting the holeshot on the field and leading into Turn 1. Tucker's exuberance however got the better of him as he began to spin on the exit of Turn 1. In an effort to miss the spinning Tucker, polesitter McKenzie gracefully pirouetted onto the wet grass at the uphill entry to turn 2. As McKenzie struggled to return to the racing surface, the race went to a full course yellow with Ferrari of Silicon Valley's Zak Brown on point. At the restart, Brown looked confident and poised upfront and put on a sterling drive for the ensuing laps. Closely following Brown were Henri Richard, Richard Fant, Mike Zoi and Steve Hill. On the charge however were front row starters Tucker and McKenzie. By lap 12 it was clear that Brown's lead was in jeopardy as the field closed in on him. By lap 14 Richard took the top spot but this was not to last as both Silicon Valley cars began to fade in the drying conditions. Tucker moved his way to the lead by lap 15 with McKenzie charging from the back of the field in close pursuit. Undetered by Tucker's 2009 unbeaten streak, McKenzie fought his way into the lead on lap 18 and did not look back. At the checkered, it was McKenzie, Tucker, Fant, Brown, and Richard.

Sunday's action once again began in the rain and again rainmeister Francesco Piovanetti proved quick. In the waning moments of the qualifying session, Zak Brown was able to convert his strong pace from Saturday into a pole, just nipping Piovanetti to the top spot. When the race went green, Piovanetti and Richard got together eliminating Richard from the race. Shortly thereafter, McKenzie took the lead and hussled out a gap to teammate and second place challenger Richard Fant with Zak Brown falling to third. McKenzie and Fant continued a torrid pace when Fant began to reel in the leader after the midway point in the race. Despite Fant's charge McKenzie appeared to have the measure of his teammate. A double win for McKenzie was not to be however. In the closing laps of the race McKenzie and Fant encountered a backmarker who was unaware of the battle for the lead right behind him. On the run down to Infineon's famous turn 11 hairpin, McKenzie was slightly bawked and this was all Fant needed to slip by on the the inside under braking on the approach to 11. From there, Fant was able to pull out a 1.7 second gap over McKenzie at the finish.

Two F430 on podium at Silverstone, domination in Spain

Mon, 04 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 4th May 2009 – Over the last weekend the F430 GT2 took part in the season’s first FIA GT Championship and Spanish GT Championship races, while on the other side of the Atlantic the same cars, in the Challenge version, took part in the third race of the North American Ferrari Racing Days, held at the Californian Infineon race track.

At the English race track of Silverstone five cars from Ferrari could be found under the first six cars in the GT2 class, at the end of the first race of this year’s FIA GT Championship. Ferrari couldn’t win the race due to a mishap 15 minutes before the end of the race. The AF Corse car driven by Gimmi Bruni had to come back to the box after a contact with a lapped car, which destroyed the AF Corse’s suspension. This cleared the way for Richard Westbrook/Emmanuel Collard with their Porsche 911. Place two went to Matias Russo and Luis Perez Companc (Pecom Racing) and Robert Bell/Andrew Kirkaldy (CRS Racing).The series’ next race will be held at Adria on 16th June.

At Valencia, this season’s first appointment in the Spanish GT Championships was dominated by the F430 GT in both races, thanks to an exceptional double win by Ricardo Bravo – Lourenço Da Veiga. In race one the ASM Team drivers crossed the line ahead of the Porsche 997 with Miguel Angel De Castro - Miguel Amaral and the Ferrari with Peter Sundberg – Juan Manuel Lopez (RSV Motorsport), while in race two they were faster than the F430s with Manuel Cerqueda – Alan Sicart (Automobil Club D’Andorra) and with Luis Villalba – Francesc Gutierrez (Motor Competicion). The Spanish GT Championships will be back on the Spanish track of Jarama on the weekend of 7th June.

Meanwhile the races at Houston’s Infineon circuit in California - on the occasion of the third Ferrari Racing Days - were an enormous satisfaction for Ferrari thanks to the wins gained by Mark McKenzie and Richard Fant in the two races. The North American Ferrari Challenge Pirelli Trophy’s fourth appointment will be held on the weekend of 28th June, at the spectacular Road Atlanta road track in Georgia.

Sernagiotto leads, Gai surprises

Sun, 03 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Mugello (Scarperia), 3rd May 2009 - The Mugello International Circuit today hosted the second round of this season’s Italian series of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, the one-make series now in its seventeenth year. Also on the race card was the second round of the Trofeo Abarth 500, making its first ever appearance at the Tuscan track.

In Race 1 of the main category of the Trofeo Pirelli, victory went to Andrea Belluzzi: the Motor/Modena team driver from San Marino converted the pole position he took yesterday, crossing the line ahead of Giorgio Sernagiotto (Motor/Piacenza) and Marco Mapelli (Rossocorsa.) The places were inverted in the afternoon’s race, with the win going to Giorgio Sernagiotto ahead of Belluzzi and Mapelli, the latter again third on the podium.

Among the gentlemen drivers in the Coppa Shell, after winning Race 1 ahead of Stefano Gai (Rossocorsa) and Gianluca Carboni (Motor/Malucelli), Benedetto Marti was unfortunately unable to finish the second race as a result of an unlucky accident on the final lap. The Motor/Piacenza driver thus hands the lead in the category to the youngster Stefano Gai, who delivered an amazing performance which took him to the top step of the podium ahead of Massimo Mantovani (Motor/Malucelli) and Salvatore Insigne (Motor/Piacenza).

Classification

Trofeo Pirelli
Sernagiotto 76
Mapelli 64
Belluzzi 63

Coppa Shell
Gai 72
Marti 67
Prinoth Sauto 49

The Italian series of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli will be back in action over the weekend of 17th May, on the refurbished Enzo e Dino Ferrari Circuit at Imola, along with the European leg of the one-make series, as well as the non competitive track activity run by the F1 Clienti Department of Maranello. The weekend will also host another round of the Trofeo Abarth 500.

