| Circuit | Le Mans |
| Date | 14.06. – 15.06.2014 |
| Laps | 379 |
| Distance | 5.165,391 km / 3.210,311 miles |
| No | Driver | Ferrari | S/N | Team | Result |
| 51 | Gianmaria Bruni Toni Vilander Giancarlo Fisichella |
458 Italia GT2 | F 142 GT 2878 |
AF Corse |
15. overall / 1. in class LMGTE PRO |
| 52 | Matt Griffin Alvaro Parente |
458 Italia GT2 | F 142 GT 2858 | RAM Racing | retired |
| 53 | Johnny Mowlem Mark Patterson Archie Hamilton |
458 Italia GT2 | F 142 GT 2860 | RAM Racing | 32. overall / 12. in class LMGTE AM |
| 57 | Tracy Krohn Nic Jönsson Ben Collins |
458 Italia GT2 | F 142 GT 2844 | Krohn Racing | 30. overall / 10. in class LMGTE AM |
| 58 | Fabien Barthez Anthony Pons Soheil Ayari |
458 Italia GT2 | F 142 GT 2838 | Team Sofrev ASP | 29. overall / 9. in class LMGTE AM |
| 60 | Peter Mann Raffaele Giammaria Lorenzo Casé |
458 Italia GT2 | F 142 GT 2848 | AF Corse | retired |
| 61 | Luis Perez-Companc Marco Cioci Mirko Venturi |
458 Italia GT2 | F 142 GT 2876 |
AF Corse
|
22. overall / 3. in class LMGTE AM |
| 62 | Yannick Mallegol Jean-Marc Bachelier Howard Blank |
458 Italia GT2 | F 142 GT 2862 |
AF Corse
|
38. overall / 14. in class LMGTE AM |
| 66 | Abdulaziz Al Faisal Seth Neiman Spencer Pumpelly |
458 Italia GT2 | F 142 GT 2808 | JMW Motorsport | 27. overall / 7. in class LMGTE AM |
| 70 | Shinji Nakano Pierre Ehret Martin Rich |
458 Italia GT2 | F 142 GT 2868 | Team Taisan | 28. overall / 8. in class LMGTE AM |
|
71
|
Davide Rigon Pierre Kaffer Olivier Beretta |
458 Italia GT2
|
F 142 GT 2804
Practice: 2880 – crashed |
AF Corse
|
retired
|
| 72 | Victor Shaytar Andrea Bertolini Aleksey Basov |
458 Italia GT2
|
F 142 GT 2872 | SMP Racing | retired |
| 81 | Steve Wyatt Michele Rugolo Sam Bird |
458 Italia GT2 | F 142 GT 2874 |
AF Corse | retired |
| 90 | Frankie Montecalvo Gianluca Roda Paolo Ruberti |
458 Italia GT2 | F 142 GT 2846 | 8 Star Motorsports | 23. overall / 4. in class LMGTE AM |
Le Mans 24 Hours. Victory for the Number 51 Ferrari – Montezemolo: “Extremely satisfying”
Posted: 15.06.2014
Source: Ferrari
Le Mans, 15 June – Yesterday, Scuderia Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso waved off the field for the start of the race and his presence seems to have brought Ferrari some good luck. The number 51 458 Italia GT2 won the LMGTE Pro category in the Le Mans 24 Hours, so that the Italian national anthem was played again in France.
Italy’s Gimmi Bruni and Giancarlo Fisichella, along with the Finn Toni Vilander, driving for the Amato Ferrari-run AF Corse team, repeated their 2012 achievement, outclassing the opposition despite a few difficult moments.
This was Ferraris 24th class win, to go with nine outright victories. Having started from pole in the class, Bruni dominated the early hours, but then, in wet conditions when two downpours hit the Sarthe circuit, the car struggled and had to give best to Chevrolet and Porsche. The Ferrari men didn’t lose heart and once the track dried out, began an amazing climb up the order.
The Ferrari 458 beat off prestigious names such as Chevrolet, Aston Martin and Porsche, companies that are also rivals in the marketplace. The win owed a lot to the quality of the drivers but also to the exceptional reliability of the cars. The winning car had not the slightest problem. In second place, but almost two laps down, was the number 73 Chevrolet of Garcia-Magnussen-Taylor, with third, almost three laps down going to the Porsche of Holzer-Makowiecki-Lietz.
Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo was very pleased. “This is a very important victory in an amazing race,” he said. “This result is extremely satisfying and is a just reward for all the hard work from everyone in the team and my congratulations go to them. We dominated the race with a car that was able to outclass some very strong opponents and everyone at Ferrari can be very proud of that.” The Maranello marque and AF Corse also finished on the podium in the LMGTE Am class. In car 61, Italians Marco Cioci and Mirko Venturi and the Argentinian Luis Perez-Companc, finished third, behind the winning 95 Aston Martin of Danes Kristian Poulsen, Nicki Thiim and David Hansson and the 88 Porsche of Ried-Bachler-Al Qubaisi.
The overall win went to Audi, with victory going to the number 2 car of France’s Benoit Treluyer, Switzerland’s Marcel Fassler and Germany’s Andre Lotterer ahead of the number 1 car of Denmark’s Tom Kristensen, Brazil’s Lucas di Grassi and Spaniard and Scuderia Ferrari test driver Marc Gene.
FIA WEC: Le Mans 24 Hours – 18th Hour: Close fight between Ferrari and Aston Martin
Posted: 15.06.2014
Source: Ferrari
Le Mans, 15 June- With just under six hours to go, a close fight is keeping the fans on tenterhooks in the Sarthe grandstands. It features the battle for LMGTE Pro honours between the AF Corse 51 Ferrari, currently driven by Endurance world champion Gimmi Bruni and the 97 Aston Martin, now in the hands of Bruno Senna. Only half a second separates the two cars after the Ferrari fought back to be in the hunt for the win again.
The situation seems settled in the LMGTE Am class where the 95 Aston Martin has a comfortable lead over the Proton Competition Porsche 88 car. There’s a Ferrari in third, the 61 car driven at the moment by Mirko Venturi. Leading overall at the moment is the number 1 Audi driven by Scuderia Ferrari test driver Marc Gene. He is in the car that was totally destroyed on Wednesday with Loic Duval at the wheel and he has a one lap lead over the number 20 Porsche of Mark Webber.
