Sebastian Vettel in Maranello
Posted: 15.01.2015
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 15 January – Today, at the request of Team Principal Maurizio Arrivabene, Sebastian Vettel came to Maranello to visit the Gestione Sportiva. The purpose of the tour was to allow the four times World Champion to visit all the departments and to get better acquainted with everyone he will be working with this season.
Ferrari Official Dealer CORNES MOTORS inaugurates Grand Opening of the new personalization space “CORNES Aoyama”
Posted: 15.01.2015
Source: Ferrari
The very first space dedicated to Ferrari personalization service in Japan in the premium location of Aoyama, Tokyo
Tokyo, January 15th 2015 – CORNES Motors ltd. inaugurates the Grand Opening of CORNES Aoyama, the very first space dedicated to Ferrari personalization service in Aoyama in the premium location of Aoyama in Tokyo, Japan.
The new space consisting two floors is located along the national route 246 where appearance of the beautifully modern building gives off the presence reflecting the latest Ferrari Corporate Identity.
Designed to reflect the excellent customer services available with highest level of personalization offered by Ferrari, the new space offers a car exhibit area on the first floor with the latest Ferrari personalised model on display, attracting the eyes of passer-by of the busy Aoyama street. The newest Tailor Made FF in Yachting theme was displayed especially for the Grand Opening.
The second floor features a dedicated personalization space which is the heart of the Ferrari craftsmanship experience and the beautiful customer lounge constituting yet another state of the art Ferrari atmosphere, which optimizes the experience for Ferrari owners to ensure perfect service and attention in all respects.
Reno De Paoli, the Managing Director of Ferrari Japan commented, ‘Every Ferrari is unique. CORNES Aoyama is an excellent opportunity for our customers to experience our extensive personalization program in the most personable setting’.
Yasuhito Sarumaru, CORNES Motors Ltd. President commented ‘We are thrilled to open the second official Ferrari space in Tokyo, and the seventh location as CORNES Motors in Japan today . With our motto “Always offer best service as our standard” in mind, we would like our customers to further enjoy their exciting experience and time of purchasing a Ferrari’.
CORNES Motors Ltd. started Ferrari business in Japan as a sole official importer in 1976, and today manages Ferrari showrooms as Official Dealer in key location of Japan including Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. CORNES Motors has also recently inaugurated the official opening of the Ferrari body shop in September 2014 in Yokohama, Japan.
Ferrari extends its official presence in India
Posted: 13.01.2015
Source: Ferrari
Two new dealerships in New Delhi and in Mumbai
Maranello, 13 January 2015 – Ferrari has announced the appointment of two new dealers in to extend its official presence in India, a strategic market for the company.
Ferrari enjoys a passionate and enthusiastic following in India and is firmly committed to providing a class-leading sales and after-sales service in the country.
To underline that commitment, Ferrari has appointed a new dedicated sales and service centre, Select Motors Pvt. Ltd, situated at A 19 Mohan Co-operative Industrial Estate, Mathura Road in New Delhi where there is already an established client base, and added a Mumbai dealership, Navnit Motors Pvt. Ltd. at C Wing, Waterford Bldg, C D Burfiwala Road (Juhu Galli), Andheri (W), Mumbai 400058, to engage new and existing owners in Western India.
Ferrari, furthermore, has taken the opportunity of writing to all its clients individually to inform them of the new structure in this important market.
Sculptor Barry x Ball visits Ferrari
Posted: 12.01.2015
Source: Ferrari
A creative encounter with Ferrari’s Design division
Maranello, 12 January 2015 – A few days ago Ferrari welcomed renowned American sculptor Barry X Ball to its Maranello headquarters. The purpose of Ball’s visit was to explore the similarities in his approach to sculpture and Ferrari’s way of designing cars. In addition to touring the Ferrari factory, Ball spent some time in the design and modelling studios, discussing the creation process with Flavio Manzoni, Senior Vice President of Design.
Ball’s work, which fuses digital modelling with physical creation, has been exhibited in leading contemporary art museums and galleries around the globe including the Museum of Arts and Design, Ca’ Rezzonico in conjunction with la Biennale di Venezia, PS 1 Contemporary Art Center, and the Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume, to name just a few.