Sky Sport 2 will show replays of Race 1 on Monday 4 May at 17.00 and Wednesday 6 May at 9.30, while repeats of Race 2 can be seen on the same channel tonight at 22, Tuesday 5 May at 17 and Thursday 7 May at 9.30.

Belluzzi and Marti on pole at Mugello

Sat, 02 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Mugello (Scarperia), 2nd May 2009 – A busy day of practice has just ended at the Mugello International Circuit for the Ferrari Racing Days event, which takes place this weekend. On track for the second round of the season are the F430 entered in the Italian series of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli.

Quickest in qualifying for the main category of the Trofeo Pirelli was Andrea Belluzzi: the standard bearer for the Motor/Modena team will get away from pole position, ahead of Thomas Kemenater (Rossocorsa/Pellin) and Giorgio Sernagiotto (Motor/Piacenza). Of the gentlemen drivers in the Coppa Shell, fastest times were established by Benedetto Marti (Motor/Piacenza) then Stefano Gai and Tommaso Rocca (Rossocorsa).

Tomorrow’s programme of races gets underway at 10.50 and, apart from the events for the Prancing Horse one-make series, the Trofeo Abarth 500 stages its second round, having had two practice and qualifying sessions today.

The two races in the Italian series of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli will be shown live on Sunday 3 May on Sky Sport 2 at 11.30 and 15.45. The same channel will then repeat Race 1 on 4 May at 17 and on 6 May at 9.30, while repeats of Race 2 can be seen on 3 May at 22, 5 May at 17 and 7 May at 9.30.

Ferrari Challenge takes to the track at Mugello

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 29th April 2009 – This coming weekend, the Mugello International Circuit will host the F430 Challenge cars taking part in the second round of the Italian series of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli. Sharing the card on the Tuscan track with the Prancing Horse’s one-make series, now in its seventeenth year, will be another round of the Trofeo Abarth 500.

One month on from the opening round, Giorgio Sernagiotto heads the classification in the main category of the Trofeo Pirelli: the young driver from the Motor Piacenza Team is three points ahead of Riccardo Ragazzi (Ineco/MP) and five in front of Marco Mapelli (Rossocorsa). Benedetto Marti is out in front in the Coppa Shell for gentlemen drivers, on 42 points, followed by Stefano Gai (Rossocorsa) and the standard bearers for Scuderia Ineco/MP, Erich Prinoth and Vincenzo Sauto, all three on 34 points. Giorgio Rocca (Rossocorsa) completes the podium places on 20.

The event gets underway on Friday 1st May with a test day. It continues on Saturday with free practice and qualifying, in preparation for Sunday’s two races, for the Trofeo Pirelli and Coppa Shell, running together with separate classifications.

The two races of the Italian series of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli will be shown live on Sunday 3rd May on Sky Sport 2 at 11.30 and 15.45. The same channel will reshow Race 1 on 4th May at 17 and 6th May at 9.30, while repeats of Race 2 can be seen on 3rd May at 22, 5th May at 17 and 7th May at 9.30.

Further success for the F430

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 20th April 2009 – It was a very important weekend for the F430s, thanks to the excellent results at the two races during the international Gran Turismo Championship - the American Le Mans Series and the International GT Open – and the success at the second race of the North American Ferrari Racing Days.

After the first two races held in Florida the American Le Mans Series moved to the West Coast for the third run of the 2009 Championship, held on the street circuit of Long Beach. On the streets of the famous Californian harbour town the F430 started by the Risi Competizione Team gained second place after a start from the end of the starting grid: thanks to an excellent comeback by Pierre Kaffer during the first half of the race and a perfect conclusion by Jaime Melo – driving the fastest race lap – the Team Houston Ferrari gained the second spot on the podium, behind the Porsche with Jörg Bergmeister and Patrick Long and ahead of the BMW with Dirk Müller and Tommy Milner. The next race of this prestigious series will be held at the Salt Lake City circuit on 17th May.

Both opening races of the 2009 season for the International GT Open - held on the renewed Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit at Imola - were dominated by the F430 GTs. At the end of race 1 victory went to the car from Advanced Engineering driven by Michele Rugolo - Giacomo Ricci, ahead of the Porsche 997 with Raymond Narac-Patrick Pilet and Richard Lietz - Gianluca Roda. Marcel Fässler and Joël Camathias (Scuderia Trottet Racing) won race two ahead of the three-times GTS champions Marco Cioci and Piergiuseppe Perazzini (Megadrive), while the Porsche with Richard Lietz - Gianluca Roda came in third again.
The next International GT Open race will be held at the Algarve international circuit in Portugal on 17th May.

The second Ferrari Challenge event in the US - held at the Road Atlanta circuit - was dominated in both races by Scott Tucker (Boardwalk Ferrari). On the event’s occasion the track in Georgia hosted the F1 Clienti department from Maranello with four free practice sessions for the three single-seaters brought to the track. Meanwhile five cars participating in the prestigious FXX Programme went out on the track, with Clients and technicians analysing the telemetry data at the end of every single session.
The third US Ferrari Racing Days will be held on the weekend of 3rd May on the Infineon race track in California, while the extraordinary cars from the F1 Clienti and FXX department in Maranello will get back on the track in Japan, at the Fuji circuit, on the following weekend.

Ferrari Racing Days at Road Atlanta

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 16th April 2009 – During the upcoming weekend the spectacular Road Atlanta (Georgia) circuit will be the stage for the North American Racing Days, this season’s second race on the Corse Clienti calendar in the New World.

Next to the competitive activities of the F430s, participating in the Ferrari Challenge, and the historical jewels from the Shell Historic Challenge, the event’s intense programme also includes the non-competitive F1 Clienti activities and the prestigious FXX Programme.

The event starts on Friday with the first free practice sessions and qualifyings. On Saturday further qualifyings and free practice sessions for the participants in the non-competitive activities will held; Sunday will be dedicated to the second and last race and some more free practice sessions.