FIA WEC: Le Mans 24 Hours – eighth hour: Bruni, Vilander and Fisichella moving up
Posted: 14.06.2014
Source: Ferrari
Le Mans, 14 June – The Le Mans 24 Hour race is now a third of the way through and the order in the classes in which Ferrari is competing are beginning to take shape. In LMGTE Pro, AF Corse’s 51 car continues to close in on its rivals that moved into the lead, profiting from the two spells of rain that fell during the first three hours of the race. Currently, Gimmi Bruni is back at the wheel and has closed to within 10 seconds of the 97 Aston Martin of Stefan Mucke and 17 of the class leader, the 74 Chevrolet driven now by Oliver Gavin. In the LMGTE Am category, two Aston Martins head the order, the 98 car driven by Pedro Lamy and Nicki Thiim in 95. Best placed Ferrari is SMP Racing’s number 72 458 GT2, currently piloted by Andrea Bertolini. Leading overall it’s still the number 7 Toyota driven by Alexander Wurz. Second is the number 2 Audi with Marcel Fassler at the wheel.
Le Mans 24 Hours – 4 Hours: Ferrari struggle in the rain
Posted: 14.06.2014
Source: Ferrari
Le Mans, 14 June –By the fourth hour of racing two storms have hit the La Sarthe circuit and it’s affected the Ferraris. The 458 Italia GT2 seems to be struggling more than its rivals when it comes to get the rain tyres up to temperature and that has lost Ferrari the lead in both categories.
In LMGTE Pro, car 51, of Gimmi Bruni, Toni Vilander and Giancarlo Fisichella, with Bruni at the wheel was able to hold on to first place for the first hour, but after the first downpour he dropped behind the 74 Chevrolet of Jan Magnussen. Another shower and the car also dropped behind the 91 and 92 Porsches. Vilander is driving now, on a track that has dried again. He is making up ground and is 34 seconds off the class leader. The RAM Racing 458 GT2 is lying seventh, over two minutes off the leader, while the number 71 car of Rigon-Kaffer-Beretta has retired. There was an encouraging start for the LMGTE Am runners, with Sam Bird running quickly enough to ride shotgun to Bruni, keeping ahead of the 74 Chevrolet. Again though, problems came with the rain. In the downpour, Bird failed to see a yellow flag and ended up hitting the Toyota of Frenchman Nicolas Lapierre and the Audi of Italy’s Marco Bonanomi, both LMP1 cars. The 81 Ferrari and the number 3 Audi had to retire while the Toyota rejoined, but after a long delay.
Leading the category is the number 98 Aston Martin of Nygaard-Lamy Dalla Lana, who have around ten seconds in hand over the 77 Porsche of Dempsey-Foster-Long and 21 over the 53 Ram Racing Ferrari of Mowlem-Patterson-Hamilton. The latter is currently driving and is catching those ahead. Fourth is the 72 SMP Racing car of Bertolini-Shaitar-Basov. Leading overall is the number 7 Toyota of Stephane Sarrazin, Alexander Wurz and Kazuki Nakajima, 33 seconds ahead of the number 2 Audi of Benoit Treluyer, Andre Lotterer and Marcel Fassler. Next updated around 23h00 CET.
Alonso centre stage at Le Mans
Posted: 14.06.2014
Source: Ferrari
Le Mans, 14 June –Driver, supporter and guest starter: Fernando Alonso was all of these on Saturday at the Le Mans 24 Hour race. In fact, the Spanish Scuderia Ferrari driver flagged the race off with the traditional French tricolor at 3pm. Fernando arrived at the circuit around noon. At the track, he met the President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, Pierre Fillon and the President of the FIA, Jean Todt, after he which he endorsed the Federation’s road safety campaign. Then, wearing a race suit and helmet, Fernando tried the cockpit of a Ferrari 512 S, which was entered in the 1970 24 Hours by Scuderia Filipinetti for the German Herbert Muller and the Englishman Mike Parkes. The Spaniard then did one lap of the track in this, one of the last prototypes built by Ferrari for Endurance racing, when he was given an enthusiastic welcome from the 250,000 spectators who lined the 13.6 kilometre-long track. Fernando said he was struck by the atmosphere of the event. “It’s nice to be here and you can feel a special mood linked to this really fascinating form of racing,” said Fernando. “It would be nice to actually take part on track one day. I often speak with President Montezemolo and, while the priority remains winning again in Formula 1, an interesting format like Le Mans is worth keeping an eye on too.”
Back in the pits, Fernando went to wish his friends and colleagues in the AF Corse team the best of luck, meeting up with the two crews that took pole in the LMGTE Pro and LMGTE Am categories – Gimmi Bruni, Giancarlo Fisichella and Toni Vilander the former, in car 51 and Sam Bird, Stephen Wyatt and Michele Rugolo the latter, in car 81. Alonso spent a long time walking down the grid with the head of Ferrari’s Racing Activity, Antonello Coletta, the two of them meeting his friend and former Formula 1 rival Mark Webber. After waving the cars off, Fernando stayed to watch the opening laps before paying a visit to Race Control, from where all 55 starters can be monitored throughout the race.
FIA WEC: Le Mans 24 Hours – Ferrari No 71 back on track
Posted: 14.06.2014
Source: Ferrari
Le Mans 14 June – The warm-up for the 82nd running of the Le Mans 24 Hours went off without any particular drama this morning prior to the 15h00 race start. At that time, flagging the competitors away will be Scuderia Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso.
Prancing Horse cars were not quickest in either of the two categories in which they are entered, as the drivers chose not to push too hard on a track that was still cold in the early hours of the morning. The most important news of the session concerns the return on track of the AF Corse 71 car for Pierre Kaffer, Olivier Beretta and Davide Rigon, after its accident in qualifying on Thursday. The new chassis arrived at the La Sarthe circuit yesterday evening and the mechanics worked through the night to build up the car. The 458 GT2 was thus able to take to the track for the warm-up, completing ten very important laps. It will still be a very difficult race, as it will take a while for the drivers to get used to the car, but just getting to the start is already a great achievement.
Fastest in the LMGTE Pro class was Jan Magnussen who did a 3.54.938 in the Chevrolet, while “Gimmi” Bruni stopped the clocks in 3.56.062 in the number 51 Ferrari run by AF Corse. In the Am category, Richard Westbrook was quickest in the 95 Aston Martin in 3.57.520, while the best Ferrari was the number 90 car entered by 8 Star Motorsports for Montecalvo-Roda-Ruberti, third in 3.59.469.