“Many of the same approaches that I use to make ‘art’ in a more pure sense are shared by Flavio Manzoni and his team as they create applied art.” Ball observed following his visit. He was also struck by the Ferrari Dino he saw in Ferrari’s Classiche (classic car) workshop. It brought back memories of his childhood, when at the age of 10 or 11 in Palm Springs, California, he witnessed his first Ferrari “in the flesh” and was amazed by its fluid lines, an event that that he recalls as the start of his education in experiencing things physically.
| Circuit | Daytona International Speedway |
| Date | 24. – 25.01.2015 |
| Laps | 740 |
| Distance | 4.238,750 km / 2.634,400 miles |
| No | Driver | Ferrari | S/N | Team | Result |
|
49
|
Pasin Lathouras Michele Rugolo Rui Aguas Matt Griffin |
458 Italia GT3
|
F 142 GT xxxx
|
AF Corse
|
18. overall / 4. in class GTD
|
| 51 | Francois Perrodo Emmanuel Collard Gianmaria Bruni Toni Vilander |
458 Italia GT2 | F 142 GT xxxx | AF Corse |
48. overall / 10. in class GTLM / retired |
| 62 | Pierre Kaffer Davide Rigon Giancarlo Fisichella Olivier Beretta |
458 Italia GT2 | F 142 GT xxxx | Risi Competizione | 44. overall / 9. in class GTLM / retired |
| 63 | Bill Sweedler Townsend Bell Antonio Lazzaro Jeff Segal Jeff Westphal |
458 Italia GT3 | F 142 GT xxxx | Scuderia Corsa | 20. overall / 6. in class GTD / retired |
|
64
|
Francisco Longo Daniel Serra Marcos Gomez Andrea Bertolini |
458 Italia GT2 | F 142 GT xxxx | Scuderia Corsa | 34. overall / 14. in class GTD / retired |
United SportsCar Championship – Ferrari Takes Lead of Patron North American Endurance Cup at Daytona
Posted: 25.01.2015
Source: Ferrari
Daytona Beach, 25 January – The five Ferrari 458 Italias entered in the 24 Hours at Daytona demonstrated the speed and competitiveness of the car in two classes. Both the two Ferraris in the GT-LeMans class and the three in the GT-Daytona class led their classes during the race, challenging for the lead from the drop of the green flag on Saturday afternoon.
Ferrari has demonstrated its competitiveness at Daytona throughout the race’s history, with eleven class victories including last year’s victory with the 458 Italia. On the strength of the performance throughout the 24 hours, Ferrari leads the Patron North American Endurance Cup manufacturer standings.
The best finishing of the Ferrari in this year’s race was the no. 49 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia driven by Pasin Lathouras, Michele Rugolo, Rui Aguas and Matt Griffin which finished in fourth position in GT-Daytona.
Sixth in GT-Daytona was the no. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia of Bill Sweedler, Townsend Bell, Anthony Lazzaro and Jeff Segal. The sister car, the no. 64 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia of Daniel Serra, Francisco Longo, Marcos Gomes and Andrea Bertolini retired after an incident during the morning. While running fourth, Longo encountered oil left on the circuit by another car, leading to the incident. Both Scuderia Corsa Ferraris led the GT-Daytona field throughout the race.
In the GT-LeMans class, both Ferraris also led the field before being forced to retire. Both the no. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia of Giancarlo Fisichella, Pierre Kaffer, Davide Rigon and Olivier Beretta and the no. 51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia of François Perrodo, Gianmaria Bruni, Toni Vilander, and Emmanuel Collard retired from the race during the night time hours.
The next round of the United SportsCar Championship will be the Twelve Hours of Sebring, held on March 21 at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida.
United SportsCar Championship – Eighteenth Hour Report
Posted: 25.01.2015
Source: Ferrari
Daytona Beach, 25 January – Daybreak at Daytona saw the pair of Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italias battling for the lead of the GT-Daytona class.