Victories for Misslin and Frodig at Portimão

Sun, 12 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Portimão (Algarve), 12th April 2009 –The fact it is Easter did not stop a big crowd of race fans heading to the Algarve International Circuit for the sixth round of the A1GP powered by Ferrari Championship, with a busy race card also including the European series of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli and a double session of laps for the cars run by the F1 Clienti department.

In the second round of this season’s one-make series, drivers from both categories took to the track together for a single race, which for much of the time was run under yellow flags, following an accident involving the Danish driver, Dennis Andersen: he spun and was then hit by Britain’s Jack Gerber and the Frenchman Stephane Clareton. Once the track was clear, French driver Nicolas Misslin (Stradale Automobile) was first past the chequered flag, to take the win in the Trofeo Pirelli category, ahead of Germany’s Bjorn Grossmann (Autohaus Gohm) and Max Blancardi (Motor/Malucelli.) As for the gentlemen drivers in the Coppa Shell, victory went to the Sweden Magnus Frodig (Formula Automobile) followed home by Hungary’s Tibor Valint (Warm Up) and the Frenchman Yannick Mallegol (Motor/Piacenza)

Classification

Trofeo Pirelli Europe
Baron 70
Pergl 65
Misslin 64

Coppa Shell Europe

Bachelier Mallegol 70
Valint 67
Frodig 55

The European series of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli will be back on track on the refurbished Imola circuit on the weekend of 17 May, as part of the Ferrari Racing Days, an event which will also feature the Italian series of the one-make championship and the single-seaters prepared by the F1 Clienti Department of Maranello.

Pergl and Bachelier – Men of the hour

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Portimão (Algarve), 11th April 2009 –The International Algarve Circuit today hosted the first day of qualifying and races in the European series of the Ferrari Challenge Pirelli Trophy, with competitors taking part in the second round of the season, on the same card as those drivers tackling the sixth round of the A1GP powered by Ferrari Championship.

The drivers in both classes were making their debut on this new and spectacular track in a single race with separate classifications. In the Pirelli Trophy, the stewards amended the finishing order, penalising Max Blancardi by 1.6 seconds, for going off track after an overtaking move. The Motor/Malucelli driver saw himself drop from first to third place, in favour of the Czech driver Robert Pergl (Scuderia Praha) and the Austrian Philipp Baron (Baron Service) who were leading the race up until the passing move.

The classification in Race 1 for the gentlemen drivers in the Shell Cup also came under scrutiny: after making contact with Hungary’s Tibor Valint (Warm Up) Denmark’s Morten Nielsen (Formula Automobile) was given a drive through penalty, which dropped him from second to sixth place. Taking the win, having led from the first lap was Jean-Marc Bachelier (Motor/Piacenza) followed by the new finishing order of France’s Stephane Clareton (Stradale Automobile) and Sweden’s Magnus Frodig (Formula Automobile.)

Tomorrow, Sunday 12 April, features not only the second round of races, but also another free session for the cars prepared by the F1 Clienti department of Maranello, which will include four single-seaters raced by Michael Schumacher and an F1 248, which Felipe Massa drove during the 2006 season.

At noon, prior to the start of the final race, there will be a minute’s silence in memory of the Abruzzo earthquake victims.

High resolution photos of the various activities of the Ferrari Corse Clienti department are exclusively available to journalists on the site www.media.ferrari.com. News, background stories and results can be seen on www.ferrari.com.

First wins for Pergl and Bachelier at the Algarve

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Portimão, 11th April 2009 - This year’s Bright Saturday was extremely busy for the Ferrari Challenge Europe participants, on the track since the early morning for the qualifying session, determining the starting grid of the first two races on this weekend’s race agenda.

The Pole Position was gained by Robert Pergl (Scuderia Praha) with a lap time of 1’51”960 and an average speed of 150,7 km/h, a mere 23 thousands of a second ahead of Max Blancardi (Motor/Malucelli). Third position went to Misslin (Stradale Automobile), next to Philippe Baron (Baron Service) in the second row, almost one second behind Pergl’s lap time. Amongst the Shell Cup drivers - who, on the occasion of the race at the Algarve are racing together with the Pirelli Trophy competitors with separate classifications - Bachelier (Motor/Piacenza) was the fastest with a lap time of 1’54”538, ahead of the Shell Cup leader and winner of the two races at Monza, Csaba Spitzmueller (Warm Up). Behind Bachelier and Spitzmueller the two Formula Automobile F430s placed themselves with Magnus Frodig and Morten Nielsen.

Pergl dominated race 1 right from the start, ahead of Blancardi, Misslin and Baron. The 2008 Pirelli Trophy World Champion Baron gained second position in the field, just ahead of Blancardi. On the last lap Blancardi tried to pass both of his competitors, although cutting a corner. In the end Blancardi crossed the line ahead of Pergl and Baron, but was moved back by two positions, due to his daring overtaking manoeuvre, ignoring the position of his two competitors, as stated by the rules. Fourth place went to Misslin ahead of Grossmann (Autohaus Gohm), both with a gap of just under a second, evidence of the enormous competitiveness of this racing series.

In the Shell Cup it was Bachelier (Motor/Piacenza), who crossed the line first ahead of Clareton (Stradale Automobile) and Frodig (Formula Automobile). Nielsen, always on one of the classification’s top positions, had to pay with a drive-through penalty after contact with Valint’s car (Warm Up), who concluded the race on place four, just ahead of Galassi (Motor/Malucelli).

The fastest laps in race one determined the starting grid of race two, which will be held tomorrow at 11:45am. Blancardi (Motor/Malucelli) will start from Pole Position, just ahead of Pergl, in the Pirelli Trophy. Second row went to Misslin and Baron, while in the Shell Cup the best lap time was set by Bachelier (Motor/Piacenza) ahead of Frodig, Valint and Clareton.