FIA WEC: Le Mans 24 Hours – Two class poles for AF Corse Ferraris, Calado a non-starter
Posted: 13.06.2014
Source: Ferrari
Le Mans, 13 June – Ferrari’s Le Mans 24 Hours got off on the right foot, especially for the AF Corse 458 Italia GT2 cars. In both the Pro and Am LMGTE classes, cars from the team run by Amato Ferrari set the fastest times in qualifying.
In the Pro category, Gimmi Bruni, the world champion in the class in the 2013 WEC, set a time of 3.53.700 so that he and Giancarlo Fisichella and Toni Vilander start ahead of the rest, first of those being the Chevrolet of Magnussen-Taylor-Garcia, over a second down and the Aston Martin of Turner-Mucke-Senna. However there was also a serious set back in this class, as James Calado destroyed his 458 number 71, injuring himself in the process. It was not that serious but the doctors have declared him unfit to race on safety grounds. AF Corse has been granted permission to change the car, just as happened with the Audi number 1 on Wednesday. Calado will be replaced by the German driver Pierre Kaffer, who has already won Le Mans in 2009 in the Risi Competizione Ferrari. However, it’s not entirely sure the Davide Rigon and Olivier Beretta car will start, as it faces a difficult race against time to get the car race-ready. The RAM Racing 458 of Matt Griffin, Alvaro Parente and Federica Leo were fifth.
Fastest time too in the LMGTE Am class, courtesy of the 81 AF Corse car driven by Sam Bird, Michele Rugolo and Stephen Wyatt. The time of 3.54.665, set by Bird, was noteworthy because it would have been good enough for second fastest in the Pro category. The Ferrari clearly outpaced the two Aston Martins of Dalla Lana-Lamy-Nygaard and Poulsen-Hansson-Thiim. Outright pole went to the Toyota of Kazuki Nakajima, who did the fastest lap, in 3.21.789 with team-mates, Stephane Sarrazin and Alexander Wurz. There is no track action today, apart from the drivers’ parade and the procession of historic cars. It all heats up again on Saturday morning with the warm-up session starting at 09h00. The Le Mans 24 Hours gets underway at 15h00, when the cars will be sent on their way by a special guest starter, Scuderia Ferrari driver, Fernando Alonso.
FIA WEC: Le Mans 24 Hours – Ferrari on provisional pole in two categories
Posted: 11.06.2014
Source: Ferrari
Le Mans, 12 June – Ferrari made its mark on the first qualifying session for the Le Mans 24 Hours with the 458 Italia GT2 setting the fastest time in both categories in which it is entered. The session was held up by several red flag periods caused when cars went off and got stuck in the gravel, on what was a dirty and tricky track. In fact, the two hour session was stopped half an hour early when Fernando Rees crashed his Aston Martin, seriously damaging the barriers at the Porsche corner. Against this difficult background, the excellent lap set by “Gimmi” Bruni in the LMGTE Pro class takes on even more significance. On his fifth of ten laps in the AF Corse 51 car, he posted a 3.54.754 to beat Stefan Mucke in the Aston Martin by over three tenths and the Manthey Porsche by almost eight. Things went less well for AF Corse’s car 71, as it was no less than three and a half seconds down.
On top in the LMGTE Am category was the SMP Racing 458 Italia GT2 with a lap in 3.56.787, on its fourth of nine laps. Second was another Maranello machine, the AF Corse 61 car driven by Luis Perez Companc, Marco Cioci and Mirko Venturi, 132 thousandths behind.
Provisional overall pole went to Porsche number 20 crewed by Timo Bernhard, Mark Webber and Brendon Hartley. Worth noting that Audi is rebuilding its number 1 car, destroyed in free practice and with Frenchman Loic Duval forbidden from taking part, his place is taken by Scuderia Ferrari test driver, Marc Gene. The second qualifying session starts at 19h00 today.
FIA WEC – Bruni quickest for Ferrari in practice at Le Mans
Posted: 11.06.2014
Source: Ferrari
Le Mans, 11 June – The Le Mans 24 Hours got off on the right foot for “Gimmi” Bruni, who along with Giancarlo Fisichell and Toni Vilander is chasing another victory after a class winning performance in the 2012 classic at La Sarthe. The Italian was quickest in the LMGTE Pro category, stopping the clock in 3.57.028. Bruni covered 29 laps despite the time lost after the frightening accident that befell France’s Loic Duval in an Audi. Fortunately, he is virtually unscathed although his car was completely destroyed at the Porsche corner.
In the final moments of the session, after the red flag break, Bruni beat the factory Aston Martin of Turner-Senna-Mucke by 58 thousandths and the Chevrolet of Magnussen-Garcia-Taylor by over a second. Fourth was car 71 with the AF Corse crew of Davide Rigon, James Calado and Olivier Beretta, who lapped in 3.58.263. the third 458 did less well: the RAM Racing car, in the hands of Matt Griffin, Alvaro Parente and Federico Leo.
Comfortably fastest in the LMGTE Am category was the Aston Martin of Poulsen-Henemeier Hanss-Thiim with a 3.57.015, almost two seconds faster than the best of the Ferraris, which was third, the 81 AF Corse car crewed by Stephen Wyatt, Michele Rugolo and Sam Bird. The other ten 458 Italia GT2s in the category filled places from sixth downwards. First qualifying starts at 22h00 tonight.
FIA World Endurance Championship – Fourteen Ferraris to tackle Le Mans
Posted: 10.06.2014
Source: Ferrari
Le Mans, 10 June – It’s the second day of scrutineering in the Le Mans town square for the 55 cars entered in the 82nd edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours held on Saturday and Sunday: Scuderia Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso will be the special guest starter. No less than 14 of them are Ferrari 458 Italia cars, entered in two categories, LMGTE Pro and LMGTE Am. The Le Mans 24 Hours was first staged in 1923 and has run since then, with the exception of 1936 and then the war years and immediate post war period, 1940 to 1948. Ferrari has won the French endurance event nine times and has taken 23 class wins. The first one came on the company’s debut in 1949, when Luigi Chinetti, an Italian who had settled in the States, along with Peter Mitchell-Thomson (Lord Selsdon) financed the purchase of two Ferrari 166 MM s.
Chinetti drove for almost the entire race, only handing over to Thomson when he had a huge lead over his rivals.
In 1954 came the first official factory win, when Scuderia Ferrari entered three 375 Plus. The winning duo also raced successfully for Ferrari in Formula 1, Argentina’s Jose Froilan Gonzalez and the Frenchman Maurice Trintignant. There was a class win three years later, with Ferrari winning outright again in 1958, when the American Phil Hill and the Belgian Olivier Gendebien beat stiff opposition from Aston Martin at the wheel of a Ferrari 250 TR58.