GT-Daytona
With six hours remaining in the 24 Hours at Daytona, Jeff Segal was behind the wheel of the no. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia in second position in GT-D, while Marcos Gomes was in fourth position in the no. 64 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia. The Scuderia Corsa Ferraris are two of the four cars on the lead lap in GT-D. The two cars had enjoyed trouble-free runs during the overnight hours with both taking turns at the lead of the class. Andrea Bertolini enjoyed a stint at the front of the class in the no. 64 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia, while both Townsend Bell and Bill Sweedler also led the class during the night. After taking maximum points at the six-hour and twelve-hour points, Ferrari leads the GT-Daytona manufacturer standings in the Patron North American Endurance Cup. The drivers of the no. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia are currently second in the NAEC driver’s championship.
GT-LeMans
Both of the Ferrari’s entered in the GT-LeMans class, the no. 51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia and the no. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia, retired during the night. The final hours of the Rolex 24 at Daytona will be shown on FOX Sports 1 from 7:00 AM – 2:30 PM ET
United SportsCar Championship – Eleven Hour Report
Posted: 25.01.2015
Source: Ferrari
Daytona Beach, 25 January – As the 24 Hours at Daytona neared its halfway point, the Ferrari challenge for the lead of the GT-Daytona class continued while the Ferrari challenge in the GT-LeMans class came to an end while leading the race.
GT-LeMans
A furious battle in GT-LeMans witnessed Giancarlo Fisichella and Pierre Kaffer steer the no. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia to the lead of the class. However, while leading shortly after midnight, Kaffer pitted the Ferrari for an unscheduled stop before the car was taken behind the wall. The other Ferrari entered in the class, the no. 51 AF Corse Ferrari 458, was retired from the race after an incident in the race’s eighth hour.
GT-Daytona
In the GT-Daytona class, the pair of Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italias remained a threat for the class victory. After their car went down a lap earlier in the race, Andrea Bertolini and and Marcos Gomes drove the no. 64 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia back on the lead lap and into contention for the race. Just past 1:00 AM ET, Gomes was leading the GT-Daytona class.
In second position was the no. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari. Bill Sweedler, Anthony Lazzaro and Jeff Segal kept their Ferrari well within the top-five throughout the night time hours.
Based on the running order at the six-hour mark, Ferrari leads the GT Daytona manufacturer standings in the Patron North American Endurance Cup.
The 24 Hours at Daytona will be streamed live on IMSA.com until 7:00 AM ET. The final hours will be shown on FOX Sports 1 from 7:00 AM – 2:30 PM ET.
United SportsCar Championship – Six Hour Report
Posted: 24.01.2015
Source: Ferrari
Daytona Beach, 24 January 24 – It was Ferraris to the front during the opening hours of the 24 Hours at Daytona. Each of the five Ferrari 458 Italias in the race took a turn at the front of their respective class during the first six hours of the 24-hour contest.
GT-LeMans
The opening stages of the race saw the no. 51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 with Gianmaria Bruni behind the wheel take the lead in the GT-LeMans class. After rebounding from an incident caused by contact with a prototype, the no. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia took a turn at the front of the field. Giancarlo Fisichella battled throughout his stint with several other GT-LeMans class cars.
GT-Daytona
At the same time, Daniel Serra drove the no. 64 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia to the lead in the GT-Daytona class. As the race transitioned from day to night time, the no. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia and the no. 49 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia both led the GT-Daytona class – at one point battling for the lead of the race. Driven by Townsend Bell, Bill Sweedler, Anthony Lazzaro and Jeff Segal, the no. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia was firmly established as the GT-Daytona leader through the sixth hour of the race.
The 24 Hours at Daytona broadcast will continue on FOX Sports 1 at 8:00 PM ET, and will be streamed live on IMSA.com from 10:00 PM – 7:00 AM ET. The final hours will be shown on FOX Sports 1 on Sunday, January 25 from 7:00 AM – 2:30 PM ET.
United SportsCar Championship – First row for Ferrari’s “Gimmi” Bruni
Posted: 22.01.2015
Source: Ferrari
Daytona Beach, 22 January – A strong qualifying performance by Gianmaria Bruni will see a Ferrari on the front row of the GT-LeMans class in Saturday’s 24 Hours at Daytona.