Challenge Europe guest of Algarve

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Portimao, 10th April 2009 - The brand-new Portuguese track at Portimao is the stage of this season’s second Ferrari Challenge Europe, after the opening race, two weeks ago at Monza. The new Portuguese track, inaugurated at the end of the 2007 season, sports some serious ups and downs and several corners with different angles, followed by nice straights facilitating overtaking. A fascinating track where during the weekend not only the cars participating in the Ferrari Challenge Europe will race, but also the F1 Clienti department will present some of the single-seaters from Maranello, while also the A1 GP Championship single-seaters will fight for the win.

The drivers went on the track on Friday morning, to get used to the circuit’s features, new to many of them. Four 60-minute-sessions were held, enough to get to know the track. During the first hour the track was completely wet, while during the second hour it was drying up. The session’s third hour was held under the sun and the performances where quite interesting at the end of the day, with the usual suspects of the Pirelli Trophy ahead and some interesting new entries in the Shell Cup.

The fastest lap in the Pirelli Trophy was driven by Frenchman Nicolas Misslin (Stradale Automobile) in 1’51”422 ahead of the 2008 European Pirelli Trophy Champion Max Blancardi (Motor Malucelli) with two tenths of a second behind, followed by Pergl (Scuderia Praha) another half a second behind.

Amongst the Shell Cup’s gentlemen - who, on the Algarve circuit, will race together with the Pirelli Trophy drivers, but in a separate classification - Marco Galassi (Motor Malucelli) was the fastest in the field, after coming back from some Challenge races in 2008, was immediately extremely competitive, with a time of 1’53”025, ahead of the Monza weekend’s dominating driver, the Hungarian Csaba Spitzmueller (Warm Up), almost three tenths of a second behind.

Tomorrow the Ferrari Challenge drivers will start for the qualifying and their first race, which will start at 4:20pm.

Ferrari Challenge - Destination Portimão

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 8th April 2009 – The Algarve international circuit is getting ready to host, alongside the season’s sixth race of the A1 GP Championship, the second run of the European Ferrari Challenge Pirelli Trophy series on the upcoming weekend. Next to the single-seaters powered by Ferrari and the F430 taking part in the fierce competition some cars from the F1 Clienti department in Maranello will go on the Portuguese track for a double-run of free practice laps.

The activities on the race track will start Friday, 10th April with the free practice sessions followed by the qualifying and the first race on Saturday and the final races on Sunday.

In the Pirelli Trophy’s main category the Austrian Phillip Baron (Baron Service) is the classification’s leader, followed by the German Björn Grossmann (Autohaus Gohm) and Frenchman Nicolas Misslin (Stradale Automobile).

The provisional first place in the Shell Cup for gentleman drivers is held by the Hungarian driver Csaba Spitzmueller (Warm Up), ahead of his fellow countryman and teammate Tibor Valint and Frenchman Jean-Marc Bachelier (Motor/Piacenza).

Great final positions for F430 GT2 on Spanish race weekend

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 6th April 2009 - Over the last weekend the F430 GT2, starting in the prestigious motorsport competitions of the international GT Championships, went on the track: the second run of the American Mans Series was held at Saint Petersburg, Florida, while the first race of the Le Mans Series took place at the Catalunya circuit at Barcelona.

Although no victory was gained at the Spanish track, the result of the F430s participating in the Le Mans Series was positive.
At the end of a fierce race fighting for the lead, the Ferrari JMW, driven by Robert Bell and Gimmi Bruni, suddenly slowed down due to the worn tyres and was overtaken by Marc Lieb and Richard Lietz (Porsche 997). The entry of the safety car, to remove Miguel Ramos' Aston Martin (P1) stuck on the track after a spin, might have changed things in favour of the Ferrari, but it was already too late. Other four participating Ferraris ended the race one lap behind the English team's F430: third place went to the Hankook Farnbacher Team with Allan Simonsen-Christian Montanari, followed by the FBR with Pierre Ehret-Antony Beltoise, Antonio Garcia-Leo Mansell from Team Modena and John Hartshorne, Johan Scheier e Romain Iannetta, from JMB Racing Team.
The series' next race will be held at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit on 10th May.

Unfortunate day for Risi Competizione Team in Florida after stunning win at 12 Hours of Sebring, two weeks ago.
The Risi Competizione Ferrari had to retire in Florida, due to a problem with the car's suspension. The car started from the Pole Position, gained by Jaime Melo during the Friday qualifying. The Ferrari, driven by Pierre Kaffer, led its class until it had to come back to the box on lap 27, after 35 minutes in the race. The run was won by the Porsche 911 with Patrick Long and Jörg Bergmeister behind the wheel, followed by Milner-Müller with BMW and James-Farnbacher with Panoz Esperante, while the Ferrari Houston Team claimed the third place in the Championship's overall classification, a mere ten seconds behind the winning car. Now the team is getting ready for the next race, held at Long Beach, California, on Saturday 18th April.

Confirmations and surprises at rainy Monza

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Monza, 29th March 2009 - Conclusive day for the Challenge Italia and Challenge Europe participants at the Monza race track for the first appointment of the season for both divisions. The rain was the main player on Saturday and also during the second races in the early hours of the morning.

The competition started with the Shell Cup Europe drivers, whereby the series was dominated during this weekend by the “Warm-Up” Team with a win in race 1 with Csaba Spitzmüller and a spectacular one-two win in race two with Spitzmüller and Tibor Valint. Third place went to Gelf (Eberlein Kassel) ahead of Mallegol (Motor/Piacenza) and Harmsen (Lueg Sportivo).

In the Shell Cup Italia’s second race it was again Benedetto Marti (Motor/Piacenza) crossing the line first, after he had lead the pack right from the first lap, apart from a shy attempt by Sauto (Ineco/MP). Second was Stefano Gai, with a gap of two and a half seconds behind the winner, competitive and very strong on this extremely tricky track. Third was Enzo Sauto (Ineco/MP) ahead of Tommaso Rocca (Rossocorsa), while Sergio Rota (Rossocorsa/Rota) came in fifth.