After another class win in 1959, Ferrari’s golden years at Le Mans began with six successive victories and a level of dominance never seen before at the Sarthe circuit. In 1960, Gendebien, with his fellow countryman and journalist Paul Frere were victorious in a 250 TR59/60. The following year the Belgian made it three in a row, again with Hill in a 250 TRI/61, when adding to the impressive performance the entire podium featured Ferrari drivers. In second place were the other factory drivers, Willy Mairesse from Belgium and the Englishman Mike Parkes. Third was a privare 250 GT SWB entered by Belgian Pierre Noblet and the Frenchman Jean Guichet who also won their category.
The following year there was another all-Ferrari podium with the race won once again by Hill and Gendebien in the 330 TRI/LM Spyder. In 1963 Ferrari was the undisputed force in the event, taking the outright win, two class wins and a clean sweep of the top six places in the classification. It was an all-Italian victory as the drivers of the 250 P were Ludovico Scarfiotti and Lorenzo Bandini. The following year, Vaccarella and Guichet won in the 275 P, while 1965 saw Ferrari’s final outright win with a car run by North American Racing Team and driven by American Masten Gregory with Austria’s Jochen Rindt.
After that came a further 14 wins in various classes, the last one being in 2012 thanks to Italy’s “Gimmi” Bruni and Giancarlo Fisichella and the Finn Toni Vilander, who secured the LMGTE Pro category win in the AF Corse 458 GTC. This year, the trio has reformed to try and give Ferrari a 24th class win There are two more Prancing Horse cars in the same class: the second AF Corse team for Italy’s Davide Rigon, the Englishman James Calado and the Monegasque Olivier Beretta, already a six time winner at Le Mans and the RAM team’s car for Matt Griffin, Alvaro Parente and Federico Leo. Ferrari is also after the win in the LMGTE Am category, with eleven cars entered, four of them from AF Corse.
Le Mans 24 Hours – Eleven team players and three reserves for Ferrari
Posted: 14.02.2014
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 14 February –Eleven nominated with three reserves. A football team? No, the number of 458 GT2s Ferrari will enter to tackle the 82nd Le Mans 24 Hours, the most prestigious endurance race in the world. In the GTE-Pro class, AF Corse, the reigning world champion team is entering two cars, the first in the hands of champion Gianmaria Bruni and the second for Scuderia test driver, Davide Rigon. Among the drivers who will contest the event with the team from Piacenza will certainly be Toni Vilander, while the others will be announced in the coming weeks. A third Ferrari will be competing in the same class, entered by the team which won the 2013 title in the European Le Mans Series. Ram Racing will field the Irish driver Matt Griffin, who was the ELMS champion last year, when sharing the 458 GT2 with Johnny Mowlem. The latter will be taking part in another car in the GTE-Am class, where a further seven cars are entered. Four of them are from the AF Corse stable and will be driven by Luis Perez Companc, Yannick Mallegol, Peter Mann and Steve Wyatt: the Australian gentleman racer won the right take to take part thanks to taking the GTC class win in the Asian Le Mans Series.
The French Sofrev Asp team, GTR team and driver champions in the 2013 Blancpain Endurance Series, will be taking part with a world champion, albeit a footballer. Fabien Barthez, part of the team that won the FIA World Cup in 19987, will be tackle the 24 Hours after having secured the drivers’ title in last year’s French GT championship teamed with Morgan Moulin-Traffort. SMP Racing will also field a Maranello driver in the shape of Andrea Bertolini, while 8 Star Motorsports, reigning FIA WEC champions, will again be racing with the Venezuelan Vicente Potolicchio. On the bench for the moment are three teams which, along with a further five, contribute their passion for flying the Prancing Horse flag in GT series around the world: JMW Motorsport, Team Taisan (GTE champions in the Asian Le Mans Series 2013) and Risi Competizione.
Simulator work and a factory stroll for Kimi
Posted: 13.02.2014
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 13 February – A second day in Maranello for Raikkonen. For much of the day, Kimi worked on the simulator, recreating the conditions he will experience in the F14 T in Bahrain for next week’s second test of the 2014 season from 19 to 22 February.
During a break, Kimi decided to take a stroll through parts of the factory he hadn’t seen for years, starting with the production line for the 8 and 12 cylinder cars, before visiting the engine assembly area and the styling centre. Kimi has always been interested in the technical side of cars and he had plenty of questions regarding the manufacturing and styling ideas for the Ferraris of the future. The Finn, who won the championship in 2007 with Ferrari, had his photo taken with the employees who gathered around. Apart from the inevitable requests for autographs, he was also exhorted to repeat his 2007 feat!
Kimi – LaFerrari: lift off!
Posted: 12.02.2014
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 12 February – As Stefano Domenicali mentioned this morning in the interview he gave to www.ferrari.com, Kimi Raikkonen is seen more and more often in Maranello, proof that he plans to get even more involved than in the past as he embarks on his second adventure with the Prancing Horse.
Today, Kimi’s schedule involved several meetings with the engineers to prepare the programme for the upcoming test sessions in Bahrain, as well as fine tuning his driving position in the cockpit of the F14 T.
This year’s race car was not the only Ferrari Kimi was keen to see close up and he ended the day having his first drive in a LaFerrari, the road car that represents the very essence of what makes the cars built in Maranello unique in the world. The Finn soon felt comfortable behind the wheel of the supercar, but there wasn’t enough time for him to test its performance on the Fiorano track. That will be for the next time, as Kimi feels ever more at home in Maranello!
Domenicali cautiously confident
Posted: 12.02.2014
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 12 February – “Go quickly but be careful,” was the imprecation from the chancellor Antonio Ferrer to the coachman Pedro as he urged him through a crowd in the famous Italian novel by Alessandro Manzoni, “Promessi Sposi.” The same caution laced with realism and confidence in his team has characterised Stefano Domenicali’s approach to the coming Formula 1 season.
“I am always cautious, not through a fear of saying what I think, but because I am well aware how quickly things change in this sport,” said Scuderia Ferrari’s Team Principal. “In Jerez, we saw the F14 T get off on the right foot, responding well to changes, while the basic data corresponds to the parameters established in the wind tunnel and there were no bad surprises. Clearly there is still much to do because it’s impossible to start with a perfect car in a season featuring so many changes. The start of the championship will be full of unknown quantities and it is far too early to make any sort of prediction. I think we will start to understand a bit more only at the last Bahrain test. My optimism is based on the fact we know which areas need working on: caution is always a good approach, but that doesn’t mean the people working on this project lack the commitment or the will to show our competitors how well we can do things at Ferrari.