Ferrari’s most recent victory at the 24 Hours came in a thrilling finish in 2014, which was the marque’s tenth victory in the famous endurance classic. This year, two Ferraris are in contention for victory in GT-LeMans while three are in contention in the GT-Daytona class.
Bruni’s lap of 1:43.830 during Thursday afternoon’s qualifying session put the no. 51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia in second position in the competitive GT-LeMans class. Bruni will share the car with Emmanuel Collard, Francois Perrodo and Toni Vilander in the 24 Hours at Daytona.
Just a tenth of a second behind was the no. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 458. The car, which was qualified by Pierre Kaffer, who will be joined by former Scuderia Ferrari driver Giancarlo Fisichella, Olivier Beretta and Davide Rigon, will start Saturday’s race in sixth position.
With Daniel Serra at the wheel, the no. 64 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia led the three Ferraris in the GT-Daytona class. His time of 1:47.805 put the car in fifth position in the 18 car field. Serra will share the car with Francisco Luongo, Marcos Gomes and Andrea Bertolini.
Scuderia Corsa’s other Ferrari, the no. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia, was qualified in tenth position by Townsend Bell. The car will feature the all-American lineup of Bell, Bill Sweedler, Jeff Segal and Anthony Lazzaro. Bell, Segal and Sweedler co-drive the winning GT-D Ferrari in last year’s 24 Hours.
In 13th position was the no. 49 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia that was qualified by Matt Griffin which will also be driven by Pasin Lathouras, Michele Rugolo and Rui Aguas.
The 24 Hours at Daytona broadcast will begin at 2:00 PM ET on Saturday, January 24 on FOX, will move to at 4:00 PM ET on FOX Sports 2, and then to 8:00 PM ET on FOX Sports 1. The race will be streamed live on IMSA.com from 10:00 PM – 7:00 AM ET, with the final hours shown on FOX Sports 1 on Sunday, January 25 from 7:00 AM – 2:30 PM ET.
United SportsCar Championship – Five Ferraris Chasing Victory at Daytona
Posted: 21.01.2015
Source: Ferrari
Daytona Beach, 21 January – Last season’s Daytona 24Hours saw one of the most dramatic finishes in the history of the race as a Ferrari 458 Italia scored the marque’s eleventh victory at the legendary endurance classic. This year, five Ferrari 458 Italias are taking the green flag on the banks of Daytona for the first round of the 2015 United SportsCar Championship. Ferrari history runs deep at Daytona International Speedway, with some of its most famous models – including the 250 GTO, 330 P4, Daytona, 333SP and 458 Italia – having visited victory lane.
GT-Le Mans. In the GT-Le Mans class, two legendary Ferrari teams and a wealth of GT driver talent will seek the marque’s first GT-Le Mans victory at Daytona. Risi Competizione’s famous no. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia will be driven by former Scuderia Ferrari driver Giancarlo Fisichella and Pierre Kaffer throughout the season, and will be joined by Olivier Beretta and Davide Rigon in Daytona. Making its first appearance at Daytona will be the Italian AF Corse team. The no. 51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia will feature the driver lineup of Gianmaria Bruni, Emmanuel Collard, Francois Perrodo and Toni Vilander.
GT-Daytona. In the GT-Daytona class, Grand-Am championship winning team Scuderia Corsa returns with a new driver lineup. Townsend Bell and Bill Sweedler, who will drive the no. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia throughout the USCC season, will be joined by Anthony Lazzaro and Jeff Segal to form an all-American lineup. Bell, Segal and Sweedler were part of the lineup that was victorious at Daytona last year in a Ferrari 458 Italia, while Bell and Sweedler went on to win the 2014 North American Endurance Cup in GT-Daytona class. A second Scuderia Corsa Ferrari will be draped in the colors of the Brazilian flag. The no. 64 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia will be driven by Brazilians Francisco Longo, Marcos Gomes and Brazlian StockCar star Daniel Serra. Italian Andrea Bertolini will round out the lineup. The third Ferrari in the class, the no. 49 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia, will be driven by Rui Aguas, Matt Griffin, Pasin Lathouras and Michele Rugolo.