In the Pirelli Trophy’s last race drivers of both series took part, although in different classifications. Just like in race one it was again Philippe Baron (Baron Service) crossing the line first, winning the European series, ahead of Riccardo Ragazzi (Ineco/MP), winner of the Italian series, Sernagiotto (Motor/Piacenza), second in the Italian classification, Misslin (Stradale Automobile) , second in the European series, Marco Mapelli (Rossocorsa), third in the Italian series, Belluzzi (Motor) and Grossmann (Autohaus Gohm), third in the European series.

Philippe Baron (Baron Service) leads the Pirelli Trophy Europe classification with 40 points ahead of Grossmann (Autohaus Gohm) with 32 ponts and Misslin (Stradale Automobile) with 30. The leader in the Shell Cup Europe is Spitzmueller (Warm Up) with 41 points, ahead of his teammate Valint (35) and the duo Bachelier/Mallegol (Motor/Piacenza) with 32 points. In the Team Cup Europe Warm Up leads with 76 points ahead of the Scuderia Praha (58) and Kessel Racing (47).

In the Pirelli Trophy Italia Giorgio Sernagiotto (Motor/Piacenza) has 37 points, therefore leading the classification ahead of Riccardo Ragazzi (Ineco/MP) with 34 and Marco Mapelli (Rossocorsa) with 32 points. In the Shell Cup Marti (Motor/Piacenza) leads with 42 points ahead of Stefano Gai (Rossocorsa) and the duo Sauto/Prinoth (Ineco/MP), all with 34 points. Amongst the teams Motor/Piacenza is on the first position with 96 points, followed by Rossocorsa (86) and Ineco/MP (79).

The next Ferrari Challenge Europe races will start on 12th to 14th April at the Portuguese Algarve circuit, while the Challenge Italia protagonists will meet Mugello in Tuscany on 1st to 3rd May.

Exciting rain races at Monza

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Monza, 29th March 2009 – Under severe rain the first Ferrari Racing Days of the 2009 season ended today at the Monza race track: the circuit hosted the intense programme of the season’s first round of the European and Italian Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli and the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge Europe, dedicated to historical cars, held for the 17th and 14th time respectively.

The second race of the Trofeo Pirelli Italian racing series dedicated to the F430s saw Riccardo Ragazzi gaining victory: the Scuderia Ineco/MP driver won ahead of Giorgio Sernagiotto (Motor/Piacenza) and Marco Mapelli (Rossocorsa). Amongst the Gentleman Drivers in the Coppa Shell Benedetto Marti (Motor/Piacenza) gained an excellent double-win ahead of Stefano Gai (Rossocorsa) and Vincenzo Sauto (Ineco/MP).

As far as the second run of the European series in the Trofeo Pirelli is concerned the Austrian Philipp Baron (Baron Service) confirmed his abilities with a victory ahead of Frenchman Nicolas Misslin (Stradale Automobile) and the German Björn Grossmann (Autohaus Gohm). Meanwhile Csaba Spitzmueller, after winning the first race, was the first driver crossing the line in the Coppa Shell, ahead of Tibor Valint (Warm Up) and Frank Gelf (Eberlein Kas).

Classification

Trofeo Pirelli Italia
Sernagiotto 37
Ragazzi 34
Mapelli 32

Coppa Shell Italia
Marti 42
Gai, Prinoth, Sauto 34
Rocca 20

Trofeo Pirelli Europa
Baron 40
Grossmann 32
Misslin 30

Coppa Shell Europa
Spitzmueller 41
Valint 35
Bachelier 32

Victory in the final race of the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge, with a single grid for “A + B” for cars with drum brakes and disk brakes, went to Darius Ahrabian behind the wheel of an excellent 1992 F40 LM, ahead of Swiss Historic and Mister John B, both with 1980 Ferrari 512 BB LMs.

The European Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli will be back on the track on the weekend of 12th March at the Portuguese Algarve circuit, on the same days as the penultimate race of the A1GP Championship and the F1 Clienti Maranello department’s activities. The Italian series of the single-marques Championship will meet for the second race during the weekend of 3rd May at the Mugello circuit, while the next event for the historical cars of the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge will be held on 27th June at the French track of Le Vigeant.

Reruns of the two races of the Italian series in the Ferrari Challenge Pirelli Trophy will be broadcast on 30th March at 9:30am on Sky Sport 2 (Coppa Shell, race 1) and 31st March 9:30am on Sky Sport 2 (Trofeo Pirelli, race 1). The second race of the Coppa Shell will be shown in a rerun on Sky Sport 2 on 30th March at 11:30pm and on 1st April at 9:30am (Trofeo Pirelli - race 2) and again on Sky Sport 2 on 1st April at 11:30pm, on 2nd April at 9:20am and on 9th April at 11:30pm.

High-resolution images from the Ferrari Corse Clienti events are exclusively available for journalists on www.media.ferrari.com. News, in-depth articles and classifications can be found on the website www.ferrari.com

Final day of the Ferrari Racing Days at the Monza race track

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Monza, 27th-29th March 2009 – The final day of the first 2009 Ferrari Racing Days was held at the Monza race track almost entirely in the rain. The wet track was the chief ingredient of this weekend’s competitions and also of the race for the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge participants. Immediately after the start the Ferrari F40 LM with Darius Ahrabian gained the lead ahead of the 512 BB LM with Christian Traber and “Mister John B”. The latter spun his car half way through the first lap and lost contact to the leading duo and despite his effort he couldn’t pick up to fight for the win. Quite the opposite to what had happened on Saturday, when he had to let the 512 BB LMs pull away, the F40 LM had a fantastic race, gaining the overall win: ten laps in the lead without any chance for his competitors. Thus Christian Traber had to be satisfied with second place, repeating yesterday’s result, followed by “Mister John B”. Meanwhile in the race of grid “A”, with the older cars with drum brakes, it was again the Maserati 200SI with Massimo Sordi coming in first, followed by the Ferrari 625 TR driven by Nicolas Zapata and the Ferrari 500 MD TR with Giancarlo Galeazzi behind the wheel. On the penultimate lap Zapata managed to gain the lead in the grid’s classification, but Sordi reacted without hesitating, overtaking his competitor in the Lesmo corner and leaving only second place for the Mexican driver. As usual the historical cars from the Prancing Horse and the Trident were able to excite the spectators at the Monza track. The next race of the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge will be held on the weekend 7th June at the French race track of Val de Vienne near Le Vigeant.

