Travel Diary

Today was the last day at Goodwood’s 2010 Festival of Speed with the last hill climbs, attracting numerous motorsport fans just like every year. The Prancing Horse was present with a range of cars, including the F1 single-seater used by the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro during the last season, the latest road car models and cars for Motorsport competition, accompanied by a numerous historical cars of exceptional value. Something that delighted also the landlord, Lord March, founder of this classic event, who wanted to greet the users on Ferrari.com personally with a video, which will soon be online on the official website of the Prancing Horse.

The area, set up for the Scuderia Ferrari has been constantly at the centre of attention, and the visitors admired the Ferrari California, the 458 Italia and the 599 GTO shown at the “Supercar Paddock”. During the exhibitions on the track the cars from Maranello caused applause every time they passed, an evident sign that of the high appreciation of the competent and demanding spectators here in Goodwood. The three cars all drove exceptional times, all under one minute, on the roughly 900 metre-long course, with the top speed reached by Marc Gené in the F60 which was almost 250 km/h on this extremely narrow and windy track. At the end of each session the Spanish driver confirmed the spectators’ enthusiasm for the Prancing Horse, while being hunted down for autographs.

An exceptional event, made unique thanks to the participation of some proper jewels from Maranello, such as the winner of the 1960 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 250 TR 59/60, the 1972 312 PB, which dominated the World Championship that year, and the 158 F1, the World Champion car in 1964 with John Surtees.

Amongst the numerous visitors at the Ferrari area on the last day in Goodwood was Matt Dawson, the former English rugby player, now working as a TV presenter, paid a visit to the Prancing Horse.

Now the engines have been turned off and we’re already excited about the next edition of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, while you can enjoy the exciting moments of the 2010 edition thanks to photos and videos we will put on Ferrari.com in the next few days.

Goodwood Festival of Speed: the protagonists' voice

Goodwood (Great Britain), 3 July 2010

One of the peculiarities at the Festival of Speed is the possibility for every visitor to be in direct contact with the cars and the drivers. Buying a ticket means that you actually gain direct access to the paddock (or to be more precise, to the various paddocks) where the cars are parked in open spaces, accessible for everyone.

The Ferrari.com journalists didn’t miss the occasion to have a close look at the motor-homes, looking for men connected, in the past and the present, to the Prancing Horse. Amongst the most interesting meetings during the day, was the one with Patrick Tambay, a driver for the Scuderia in the early 1980s and mainly remembered for his victory at the Grand Prix of San Marino on 1st May 1983, exactly one year after the fatal accident of Gilles Villeneuve. During the long interview, which you can read in its entire version in the upcoming days on the official Ferrari website, the driver, who had been handed over a 1959 Dino 246 F1 here in Goodwood, spoke about the exciting emotion taking a car from Maranello from such a distant past, with such an incredible history, onto the track. And although the Festival of Speed is a non-antagonistic event Tambay confessed that, with so many Champions from all eras concentrated in just a few square kilometres, “it is natural that there is some competition involved”. With the cameras turned off, many confirmed the competitive spirit of those present, checking the official time sheets at the end of the day, although trying not to seem too interested in the results of the other competitors.

Meanwhile, the point of reference in terms of drivers for Ferrari.com was Marc Gené, the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro test driver, who had the responsibility to take the F60 onto the track- the single-seater the team from Maranello used in 2009 in the F1 Championship. The Spanish driver explained how the driving experience here in Goodwood is extremely particular and that with some modification, such as raising the single-seater from the road and using wets it is possible to go really fast, but most of all delivering a great show including a final burn-out for the demanding and enthusiastic crowd. “But you really have to be careful” – Genè said – “because you really reach high speeds at the limit and the straw barriers don’t offer any run-off areas at all”.

The Festival of Speed will offer its last exciting day on Sunday, but before the event’s protagonists are back on the track, all participants meet at the traditional cocktail party at the castle of Lord March, the mind behind the event and landlord at Goodwood. Once the drivers have taken off their overalls and are off the track they will be wearing tuxedos for a short ceasefire: they are all thinking about how to be faster during the last two hill climbs and how to demonstrate that they are the best, whilst thrilling the spectators.