Ferrari Challenge and schedule. The Ferrari Challenge series will also begin its season at Daytona, with the first race scheduled on Friday, January 23 and the second on Saturday January 24. The Daytona 24 Hours broadcast will begin at 2:00 PM ET on Saturday, January 24 on FOX, will move to at 4:00 PM ET on FOX Sports 2, and then to 8:00 PM ET on FOX Sports 1. The race will be streamed live on IMSA.com from 10:00 PM – 7:00 AM ET, with the final hours shown on FOX Sports 1 on Sunday, January 25 from 7:00 AM – 2:30 PM ET.
United SportsCar Championship – Ferrari an eleven time winner at Daytona
Posted: 16.01.2015
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 16 January –The Daytona 24 Hours is a motor sport classic and this year it celebrates its 53rd running, even if it’s only the 48th time it has run over 24 hours. Ferrari’s name has been etched on the winner’s trophy eleven times, with two outright victories and nine class wins.
Formation finish. The most famous of these victories came in 1967, with Ferrari securing a clean sweep of the top three places. Lorenzo Bandini and Chris Amon won in the factory 330 P3/4, ahead of the factory 330 P4 of Mike Parkes and Ludovico Scarfiotti and the 412 P entered by the North American Racing Team (NART) crewed by Pedro Rodriguez and Jean Guichet. It was an unforgettable victory, following on from the previous year when, for the very first time it ran for 24 hours and the win in the up to 3 litre Sports car class went to the 250 GTO driven by Jack Slottag, who was teamed up with Larry Perkins. In 1968, a 250 LM won the Sport category: it was entered by Raceco-Miami for John Gunn, Guillermo Ortega and Fausto Merello. The following year, victory in the up to 5 litre GT class went to the NART 275 GTB/C of Sam Posey and the American – rather than the more famous Mexican – Ricardo Rodriguez.
The Seventies. NART’s winning ways in the Prototype class continued for two more years with the 312 P: in 1970 the win went to Sam Posey and Mike Parkes, and one year later it was the turn of Nestor Garcia-Veiga, Alain De Cadenet and Luigi Chinetti Jr. The American team came second in 1973 with the 365 GTB/4 thanks to François Migault and Milt Minter, a result that was good enough to claim the win in the over 2 litre GT category. The same car won again two years later with John Woodrer and Fred Phillips and in 1979, thanks to Modena Sports Cars and John Morton and Tony Adamowicz.
The 1998 masterstroke. The Prancing Horse marque had a barren time in the United States in the Eighties, but in the mid-Nineties, it built an amazing car, the 333 SP “barchetta.” The car, entered by the Doran/Moretti Racing team took the overall win for Maranello 31 years on from the memorable formation finish victory. The drivers who did the job were Giampiero Moretti, Mauro Baldi, Arie Luyendyk and Didier Theys. A further 16 years passed before the next victory, last year in fact, this time in the GT-Daytona category, courtesy of the Level 5 Motorsport 458 Italia, crewed by Townsend Bell, Bill Sweedler, Jeff Segal and Alessandro Pier Guidi.
The other wins. Ferrari has won a further 12 times at Daytona, in races not run over 24 hours. Particularly noteworthy among these was victory in the 1963 3 Hours, courtesy of Pedro Rodriguez in the NART 250 GTO, with the Mexican doing it again the following year in the 2000 km, paired on this occasion with Phil Hill. There was also an unforgettable triumph for Mario Andretti and Jacky Ickx in the 1972 6 Hours, in the factory 312 PB.
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United SportsCar Championship – Daytona free practice: already a close fought battle
Posted: 12.01.2015
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 12 January –The first weekend of free practice has just taken place for the Daytona 24 Hours, the opening round of the United SportsCar Championship (USCC) and the North American Endurance Cup. Eight sessions were held, but only the earlier ones were run in good enough weather to produce relevant times. Rain meant that crews spent a long time in the garages. There were five Ferraris from three teams taking part in two categories.