First victories at Ferrari Racing Days at Monza

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Monza, 28th March 2009 – The first races of the 2009 season with the F430s, part of the Italian and European Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, were started today at the Monza circuit. Meanwhile also the historic cars, participating in the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge, went on the track for their first round on the European race calendar. All the drivers had to deal with extremely bad weather conditions, grey skies and rain.

The first race of the Italian Trofeo Pirelli racing series was won by Nicola Gianniberti: the Ineco/Ram Team’s driver crossed the line ahead of Giorgio Sernagiotto (Motor/Piacenza) and Marco Mapelli (Rossocorsa), while amongst the Coppa Shell Gentleman Drivers Benedetto Marti (Motor/Piacenza) won the race ahead of Eric Prinoth (Ineco/MP) and Stefano Gai (Rossocorsa). As far as the race of the Trofeo Pirelli European series is concerned victory went to the Austrian driver Philipp Baron (Baron Service), followed by the Czech Robert Pergl (Scuderia Praha) and the German Björn Grossmann (Autohaus Gohm). In the Coppa Shell the Hungarian Csaba Spitzmueller (Warm Up) won ahead of the Frenchman Jean-Marc Bachelier (Motor/Piacenza) and his fellow countryman Tibor Valint (Warm Up).

The first race of the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge’s European division grid "A" + "B”, for cars drum and disc braked, was won by Mister John B, behind the wheel of a 1980 Ferrari 512 BB LM, followed by Christian Traber in a sister-car and Darius Ahrabian with an extraordinary F40 LM, which is part of the Championship reserved for historical cars as of this year.

Tomorrow, on the second and last day of racing, the programme will start at 9am. Besides the Prancing Horse’s single-marque Championships the Monza circuit will also host the Trofeo Abarth 500 debut race. Today the Abarths went on the track for their free practice session and the qualifying.

Both races of the Italian Ferrari Challenge Pirelli will be broadcast in a rerun tonight at 12am on Sky Sport Extra, on 30th March at 9:30am on Sky Sport 2 and at 4:30pm (Coppa Shell race 1); rerun on 28th March 1am on Sky Sport Extra, 31st March at 9:30am on Sky Sport 2 (Trofeo Pirelli, race 1). Sunday 29th March Sky Sport 3 will broadcast the second runs: at 10:45am the Coppa Shell, rerun on Sky Sport 2 on 30th March at 11:30pm and 1st April at 9:30am and the Trofeo Pirelli at 2:15pm, rerun on Sky Sport 2 on 1st April at 11:30pm, 2nd April at 9:20am and 9th April at 11:30pm.

Excellent start for Spitzmueller, Marti, Gianniberti and Baron

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Monza, 28th march 2009 - Second intensive day at the Monza race track for the drivers of the Italian and European Ferrari Challenge racing series at the qualifyings, valid for the grid of race one.

The first drivers on the track, with a dry tarmac, were the drivers of the European Shell Cup. The Hungarian Spitzmueller (Warm Up) was able to gain pole position in a lap time of 1’54”879. Next to Spitzmueller Frenchman Clareton (Stradale Automobile) gained the second starting position, ahead of Gelf (Eberlein Kassel) and Mallegol (Motor/Piacenza). Amongst the Italian Shell Cup competitors Benedetto Marti (Motor/Piacenza) was more than seven tenths of a second faster than Erich Prinoth (Ineco/MP), followed by Gai (Rossocorsa) and Rota (Rossocorsa/Rota), both in the second row. In the Pirelli Trophy, where the drivers from the European and the Italian series will race together, although in separate classifications, the pole position was gained by Sernagiotto (Motor/Piacenza), ahead of Mapelli (Rossocorsa), Kemenater (Rossocorsa/Pellin) and Misslin (Stradale Automobile).

In the afternoon the weather conditions changed and the heavy rain at Monza forced the technicians to change the cars’ set ups. The Shell Cup Europe drivers were the first competitors on the track, while this race was won by Spitzmueller (Warm Up), after he had already gained the pole position. Second place went to Mallegol (Motor/Piacenza) ahead of Valint (Warm Up), who topped off a great weekend for the Hungarian Warm Up Team. Shell Cup Italia’s Race 1 was won by Benedetto Marti (Motor/Piacenza), who had an unmatchable pace just like during the last season. Second place went to Erich Prinoth, who was able to keep up with Marti during the first part of the race, while third placed Stefano Gai (Rossocorsa) drove an impeccable race.

The Pirelli Trophy race was won by Philippe Baron (Baron Service) ahead of Gianniberti (Ineco/RAM), Sernagiotto (Motor/Piacenza) and Mapelli (Rossocorsa). Due to the separate classifications Baron won the race of the European series ahead of Pergl (Scuderia Praha) and Grossmann (Autohaus Gohm), while the Italian series was won by Gianniberti ahead of Sernagiotto and Mapelli. Based on the fastest lap times in race one the starting grid for tomorrow’s race 2 will be determined. Thus Valint (Warm Up), Marti (Motor/Piacenza) and Misslin (Stradale Automobile) will start from pole position into the conclusive race of the weekend.