“I have to say that what pleased me the most was the attitude of the team,” continued Domenicali. “Everyone is united in tackling the problems and in trying to resolve them, aware that the challenge ahead is both demanding and exciting.”
Since last September, a lot has been said about the Ferrari driver pairing for 2014, which for the first time since 1953, sees two world champions sharing the same red garage. “It was a rational choice, based on the need to have an expert driver pairing, with the one aim of it doing well for Ferrari. I hope the track will show that it was the right choice,” explained Domenicali. “How will we manage them? Decisions are always carefully considered, but they always have the same aim, which is that the sporting decisions are taken to reach the team’s goals, as the interest of the team always comes before all else. Decisions we have taken in the past have always been reached in this spirit.
“I have found a more mature Kimi, more closely knit to the team. He comes to Maranello almost every week to work with the engineers,” added Domenicali. “He knows his worth and he knows what team he has returned to and what challenges he will face, having a world champion like Alonso alongside him for whom he has respect and he will have to adapt to working with him. Fernando is extremely intelligent and has managed to stay ahead in whatever car he has driven. He has an ability to interpret the race and to read it in an amazing way and I think he will make the most of the new regulations, which will require some stages of the race to be managed in a different way. We feel close to him partly because it was such a long time ago that we decided to invest in him.”
2014 is a year of major change for Formula 1 from the technical point of view with the introduction of a brand new type of power train. After the first test in Jerez de la Frontera, influential voices expressed concern for the immediate future of the sport and Domenicali answers them with his usual realism: “In this situation, it’s best not to rush to draw any conclusions, and play into the hands of those scaremongers, as a propensity for self-destruction serves no purpose. Every time there are changes, there are discussions, which is natural. We have only had one test so far when there were never more than four or five cars on track at the same time. Let’s wait until we see all 22 together before saying that everything’s gone wrong. Once a path has been chosen, one has to move forward in a constructive manner. If after a certain period of time we see that an element of excitement is really missing, such as engine noise, then we can see how best to react. Personally, I don’t think this aspect will keep people away from the racetracks. We should be more concerned with the Grand Prix event as a whole and we need to find a strategy to attract youngsters to our sport, which today has a hardcore of fans aged between 35 and 50. We need to get back to having the car seen as an inspirational theme and not just as a means of transport, which adds nothing to our existence. At Ferrari we want to put a lot of effort into this aspect, as shown with initiatives such as getting the public to name the Formula 1 car, or the on-line photo competition, “snap your passion,” which will see four winners come with us to the final test in Bahrain, an initiative that has attracted a lot of attention, especially with youngsters.”
Ferrari California T to be unveiled at Geneva:
Elegance, sportiness and technology
Posted: 12.02.2014
Source: Ferrari
New V8: intense sound and vivid acceleration across the rev range for the first time from a turbo-charged engine
Torque up by 49% and fuel consumption down 15%
Maranello, 12th February 2014 – The Ferrari California T epitomises elegance, sportiness, versatility and exclusivity: characteristics that have distinguished every California model since the 1950s.
The California T boasts striking standards of innovation while retaining signature features such as the successful 2+ concept, a refined cabin and, of course, the retractable hard top (RHT) which transforms it from a chic coupé into a sleekly sophisticated spider in a mere 14 seconds.
The model brims with a host of new solutions, not least of which is its 8-cylinder turbo engine. Maranello’s engineers have created an entirely new power unit which delivers absolutely superb levels of performance, blistering pick-up and the most exhilarating soundtrack any turbo has ever yielded.
This is also the first time virtually zero turbo lag has been achieved on an engine of this type, guaranteeing instantaneous response to commands and, as with naturally-aspirated power units, a torque curve that increases constantly across the rev range thanks to Variable Boost Management.
The direct-injection, 3855 cc turbo 8-cylinder is mounted very low in the chassis in a mid-front position and delivers 560 cv at 7500 rpm, which translates into a specific power output of 145 cv/l – the highest in its category – as along with maximum torque of 755 Nm. Figures that give the California T extraordinary acceleration over the 0 to 100 km/h sprint which it covers in just 3.6 seconds.
As in Formula 1 this season, a turbo is used to cut fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Compared to the outgoing model, fuel consumption is down by around 15 per cent* despite 70 cv more power and a 49 per cent increase in torque. Emissions are down to 250 g/km over the combined cycle which equates to a 20 per cent reduction in the CO2/cv ratio (0.44 g/cv). The California T’s engine also benefits from several other solutions used on the single-seater, not least compact, very low inertia twin-scroll turbines to ensure ultra-sharp throttle response. The Scuderia’s methodologies and plant are also used for certain phases of its production, particularly at the casting stage.
One major challenge involved in the design of the California T was to guarantee it a typically intense, exhilarating Ferrari engine sound. This was achieved through meticulous design work and the use of special manufacturing techniques for essential components, such as the flat-plane crankshaft and the three-piece cast exhaust manifold and turbo housing. The engine produces a powerful, engaging sound during both the intake and exhaust phases, becoming even more potent as engine speed increases. This the first time a result of this kind has ever been achieved with a turbo engine.
The California T delivers true sports car dynamics too, thanks to reduced steering wheel activity and improved steering response to driver input, courtesy of a new steering box and suspension set-up. New springs and latest-generation Magnaride dampers (which respond 50 per cent faster), combined with body motion accelerometers, reduce roll and pitch for more precise handling whilst still guaranteeing an incredibly comfortable ride.
The California T also has the latest evolution of the F1-Trac traction control system for maximum acceleration out of corners, thereby underscoring the sportier side of its personality.
The California T’s architecture, controls and new 8-cylinder engine ensure consistently intense driving pleasure in challenging driving conditions as well as making the car fun to drive even in more relaxed situations, very much in the Grand Tourer tradition.
The CCM3 carbon-ceramic braking system is also extremely efficient with new composite discs and pads. The brakes are integrated with the ESP 8.0 premium which controls the high performance ABS for a short 100 to 0 km/h braking distance of just 34 metres.