GTLM Class. Fastest was the Porsche driven by Germany’s Jorg Bergmeister, New Zealnder Earl Bamber and France’s Frederic Makowiecki with a 1.44.316. The Ferrari crew made up of Pierre Kaffer and Davide Rigon, who will be joined later on by Giancarlo Fisichella and Olivier Beretta, were just three tenths down in 1.44.618. The other Ferrari, entered by AF Corse for Finland’s Toni VIlander, the reigning WEC champion and French drivers Francois Perrodo and Emmanuel Collard, was ninth. Their best time was a 1.44.841, half a second off the fastest.
GTD class. the GT-Daytona class, it’s equally close, with 13 cars all within the same second. Fastest in free practice was the Riley Motorsports Dodge crew of Dutchman Jeroen Bleekemolen and the Americans, Ben Keating and Al Carter, the only ones to get under the 1 minute 47 second barrier, with a 1.46.948. The highest place Ferrari was 11th, it being the AF Corse 49 car, in the hands of Thai driver Pasin Lathouras, Italy’s Michele Rugolo and Portugal’s Rui Aguas, who posted a 1.47.740, eight tenths off the leader.
Also within a second of the best time was the Scuderia Corsa number 64 458 Italia, in the hands of Brazilians Francisco Longo, Daniel Serra and the American Martin Fuentes. They were 12th with a 1.47.901. 16th in 1.48.156 were team-mates Anthony Lazzaro, Bill Sweedler, Townsend Bell and Jeff Segal in the 63 car, the latter three having won the race last year. Quickest overall was the Chevrolet of Americans Jordan and Ricky Taylor and Italy’s Max Angelelli.
| Circuit | Dubai Autodrome |
| Date | 09.01. – 10.01.2015 |
| Laps | 604 |
| Distance | 3.260,996 km / 2.026,722 miles |
| No | Driver | Ferrari | S/N | Team | Result |
|
4
|
Jiri Pisarik Jaromir Jirik Matteo Malucelli Peter Kox |
458 Italia GT3
|
F 142 GT xxxx
|
Scuderia Praha
|
6. overall / 4. in class A6-Pro
|
| 15 | Andrey Birzhin Alexandrovich Rino Mastronardi Dimitri Deverikos Gabriele Lancieri Isaac Tutumlu Lopez |
458 Italia GT3 | F 142 GT xxxx | Glorax Racing |
did not start |
| 88 | Mohammed Jawa Jordan Grogor Matt Griffin Rob Barff |
458 Italia GT3 | F 142 GT xxxx | Dragon Racing 1 |
3. overall / 1. in class A6-Am |
Dubai 24 Hours – Dragon Racing’s 458 Italia secures first win of 2015
Posted: 10.01.2015
Source: Ferrari
Dubai, 10 January –Ferrari’s 2015 season has got off to the best possible start. The first race of the year, the Dubai 24 Hours, which ended today at the Emirati track, concluded with a win, courtesy of Dragon Racing and its number 88 458 Italia GT3. It took victory in the A6 Am class, driven by Saudi Mohammed Jawa, South Africa’s Jordan Gregor, British driver Rob Barff and the hard charging Irishman Matt Griffin. The quartet totally dominated proceedings, finishing a massive distance ahead of the number 23 Nissan, crewed by Florian Strauss, Ricardo Sanchez, Ahmed bin Khanen and Gaetan Paletou. Third was the 99 Porsche of Attempto Racing, driven by Arkim Aka, Andreas Lihem, Bernd Kleinbach, Philipp Wlazik and Bill Barazetti. The Dragon Racing car came home third overall and was never challenged, also setting the race fastest lap.
Just off the podium. Unfortunately, in the AC Pro class, the Scuderia Praha 458 Italia GT3 just missed out on a podium. Having started from the back of the grid because of a problem during qualifying, the number 4 car crewed by Matteo Malucelli, Peter Kox, Jiri Pisarik and Jaromis Jirik, gradually moved up the order, even getting as high as third at one point. They finished fourth, behind the two Mercedes of the Black Falcon team, which won outright with Abdoulaziz Al Faisal, Hubert Haupt, Yelmer Buurman and Oliver Webb and the RAM Racing car, while the Aston Martin of KPM Racing 1 was third.