Rain won’t harm emotions at Monza

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Monza (Italy), Saturday, 28th March 2009 - First day of racing at the Ferrari Festival at Monza for the cars participating in the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge after a long winter break. Under a grey sky and autumnal temperatures the historical motorsport jewels went on the exciting track at Monza, with almost dry tarmac. At the start of the race Darius Ahrabian’s F40 LM immediately took the lead, followed by the two 512 BB LM with “Mister John B” and Christian Traber. Behind this trio the first battle of the season began between Nicolas Zapata’s Ferrari 625 TR and the Maserati 200 SI with Massimo Sordi.

In the opening stage of the race the F40 LM could keep its competitors under control, although without getting rid of the strong 512 BB LMs, which meanwhile started to battle against each other. Halfway through the race heavy rain started to fall, followed by some surprises. The powerful turbo-charged F40 LM had to slow down and give way to the two 512 BB LMs, fitted with more progressive naturally aspirated engines.

In the end Ahrabian gained third place. The duel between the two BBs ended with a win for “Mister John B”, thus gaining the overall victory in the grid B classification. The race of grid A was determined by the battle between Massimo Sordi and Nicolas Zapata, changing their positions several times and committing a couple of driving mistakes: at the end of an exciting race victory went to the Maserati 200 SI with the strong Milanese driver, followed by the Ferrari 625 TR and Plinio Haas behind the wheel of his 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta.

First appointment of the season for Ferrari Challenge at Monza

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Monza, 27th March 2009 - The Ferrari Challenge went onto the track at the Autodromo Nazionale at Monza for the start of the 2009 season. In the morning the participants of the Italian and European racing series conducted a test session, followed by the traditional free practice sessions in the early afternoon.

After the tests in the morning the first participants delivering some interesting lap times were the Shell Cup Europe competitors. The fastest lap was driven by the Hungarian Valint Tibor (Warm-Up) in a time of 1’56”112 ahead of his fellow countryman and teammate Spitzmueller, with a gap of 80 milliseconds. Third fastest lap time for Walter Forer (Rossocorsa/Pellin) ahead of Gelf (Eberlein Kassel), Mallegol (Motor/Piacenza) and Clareton (Stradale Automobile).

In the Shell Cup Italia the best time was presented by Rota (Rossocorsa/Rota) with 1’54”629, ahead of Emilio Ferroni (Rossocorsa/Pellin) with a gap of half a second. Third position went to Erich Prinoth (Ineco/MP), followed by Marti (Motor/Piacenza), Fascicolo (Rossocorsa/Pellin) , Gai (Rossocorsa), Rocca (Rossocorsa) and Carboni (Motor/Malucelli).

The day on the track was completed with the Pirelli Trophy competitors of both series. In fact as of this season the Italian and European drivers will race together when the two different series will be held together. Today the best lap time was driven by the Italian and World Champion of the Shell Cup 2008: Riccardo Ragazzi (Ineco/MP). With 1’54”621 he was 39 milliseconds faster than Marco Mapelli (Rossocorsa). Third position went to Nicolas Misslin (Stradale Automobile), the fastest driver of the European series, ahead of Sernagiotto (Motor/Piacenza), Kemenater (Rossocorsa/Pellin), Belluzzi (Motor), Pergl (Scuderia Praha) and Baron (Baron Service).

Two qualifying sessions and the first races of both categories will held on Saturday. Sky Sport 2 starts broadcasting at 3:30(Shell Cup Italia, race 1) and at 4:30 (Pirelli Trophy, race 1).

Risi Competizione confirms driver lineup for 2009

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 3rd March 2009 - Risi Competizione announced the team’s driver line up for the 2009 ALMS season and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Driving duties for the team, will be handled by Jaime Melo, who has been with the team since the 2006 season, Pierre Kaffer, who joins Risi Competizione for the first time for the 2009 season, and Mika Salo, who will also drive for the team in the 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans.
From the beginning of team history, in 1998, as Doyle Risi Racing, it won the LMP1 category at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Ferrari 333SP. The same car also won outright the inaugural Petit Le Mans event at Road Atlanta and captures the Manufacturers Cup in the IMSA Professional Sportscar Racing Series. In 2003 Risi Competizione won the ALMS IMSA Cup Championship for the best private team with a Ferrari 360GTC. In 2006 the team won the American Le Mans Series GT2 Team Championship for the first time, racing a Ferrari 430GT and finished 3rd in GT2 at Sebring. In 2007 two car entry in the ALMS. Risi Competizione captured the 12 Hours of Sebring GT2 title, the Drivers Championship with Jaime Melo e Mika Salo and the Teams Championship. In 2008 Risi Competizione won the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans race in the GT2 Category and also captured two ALMS Victories.

FXX - South African weekend

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 23rd February 2009 –This past weekend, the South African circuit at Kyalami hosted the fifth round of the A1GP championship and also saw four cars entered in the prestigious FXX Programme take to the track.
Canadian owner Lorne Leibel along with fellow American owner-test drivers Philip and Phil III Bachman, taking turns at the wheel of car 22, Germany’s Eberhard Jung and Aaron Kwok from Hong Kong, took part in five timed sessions, further contributing to the development of this technical collaboration programme, set up in 2006.
Special guest on Saturday was Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro driver, Felipe Massa, who visited the FXX garage, prior to getting behind the wheel of a Ferrari 599 Safety Car, for some hot laps.

FXX returns to the track

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 19th February 2009 –This coming weekend, the Kyalami circuit in South Africa hosts the first of the seven events scheduled for this year on the FXX Programme calendar. The event runs alongside the fifth round of the A1GP championship.
Taking part in the five timed runs will be four of the cars registered for this prestigious technical collaboration programme. This is extended to cover the two year period 2008/2009 thanks to the addition of a specific kit that has been developed based on feedback from its “owner-test drivers.”
Special guest on track on Saturday, will be Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro driver, Felipe Massa, who will drive some hot laps of the track at the wheel of one Ferrari car.