Considerable attention was paid to the design, maintaining the outgoing model’s overvall dimensions while ensuring that the California T has a new, individual personality. The sleek proportions were penned by the Ferrari Styling Centre in collaboration with Pininfarina and are very much in keeping with the Ferrari front-engined ethos. The shape of the California T’s flanks is inspired by the 250 Testa Rossa’s famous pontoon-fender styling, with the front wing line stretching back towards the compact, muscular rear, bringing an aerodynamic sleekness and movement to the sides. The rear benefits from meticulous aerodynamic research resulting in a new triple-fence diffuser.
The California T’s cabin was designed to be as ergonomic as possible and exudes a sense of warmth and craftsmanship, with luxurious Frau semi-aniline leather trim. The interior space is flexible so that owners can make the most efficient use of the boot capacity even with the top down, thanks to the opening between the luggage compartment and rear seats.
The human-machine interface encompasses the Ferrari steering wheel with integrated controls while the Turbo Performance Engineer (TPE) takes pride of place between the two air vents in the centre of the dash. The TPE display boasts a capacitive (touch-sensitive) surround to scroll through screens with information on making the most of the new engine’s performance. The California T also features a new infotainment system with an extremely intuitive, high-resolution 6.5” screen featuring both touch-screen and conventional controls.
The California T will be unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show in March, but from today can be admired online at www.ferrari.com in its two launch colours: Rosso California, an intense, deep new red inspired by classic Ferraris, and Blu California, which underscores the versatility and elegance of this new model.
*The consumption cut is calculated on a driving cycle that realistically reproduces a clients’ use of the car
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE
Type direct-injection 90° V8
Total displacement 3,855 cc
Maximum power * 412 kW (560 cv) at 7500 rpm
Maximum torque * 755 Nm (77 kgm) at 4750 rpm
DIMENSIONS ANDWEIGHT
Length 4570 mm
Width 1910 mm
Height 1322 mm
Dry weight** 1625 kg
Weight distribution 47% front – 53% rear
PERFORMANCE
Top speed 316 km/h
0-100 km/h 3.6 s
FUEL CONSUMPTION***
10.5 l/100 km
C02 EMISSIONS ***
250 g/km
* With 98 octane fuel
** With lightweight optional equipment
*** Combined cycle (ECE+EUDC) with HELE system
Ferrari California T: elegance, sportiness and versatility
Posted: 12.02.2014
Source: Ferrari
It makes its official world debut at Geneva in March but Ferrari’s new mid-front-engined 8-cylinder berlinetta with retractable hard top, the California T will also be unveiled today on the web. It boasts a brand-new 560 CV turbo engine which, thanks to the talents of Maranello’s engineers, has a torque curve that increases constantly across the rev range and delivers a soundtrack of an intensity never before achieved by a turbo.
Versatile and sporty, the California T delivers maximum torque of 755 Nm (+49%) combined with fuel consumption that has been slashed by 15%. The much-loved 2+ concept is retained as is the modular nature of the car’s cabin. However, the design itself has been radically revised with classically-inspired influences, such as the 250 Testa Rossa’s famous pontoon-fender styling, introduced.
Applause on the web too for California T
Posted: 14.02.2014
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 14 February – The latest arrival from Maranello, the California T, has had a very warm welcome. That’s not just from the specialists and the usual media, but above all it’s from the general public who have been on-line, hunting for the first photos of the car on the pages of www.ferrari.com. Over 50,000 visited the part of the site dedicated to the new V8, with a spike of over four times the usual daily average making a total of over 200,000 page hits. No surprises when it came to the countries that showed the most interest: first is the USA, followed by Italy and Great Britain. Exotic curios? What about the person who clicked on the link from the island of Guam or the surfer in Lesotho…
Around 20% of the traffic on the California T site was generated by the Prancing Horse’s presence on social media. The hashtag #californiat took just two days to go over the 6.6 million mark on Twitter, while the company’s Facebook page doubled its average weekly audience. Very significant is the fact that 30% of the 200,000 plus views of the video dedicated to the preview came from China’s social network Weibo, confirming the popularity of the mark in this part of the world, which is now the second largest Ferrari market.
Successful debut for California T in Dubai
Posted: 27.03.2014
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 27 March – Great success for the launch of the Ferrari California T at the Dubai International Financial Centre, in the United Arab Emirates. The new Maranello V8 turbo has all the characteristics of elegance, sportiness, versatility and exclusivity that marked the extraordinary cars with this name in the history of Ferrari from the 50s until today. The car has immediately fascinated all the guests and most of them has asked to be portrayed next to the last born in Maranello. The California T in Dubai has also been linked to “My Dubai”. The initiative, launched by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, has summoned some well-known artists to reinterpret the concept of car on canvas. The public has also been invited to share pictures of their visit on Twitter via the hashtag #FerrariCaliforniaTDubai.
Germany celebrates the Première of the Ferrari California T in Frankfurt
Posted: 07.04.2014
Source: Ferrari
Wiesbaden, April 7 – On Friday 400 enthusiastic guests from all over Germany celebrated the latest model from Maranello, the Ferrari California T, at the national premiere in the heart of Frankfurt. Amidst the skyscrapers of the local financial institutions, the California T was presented in a special ambience that fascinated everyone present.
“Germany is the most important market in Europe for Ferrari, not only in terms of sales figures and history, but above all because of the clients – true sports car enthusiasts with very high expectations – who are very loyal to our brand,” said Francesco Bianchi, Head of the Europe, Middle East and Africa Region of Ferrari S.p.A in his opening speech.
The new Ferrari California T is the epitome of elegance, sportiness, versatility and exclusivity – characteristics that marked each California model since the 1950s. The new 3855 cc 8-cylinder turbocharged direct-injection engine produces 560 hp at 7500 rpm a maximum torque of 750 Nm at 4750 rpm. With 49 % more torque and 15 % lower consumption*, the California T is a perfect combination of performance and efficiency. The sprint from 0-100 km/h is accomplished in 3.6 seconds with no turbo lag and with the typical Ferrari engine sound. Its steering is more precise and the ride even more dynamic, guaranteeing maximum driving pleasure in all driving situations.
The new California can be ordered from the official German dealer network now at a list price of € 183,499 €.
* The reduction in consumption is calculated on a driving cycle that realistically reproduces a clients’ use of the car
The Ferrari California T makes its French première at the Grand Palais
Posted: 07.04.2014
Source: Ferrari
Paris, 7th April 2014 – What better setting than the Grand Palais in Paris for the California T, Ferrari’s latest creation, to make its debut on French soil? The new Grand Tourer from Maranello was a magnet for the over 200 journalists who attended the premiere this afternoon on the opening day of the Tour Auto Optic 2000 rally.