Unlucky. The best placed 458 Italia on the grid, the number 15 car entered by Glorax Racing, didn’t even make the start. The car was involved in an accident before the start, with STP Racing’s 62 Porsche. It was a great disappointment for Per Andrey Alexandrovich, Rino Mastronardi, Gabriele Lancieri, Dimitri Deverikos and Isaac Tutumlu. The Dubai 24 Hours is part of the 24H Series championship, which will be back in action at the start of March when it’s time for the Mugello 12 Hours.
Dubai 24 Hours – Three Ferraris on track for the first race of the year
Posted: 08.01.2015
Source: Ferrari
Dubai, 8 January –It’s already time to get back on track in the world of endurance racing. Tomorrow and Saturday sees the Dubai 24 Hours taking place, with 90 cars on track in the various categories. They include three Ferrari 458 GT3, which could do very well even though they’re not right at the front after qualifying.
Qualifying. The Glorax Racing number 15 car will start from 11th on the grid, with five drivers on the roster: Russia’s Andrey Alexandrovich, the Italians Rino Mastronardi and Gabriele Lancieri (2008 Italian GT champion), Greece’s Dimitri Deverikos and the Spaniard Isaac Tutumlu, the latter two being the 2013 Spanish GT champions. The car is at the back of group that’s crammed into just 2 seconds.
Dragon Racing’s 458 number 88 will start from 15th on the grid crewed by the Saudi Mohammed Jawa, South Africa’s Jordan Grogor, British driver Rob Barff and the impressive Irishman Matt Griffin, the 2013 European Le Mans Series champion in the RAM Racing Ferrari. It was a difficult qualifying however, for the Scuderia Praha number 4 car, which has to start from the back after failing to post a valid time. At the wheel are Italy’s Matteo Malucelli, the expert Dutch driver Peter Kox and the Czechs Jiri Pisarik and Jaromis Jirik. Pole position went to the Fach Auto Tech Porsche crewed by the Germans Otto Klohs, Jens Richter, Sven Muller and the Austrian Martin Ragginger. The race starts at 14h00 (11h00 CET.)
Previously. In the past in Dubai, Ferrari has won eight times, the first dating back to 2004 courtesy of Matteo Bobbi and Gabriele Gardel in the BMS Scuderia Italia 550 Maranello. The following year, Gardel won with Pedro Lamy in a similar car run by Larbre Competition. In 2008, the class win went to the Khaleji Motorsports 458 GT3 with the American John Sinders, the Saudi, Karim Ojjeh and the Britons Joe Macari, Rob Wilson and Adrian Newey, the English engineer enjoying a very different job to usual. In 2012, there were five wins thanks to Rob Barff and South Africa’s Leon Price at the wheel of the AUH Motorsports 458, however these were all local races.
Ferraris make $23.5 million at auction
Posted: 20.01.2015
Source: Ferrari
Stunning 1959 250 GT California Spider sells for 7.7 million
Maranello, 20 January – Sales at the recent Gooding & Company auction in Scottsdale exceeded all expectations with the 17 Ferraris on the block fetching a total of 23.5 million dollars, over 17 million of which was paid for just five extraordinary cars. The lion’s share, in fact, went to the 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider, one of only 50 ever built, which went under the hammer for the first time in 1969. The car, Chassis no. 1425 GT, sold for 7.7 million dollars at Scottsdale.
Four gems. An incredibly rare 400 Superamerica Series I Coupé Aerodinamico also went for 4.07 million dollars. Built in 1962, it was one of just seven of its kind and had been meticulously restored in line with its original specifications, earning it Ferrari Classiche Division certification. The third highest sale price was achieved by a 1968 330 GTS, one of just 99 to leave Maranello, which changed hands for 2.42 million dollars. One of a production run of 350 of a milestone model in super sports car evolution, a 1963 250 GT Lusso fetched 1.9 million dollars, while a 1966 275 GTS went for 1.6 million (barely 200 were built).