Goodwood Festival of Speed: a great celebration in red

Goodwood (Great Britain), 2 July 2010

The Goodwood Festival of Speed started today with an extensive programme and numerous cars from the Prancing Horse amongst the protagonists in the famous hillclimb on Lord March’s estate.

The activities on the track were officially started by a group of Supercars, with three models from Maranello amongst its stars: the Ferrari California, the 458 Italia and the latest 599 GTO. The hillclimb, held on a very narrow and windy course of around 1.5 kilometres, attrackted numerous spectators, literally going wild when the “reds” with the exceptional 8 and 12 cylinders and their unmistakable sound, making every Ferrari immediately recognisable even without seeing it, passed.

Racing uphill between the spectators left and right to the course were also ten historical models from Ferrari, such as the 1964 158 F1 driven by John Surtees and some wonderful sport prototypes such as Paul Knapfield’s 1972 312 PB and a 512 S taken onto the track by the English driver Derek Bell, five-times 24 Hours of Le Mans winner. The list of the participating cars from Maranello is a real pleasure to read:

The F60 single-seater, the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro used in last year’s F1 Championship, concluded this exceptional parade. The single-seater, as it has been a tradition for the last several years, was driven by Marc Gené, the test-driver from Maranello.

The Festival of Speed does not only bring together the best of motoring from all over the world, from the past and the present, but also enables a close contact between the spectators, the cars and the drivers, in an informal atmosphere, where the only common thread is passion for motoring under the sign of great entertainment. Goodwood is a unique event in its field, where the areas dedicated to Ferrari are almost amongst the most crowded, demonstrating the immense affection for the brand also in places far away from Modena and Italy

Maranello - Goodwood: stage 3

Portsmouth (Great Britain), 1 July 2010

With the arrival in Portsmouth in the late afternoon the four Ferraris travelling from Maranello to Goodwood accomplished their goal. The journey will formally end on Friday morning when the two 458 Italia, the Ferrari California and the 599 GTB Fiorano will arrive at the English track just a few miles from the harbour town of Hampshire.

The trip from fascinating Troyes to Calais was very quick and the cars boarded the Eurostar train to arrive in Folkstone, almost touching London, before driving in a southwesterly direction to arrive at the English Channel. For the bigger part this stage was concluded on motorways, but the logistic needs didn't prevent the group from stopping near Reims, where the infrastructure of the circuit used until the year 1966 for the French F1 Grand Prix, is conserved.

The Reims circuit lead through the vineyards of the city's periphery, roads usually open for normal traffic, while its special feature was the triangular layout with three very long straights, connected by as many tight corners. Famous for spectacular races, but also for dangerousness, this track was the stage of very important moments in the history of Ferrari: legends like Alberto Ascari, Mike Hawthorn, Peter Collins and Tony Brooks celebrated victories behind the wheel of cars from the Prancing horse, while Luigi Musso had a fatal accident in 1958. The Italian flag has seen great joy here in Reims, like on the occasion of the first place gained by Giancarlo Baghetti in 1961, the only win of a driver at his debut race in F1. There was no doubt that this circuit of great tradition had to be honoured with a run around the track and a photo in front of the old box to bring past and present together.

After this emotional detour, crossing the English Channel - obviously with turned off engines - the four cars from the Prancing Horse were at the centre of the attention of numerous tourists travelling between France and England. The section where the cars had been parked for the transfer was literally invaded by curious travellers and fans, happy to be able to see almost the complete range of road cars from Maranello in one place. A passion, which could be noticed throughout the journey from start to finish.

Maranello - Goodwood: stage 2

Troyes (France), 30 June 2010

The morning after the first night, with a stop in the Alps, was extremely pleasant thanks to a wonderful sky and a warming sun greeting the 458 Italias, the 599 GTB Fiorano and the Ferrari California when they were starting their engines at an early hour. The group drove southwards avoiding the motorway, with every driver trying to find the most exciting road with the most thrilling view for the pleasure of the photographers.