The California T was to be the star attraction at a gala cocktail in the evening for over four hundred guests who thus had the opportunity see this superb example of elegance, sportiness, versatility and exclusivity for themselves.
After this traditional rendez vous in the Grand Palais, the first leg of the Tour Auto will get under way on Tuesday morning for a five-day rally (over 4 circuits and 9 stages on closed roads), with the journey coming to an end in Marseille on Saturday the 12th of April. Ferrari will be posting regular updates on the event on its web sites and social media pages.
California T debut in 2014 Beijing Motor show
Posted: 20.04.2014
Source: Ferrari
Greater China premiere for the revolutionary V8 turbo engine
3 initiatives for the Year of Horse in China
Beijing, 20 April 2014 – Ferrari comes to the 2014 Beijing International Motor Show with a unique combination of sportiness, exclusivity and versatility in the form of the elegantly-designed and highly innovative new California T.
Shortly after this March’s world premiere in Geneva, the California T is now introduced into the Greater China region, which is now Ferrari’s second largest market worldwide. Mr. Amedeo Felisa, CEO of Ferrari attends the press conference. Together with Mr. Enrico Galliera, Ferrari Senior Vice President for Commercial and Marketing and Mr. Edwin Fenech, Ferrari Greater China President & CEO unveil this extraordinary model under the spot light in Beijing.
The California T continues a long and glorious Prancing Horse tradition begun in the 1950s, and boasts singular levels of innovation, most notably in its turbocharged V8, a completely new power unit that, in a world first, successfully combines the performance, torque and sound of a conventional Ferrari engine, with the additional benefit of the fuel efficiency afforded by turbocharging.
The new mid-front 8-cylinder car is exceptionally practical, thanks to its retractable hard top (RHT) and the signature 2+ concept which provides additional versatility for using the cabin.
A seamless blend of sportiness and elegance, the California T is powered by a direct-injection 3,855cc V8 turbo engine that punches out a massive 560 cv at 7,500 rpm, yielding a specific power output of 145 cv/l, the highest in its category, as well as maximum torque of 755 Nm in 7th gear. Figures that allow the California T sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds and deliver extraordinary acceleration – even in higher gears – and excellent fuel efficiency.
For the first time on an engine using this technology, turbo lag has been virtually eliminated by reducing inertia and adopting an F1-derived flat-plane crankshaft in addition to innovative twin-scroll turbines. Increasingly powerful pick-up is guaranteed by proprietary Variable Boost Management software which adjusts torque delivery to suit the gear selected, thereby also cutting fuel consumption.
As was the case in Formula 1, turbocharging was adopted out of a need to boost efficiency. Compared to the previous California, in fact, fuel consumption has been cut by 15 per cent* despite an increase of 70 cv in power output and a jump of 49 per cent in maximum torque in seventh gear. Emissions have been cut to 250 g/km on the combined cycle and by 20 per cent in the CO2/horsepower ratio (0.44 g/km/cv). As a direct consequence, the car’s range has been extended by 15 per cent.
Thanks to meticulous design and sophisticated production techniques adopted for essential components such as the flat-plane crankshaft and the three-piece cast exhaust manifold and turbo housing, the California T’s engine produces an enthrallingly powerful sound that becomes even more impressive as revs increase. This is a completely unprecedented achievement for a turbo engine.
The California T boasts true sports car dynamics too, thanks to reduced steering wheel activity and improved steering wheel response courtesy of a new steering box and new suspension set-up. New springs and latest-generation Magnaride dampers (now more than 50 per cent faster) combined with body motion accelerometers reduce roll and pitch to deliver more precise handling whilst still guaranteeing an incredibly comfortable ride.
Alongside the California T is the rest of Ferrari fleet echoing Different Ferraris for different Ferraristi philosophy. FF, the revolutionary 4-wheel-driven Grand Tourer, 458 Spider and 458 Speciale V8 twins and F12berlinetta, the most powerful V12 Ferrari (unlimited edition) is strikingly lined up on the booth with the prancing horse glory.
3 initiatives for the Year of Horse in China
2014 is the year of the Horse, following the unveiling of the dedicated year of prancing horse logo to share the legendary brand spirit in Chinese cultural way, Ferrari China has a series of initiatives to celebrate this special year, including a new tailor made centre and Ferrari Academy will be opened in Shanghai, and the continuous efforts for Million Tree project since 2012, to echo the prancing horse’s social responsibility in the Chinese local communities.
Ferrari Academy, the only professional training centre outside Maranello, is set to offer the most extensive training program for Ferrari staffs and mechanics in Greater China, emphasising Ferrari’s full commitment to providing best products and service to the customers in China
A brand new Tailor Made centre will be opened in Shanghai within this year, which will be the only Tailor Made Centre in Greater China. Each Ferrari is unique, Tailor Made is a highly innovative personalization programme allowing the client to tailor its own Ferrari according to his or her own preferences in terms of colours, materials and finishing. 3 unique collections include CLASSICA, SCUDERIA, INEDITA, representing tradition, performance and innovation respectively. Inside this new tailor made showroom, exclusive owners, enthusiasts and the media is able to have a better understating of the concept of exclusivity from Ferrari.
Furthermore, Ferrari will keep collaborating with Dr. Jane Goodall’s non-profit organization to continue the Million Tree project to neutralize its carbon footprint in China. Ferrari is the first luxury automobile brand in Greater China that offset carbon by planting trees. Each tree donated by Ferrari offsets 250kg of CO2 in its lifetime and will re-anchor sandy soil that has been lost to decades of erosion in Inner Mongolia. These measures have offset all the operating carbon emissions of the prancing horse brand, including car manufacturing, transporting from Italy to China, and the owners to drive for the year in China.
*The consumption reduction is calculated over a typical, real-life route.
Double debut for Ferrari at the Beijing Motor Show
Posted: 20.04.2014
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 20 April – Double debut at the Beijing Motor Show for Ferrari that, in a crowded press conference, unveiled his celebrative logo for China’s Year of the Horse and his new Ferrari California T, the new car made in Maranello that immediately monopolised the experts’ attention.
The crowds flocking to the event also got their first glimpse of the new logo created by Ferrari to celebrate the Year of the Horse in the Chinese horoscope, which interpreting the Chinese belief of success with Ferrari’s successful heritage.