Ferrari Racing Days opening event

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Monza (Italy), 27th March 2009 - Today the first Ferrari Racing Days, the opening event of the 2009 motorsport season of the Ferrari Corse Clienti department, were held at Monza in Northern Italy. During the event also the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge cars went on the track, the cars of the historic championship organised by the Prancing Horse with the classic cars from Ferrari and Maserati on the track: today these jewels went onto the track to get to know the circuit after a long winter break. After the free practice in the morning with some fog, the sun came out for the qualifying in the afternoon for sessions under perfect weather conditions. The fastest lap in both sessions was driven by Darius Ahrabian, behind the wheel of a spectacular Ferrari F40 LM, which as of this year is part of the cars participating in the historical championship. Behind him were two Ferrari 512 BB LM with Eric Traber and Jean Guittard, while the fourth fastest time was driven by Massimo Sordi with a Maserati 200 SI. In the second session Massimo Sordi went out with the 512 BB LM, driving the third fastest time behind Jean Guittard and ahead of Eric Traber, this time behind the wheel of a Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta. Everything is ready for the first race of the season, which will be held tomorrow, when the drivers will start the engines for hunting the first points valid for the classification.

Ferrari Racing Days a Monza

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Maranello (Modena), 25th March 2009 – On the upcoming weekend the first Ferrari Racing Days will be held at the Monza circuit. With this event the Corse Clienti 2009 motorsport season will officially be inaugurated.

This year’s innovations include five new tracks on the race calendar, some real novelties and some pleasant returns: Algarve (Portugal), Imola (Italy), Le Vigeant (France), Brno (Czech Republic) and Valencia (Spain). Due to the new regulations the five races, simultaneously held with the Italian and European Pirelli Trophy racing series, will be performed together with separate classifications and a joint qualifying session to determine the starting grid for race 1. The starting grid for race 2 will be determined by the classification of the fastest race laps in race 1. The start will be performed according to the new FIA regulations.

During the event the F430s, taking part in the Italian and European Ferrari Challenge Pirelli Trophy, and the breathtaking historical cars of the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge will be taken to the track. On the same weekend the Monza race track will also host the single-marque championship of the Prancing Horse with the Trofeo Abarth 500’s debut.

The event starts on Friday with the first free practice sessions and qualifyings, with more qualifying sessions and the first races of the European racing series of the Pirelli Trophy and the Shell Cup as well as the Shell Historic Challenge on Saturday; while Sunday is dedicated to the second and conclusive round of competitions.

The two races of the Italian Ferrari Challenge Pirelli Trophy will be broadcast live on Saturday, 28th March on Sky Sport 2 at 3:30pm (Shell Cup, race 1) and at 4:30pm (Pirelli Trophy, race 1). Sky Sport 3 will broadcast the second round on Sunday, 29th March at 10:45am (Shell Cup) and at 2:15pm (Pirelli Trophy).

Ferrari World Premiere for the Bologna Motor Show. The 599XX with new evolution package

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Bologna, 30 November – The 36th edition of the Bologna Motor Show provides the venue for the unveiling of an evolution of the extreme, non-homologated sports berlinetta, the 599XX. Ferrari has introduced a package of performance-enhancing technical features available to clients participating in the track-based research and development programme for the 2012-2013 seasons.

Already the fruit of the very finest Ferrari road car and Formula 1-derived technology, the 599XX now features improved chassis dynamics thanks to an active aerodynamic package integrated with the vehicles’ electronic control systems, and the adoption of new Pirelli tyres. The car is also more powerful than before (750 CV) and weighs 35 kg less.

The key to the aero package is the active rear wing design which represents a new aerodynamic concept called ‘opening gap’. The wing features two flaps, with profiles similar to those used in Formula 1, which rotate electronically to adjust the downforce between the front and rear axles in function of vehicle speed and the manoeuvre being effected. The result of this concept is better performance in cornering.

The 599XX active rear wing is actuated automatically according to specific parameters which are integrated with the car’s other control functions (ESP, ABS, SCM and F1-Trac). As a result of this integration, all the electronic controls have been suitably recalibrated. The ‘opening gap’ system logic is based on the following parameters:
- steering wheel angle
- longitudinal acceleration
- lateral acceleration
- vehicle speed

The new aerodynamics package for the 599XX also includes a modified front splitter and a new rear diffuser featuring a larger surface area and redesigned fences and foot-plates. Total downforce at 200 km/h is boosted to 330 kg when the flaps are open and 440 kg in the closed configuration.

The adoption of side exhausts allowed the engineers to increase engine power by 20 CV to 750 CV (again at 9000 rpm), while maximum torque has been increased to 700 Nm. When combined with a final gear ratio that’s slightly shorter to improve acceleration on technical, medium- to high-speed tracks, the result is that the car laps Fiorano in just 1’15”.

The Ferrari stand at the Bologna Motor Show is devoted entirely to its racing activities and features the 458 Challenge, the mid-rear V8 berlinetta derived from the 458 Italia and Ferrari’s fifth model for its single-make championship. This series, now in its 19th year, will span three continents – Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific.

Also on the stand is the 458 Italia GT2 fielded by AF Corse. This is the car that won the Drivers’ and Teams’ title in the Le Mans Series and the Teams’ title in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, and also contributed to Ferrari’s taking the Manufacturers’ title in the respective championships. The line-up of track-only Prancing Horse models is completed by the 458 Italia GT3 which made a superb FIA GT3 debut by winning the Drivers’ title, and the FXX, Ferrari’s “laboratory” car and one of the most technologically advanced non-competitive models in the world.

On December 3rd, the Show hosts three events featuring the Prancing Horse, two of which will see no less than 16 cars from the Italian and European Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli series taking part in the traditional end-of-year challenge.

The extensive programme planned for the competition arena will culminate in the traditional Scuderia Ferrari salute with an exhibition of the F10, the single-seater with which Ferrari competed in the 2010 Formula 1 season. The car will have a very special guest driver on this occasion: Giancarlo Fisichella.