The team in the Ferrari California could immediately open the hardtop with the double advantage to enjoy the spectacular landscape even more and to appreciate the unmistakable sound of the V8 engine from Maranello on the Col des Aravis serpentines. The manettino was set to SPORT obtaining the best possible driving pleasure on the roads leading from the town of La Clusaz to the city of Annecy, on the lake bearing the same name. Lightning-fast gear change, immediate acceleration and excellent dynamic behaviour were the features of the car from Maranello on this exciting section. Once the Ferrari California arrived in the city, the car demonstrated its adaptability once more offering unique driving pleasure even in intense city traffic, also thanks to the fluid F1 gearbox with dual clutch for the occasion, changed into automatic mode, and the exuberant torque of the engine, of which a huge part is already available at low revs.

While the teams in the 458 Italias enjoyed themselves on the windy roads of the Rhone-Alpes region until late afternoon, testing the exceptional handling and reactivity even in long sequences of very tight corners, the Ferrari California and the 599 GTB Fiorano continued driving north, crossing the Bourgogne arriving in Dijon – home of the legendary race track – and later in Troyes. In the soft hills of the Champagne region the 599 GTB Fiorano presented its performance thanks to the front-mid mounted V12 engine and its 520 bhp, kept under control by a the HGTE kit’s sport set up and brought efficiently onto the road with the F1 traction control.

In the evening, after over 500 kilometres, the four Ferraris met in the medieval village of Troyes, from where they will start their last stage tomorrow, arriving on Southern England’s coast.

Maranello - Goodwood: stage 1

Megève (France), 29 June 2010

In the evening the four Ferraris on their way to Goodwood, for the occasion of the 2010 Festival of Speed, arrived in the French town of Megève, where the first stage finished at the foot of Mont Blanc after a day with changing weather conditions.

After the Ferrari California, the 599 GTB Fiorano and the two 458 Italia had left Maranello they took the Piacenza – Alessandria – Aosta motorway and after around 400 kilometres, before approaching the challenging serpentines of the Gran San Bernardo mountain pass under a blue sky. The weather changed in no time and heavy rain fell on the quartet, while the temperature fell from over 35°C in Maranello to a mere 10°C on 2,469 metres.

The rest of the journey through Northern Italy and into Switzerland was pleasant and the drivers gained more and more confidence with the different models features. Once in Switzerland they had to pay lots of attention due to the road’s tarmac being in less than perfect condition and small streams along the road’s embankment. The manettino was set on WET or COMFORT for all and the driving pleasure was perfect on this surface with limited grip. After the faster descent the roads were dry again as of Martigny and the group turned to the West leaving Chamonix behind reaching Megève. The final part of this first stage was driven on pleasant roads with long and smooth corners, perfect for setting the electronic controls on a slightly more “permissive” level, enjoying the cars in complete safety, while always staying within the speed limits.

After an overnight stop the journey will proceed on the French south-eastern mountain roads before the cars arrive on the plain, heading North to Troyes, in the heart of the Champagne region.

Across Europe from Maranello to Goodwood: the start

Maranello, 29 June 2010

The event at Goodwood, the Festival of Speed, has already a traditional prologue at Ferrari, with the road cars from Maranello crossing the European continent to reach the Southern English coast not far from Portsmouth. This year the journey’s protagonists - driven by journalists from some of the most important international newspapers – are two 458 Italia, a Ferrari California and a 599 GTB Fiorano with HGTE kit, featuring Rosso Corsa liveries, with the exception of the 599 GTB, with a Rosso Fuoco livery.

On the 1,600 kilometres of the trip from Maranello to the other side of the English Channel the four cars from the Prancing Horse will meet different terrain: from the serpentines in the Alpes to England’s A&B roads, long straight stretches of highways in the centre of France and some city centres such as the one in medieval Troyes. These different conditions represent the perfect grounds to let every model’s distinctive features emerge, confirming again the DNA all the cars from Ferrari have in common: performance, driving pleasure, technological innovation independent from the engine’s layout or allocation.

The group left the Ferrari Works around noon through the legendary entrance in Via Abetone heading north in the direction of Megève, the well-known mountain village in Haute-Savoie, where they will arrive in the evening after having driven just over 500 kilometres.