The logo takes the shape of a traditional Imperial seal featuring the Prancing Horse with an inscription on the side that translates as “May the Year of the Horse will bring success”. The logo combines time-honored Chinese traditions in text, calligraphy, and seal-cutting, and is cut in the form of a stamp and dipped in Ferrari red, nicely fitting the dignity of prancing horse.
The new logo is also to be seen on the stand at Beijing and flanks the most important debut of the event, that of the new Ferrari California T, making its first appearance in the Greater China area. Needless to remark, the car instantly attracted a huge crowd of visitors as well as capturing the attention of the media, making it the real star of the Chinese show. The car has 70 hp more than the previous California and a turbo V8 engine that guarantees a reduction of 15% in fuel consumption. In the Ferrari stand visitors are able to see the entire production and among these cars the most admired is the 458 Speciale, also a new model for Greater China market, that captured attention of media and visitors for his sportiness and performances.
Ferrari California T most beautiful sportscar in China
Posted: 23.04.2014
Source: Ferrari
Beijing, April 23 – As one of the most important automobile prize in China, “2014 The Most Beautiful Automobile Award China” organized by Car and Driver Magazine was held in Beijing. Now in its 7th year in China, the award is honoured as “Oscar of Automobile”.
The award of “The Most Beautiful Sports Car” of the year went to the California T. The unique combination of sportiness, exclusivity and versatility in the form of the elegantly-designed and highly innovative new California T outdistanced from other sports and luxury competitors as well as got most of judging panel’s applause.
Ferrari California T – UK Premier at Somerset House
Posted: 25.04.2014
Source: Ferrari
London, 25 April – The exciting new Ferrari California T made its UK premiere at an exclusive VIP event at Somerset House on the banks of the River Thames in London last night, with over 400 Ferrari clients, media and celebrities in attendance for the unveiling of the new car.
The Ferrari California T was the undoubted star of the show, with its elegant new design that echoes the “pontoon-fendered” 250 Testa Rossa of the late 1950s, as well as its powerful new twin-turbo V8 engine and revised driving dynamics that promise to make the California T the most exciting and fun-to-drive coupe-convertible in the luxury segment. With the latest generation CCM brakes, F1-traction control system and a remarkable 560hp engine, the California T remains a thoroughbred Ferrari which continues to attract new clients to the Prancing Horse.
The Ferrari California T offers a truly versatile ownership experience, with a 2+ seating configuration, a 340-litre luggage capacity and a 15% improvement in real-world fuel economy and range for that perfect long-distance Grand Tour.
Francesco Balli, Regional Manager for Ferrari North Europe, commented: “We are delighted to introduce the California T to our clients here at this fantastic venue in the heart of London. The new design features and innovative technology introduced on the California T means that we are sure this car will be very well received by our clients and fans here in the UK.”
Like all Ferrari models, the Ferrari California T features a 4-year warranty and 7 year’s Ferrari Genuine Maintenance programme for ultimate peace of mind and ease of ownership.
The Ferrari California T will make its dynamic debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed between 27-29 June 2014.
| Route | Brescia – Rome – Brescia |
| Date | 03. – 04.05.1952 |
| Lpas | 1 |
| Distance | Approx. 1.564,000 km / 972,032 miles |
| Time | 12 hours, 09 minutes, 45 seconds |
| Route | Brescia – Rome – Brescia |
| Date | 27.04. – 28.04.1951 |
| Laps | 1 |
| Distance | Approx. 1564,000 km / 972,032 miles |
| Time | 12 hours, 50 minutes, 18 seconds |
Surtees turns 80 – Montezemolo: “A dear friend and an extraordinary champion”
Posted: 11.02.2014
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 11 February – Reaching the age of eighty is a wonderful landmark, as are the many and great landmarks first achieved by John Surtees in his time as a racer on two and four wheels. “First of all, he was an extraordinary motorcycle champion before doing the same in motor sport, taking a fantastic Formula 1 World Championship crown with us in 1964,” President Luca di Montezemolo told www.ferrari.com. “He is a dear friend to me and he has always maintained an excellent relationship with our company. On behalf of the entire Ferrari family, I send John all the very best wishes for his birthday!” Apart from winning the championship and four Formula 1 Grands Prix, there were other important victories with the Scuderia racing sports prototypes: two wins in the Nurburgring 1000 Kilometres (1963 and 1965) and one in the 1963 Sebring 12 Hours and the Monza 1000 Kilometres. Today, we dedicate a special photo gallery to John, as well as showing a video shot the last time he was in Maranello, on 29 June 2011, when he met up again with his mechanic from that triumphant 1964 championship, Giulio Borsari, as well as having a long chat with Fernando Alonso, a moment which brought together Scuderia Ferrari past and present.
The Scuderia’s new home takes shape before one’s eyes
Posted: 10.02.2014
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 10 February –Just over a year ago, excavation work began between the Cavallino restaurant and the area which currently houses the Formula 1 team. 13 months on from Stefano Domenicali marking the start of the earth moving operation, Scuderia Ferrari’s new home is already in an advanced stage of construction, as can be seen in the photo gallery. Once excavation was completed, work progressed at a great rate. In July the digging stopped and the work of preparing the ground and laying the foundations began. Work went on all the time, even during the August break when all the debris was removed. September saw the first level of cement go down and the scaffolding go up so that the external walls could be built. A month of hard work meant that by the end of October a first perimeter of the building could be seen, while the load bearing pillars of the structure were also in place.
In November, the first parts of the framework were covered in cement to form the first rough walls of the new building and at the end of the month, the floor of the basement was completed. On 13th December, with work continuing under floodlights, the perimeter walls of the structure were all erected. The penultimate day of 2013 saw the steel pillars of the upper floors going up and by the end of January many more pillars were in place and one could being to get an idea of the framework of the whole structure. Work will end in the summer and that will mean the completion of one of the most interesting architectural projects of recent years, built on the criteria of functionality, efficiency and style that characterize the Formula Uomo programme, aimed at creating a working environment that best suits the needs of those who work there.
| Circuit | Zhuhai |
| Date | 03.11.1996 |
| Laps | 149 |
| Distance | 643,68 km / 400,05 miles |
| No | Driver | Ferrari | S/N | Team | Result |
| 27 | Anders Olofsson Luciano della Noce Max Angelelli |
F 40 LM GTE | 90001 | Ennea | 8. |
| 28 | Jean-Marc Gounon Paul Belmondo Eric Bernard |
F 40 LM GTE | 82404 | Ennea | 2. |
| 113 | Peter Worm Tony Ring Ian Ross Geekie |
F 355 | Corona Team |
20. |