The other cars. The remaining 12 Prancing Horse cars to go under the hammer in Fashion Square, Scottsdale made a total of 6 million dollars. They included, most notably, a 1967 330 GTC which sold for 907,000 dollars, a 1973 365 GTB/4 Daytona, a model that won the legendary American race no less than three times, went for just under 700,000 dollars, while the 1990 641/2 Formula 1 single-seater made almost a million dollars. The latter, in fact, was the car driven by English driver Nigel Mansell in the second half of the season and in which he won the controversial Portuguese Grand Prix as well as making it to the podium in Spain and Australia. A real jewel in the Ferrari F1 crown.
Sold for 9.4 million dollars, a 1966 275 GTB
Posted: 16.01.2015
Source: Ferrari
he Ferrari that won Le Mans in 1967 is the star attraction at the Scottsdale auction
Maranello, 16 January
It was expected to attract the top bid and it didn’t disappoint: the 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB, chassis number 09079, changed hands for 9.4 million dollars in an evening auction in Scottsdale. The car that won the 1967 Le Mans 24 Hours in the colours of Scuderia Filipinetti was the 11th of 12 cars built.
Five other Ferraris went under the hammer at the same auction, for a total value of over two million dollars. Worthy of note, a 1969 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta, which went for 748,000 dollars. The others auctioned were a Dino 246 GT (385,000 dollars,) a 1982 512 BBi (375,000 dollars,) a 1984 512 BBi (324,500 dollars) and a 1990 Testarossa (250,800 dollars.)
The myth of the auction room
Posted: 02.01.2015
Source: Ferrari
Who will be the lucky new owner of the 1967 Le Mans winner?
Maranello, 2th January 2015 – The new year begins with a celebration of the past. On January 15th, the most eagerly-awaited car at the Bonhams sales in Scottsdale goes under the hammer. It is, of course, the 11th 275 GTB Competizione of just 12 built by Maranello in 1966. Built specifically for the great GT races of the day, it was given a lighter chassis than the traditional 275, larger double fuel tanks and a new engine factory-modified to deliver in excess of 300 hp.
Glorious competition history. Chassis no. 09079 was sold to the well-known Swiss team owner Georges Filipinetti who entered it in the 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans under his own colours. The 275 GTB Competizione dominated the GT class from the very earliest stages, eventually winning in the hands of the Swiss duo Dieter Spörry and Gianwirco Steinemann. Two years later, it took another hugely prestigious victory at the Spa-Francorchamps 1,000 km which was also part of the International Championship for Makes. Once again, the car was driven by an all-Swiss team: Jacques Rey and Edgar Berney with Claude Haldi as the reserve driver. The latter duo also won the Imola 500km the same year ahead at the end of a magnificent sparring match with a couple of Porsches.
Second career. Once its racing career ended, the car changed hands several times, eventually being restored in the late 1980s. The work was carried out in line with the original construction specifications and was so meticulous it earned authenticity certification from the Ferrari Classiche division in Maranello. The 275 GTB Competizione has also taken honours at the Concours d’Elegance at Pebble Beach in California. Its latest outing on American soil was as one of the 60 Ferraris that gathered on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills to celebrate the Prancing Horse’s 60th anniversary in North America. It is expected to fetch an eight-figure sum at Scottsdale.
A LaFerrari for Lady Cornelia
Posted: 02.01.2015
Source: Ferrari
An encounter with an artist and the car closest to her heart
Maranello, 2th January 2015 – Cornelia Hagmann is an Austrian-born painter and sculptor that has made Switzerland her home for many years. Her wonderfully rich paintings are mostly of landscapes sumptuous with greenery and flowers. She does, however, have a second great passion: for Ferrari. This enduring fascination was sparked by her late husband, Walter Hagmann, a Swiss businessman and leading Ferrari collector, who unfortunately passed away a little over a year ago before the delivery of the magnificent Rosso Corsa LaFerrari he had ordered as a gift for his wife. In an interview with The Ferrari Official Magazine, Cornelia talks not just about her art but also her love of speed and the Prancing Horse. Plus, of course, her LaFerrari: “It’s a real work of art: I could spend hours just staring at it….” This video features a few moments from the photo shoot that accompanies the interview.