Ferrari Challenge North America – Excellence and Talent on the High Banks
Posted: 30.01.2016
Source: Ferrari
Daytona Beach, 30 January 2016 – The drivers truly proved their talents and strategy in the second race of the weekend at Daytona International Speedway. From brilliant sportsmanship, strong competition and true excellence in racing, the 35-minute race was a delight for all the spectators in the colored grandstands and infield of the newly renovated circuit facility.
Trofeo Pirelli. Results from yesterday’s qualifications would determine the 36-driver starting grid. Ricardo Perez (Ferrari of Houston), who was the polesitter in Race 2, led the race for all 17 laps and marked the fastest lap at 1:49:128. But he wasn’t alone. A fierce battle for the top five positions in the Trofeo Pirelli class continued behind him between Emmanuel Anassis (Ferrari Quebec), Gregory Romanelli (The Collection), Martin Fuentes (Ferrari of Beverly Hills), and Carlos Kauffman (Ferrari of Ft. Lauderdale). It went three wide at the start of the race in Turn 1 between Fuentes, Anassis and Romanelli, bringing the Ferraristi to their feet. Although all passed smoothly, Fuentes lost his second place position to Anassis within Lap 2. From there on out, the drivers battled one another for a podium finish. Behind Perez, Anassis finished in second place and Fuentes in third.
Trofeo Pirelli AM. James Weiland (Boardwalk Ferrari) had a successful early start, finding himself racing against the Trofeo Pirelli drivers for the first half of the race. However, yesterday’s winner, Steve Johnson (Ferrari Ft. Lauderdale) wouldn’t let him out of sight, edging Weiland to his limits. And on several attempts, Wei Lu (Ferrari of Vancouver) tried to sneak in on the attack for a top three finish but unfortunately entered Turn 1 from the straightaway with too much force, losing him a chance for the podium. Johnson would stand on top of the podium steps again, with Weiland on his left and Arthur Romanelli (The Collection) on his right.
Coppa Shell. Guest driver from the Ferrari Challenge European series, Rick Lovat (Ferrari of Ontario) found his success at Daytona today. Beginning in twentieth position, Lovat elevated his standing to twelfth overall and first in his class. And returning from tight competition at last year’s Finali Mondiali in Mugello, Barry Zekelman (Ferrari of Ontario) maintained his ground against Chris Cagnazzi (Ferrari of Long Island) who continued at his tail. From the high speed push in the straightaway to the exit into the banking at Turn 6, both drivers seemed to compete in a race of their own. Both would finish strong in second (Zekelman) and third (Cagnazzi) in their Coppa Shell class.
The next round of the North American season finds itself in the heart of California Wine Country at Sonoma Raceway April 8-10.
Ferrari Challenge North America – Anassis, Johnson, and Courtney Victorious in Daytona
Posted: 29.01.2016
Source: Ferrari
Daytona Beach, 29 January 2016 – After two days of driving under heavy rain and slick conditions, the deep azure Florida skies welcomed the drivers of the Ferrari Challenge to Daytona International Speedway for the first round of racing in the 2016 season. The 3.56-mile road course, recognized for its steep banks, saw much action in the first race of the weekend. Although many drivers proved their talent on track from high speeds to overtaking in the corners, the caution flag flew three times during the 30-minute race.
Trofeo Pirelli. The action during the day’s race remained at the front of the field among Emmanuel Anassis (Ferrari Quebec), Gregory Romanelli (The Collection), Ricardo Perez (Ferrari of Houston), and Martin Fuentes (Ferrari of Beverly Hills). With some of the fastest times marked, the seasoned drivers in the Trofeo Pirelli class were able to cleared out of Turn 1 went the race went green. However, veteran driver Carlos Kauffman (Ferrari of Ft. Lauderdale) was not so lucky, hitting the barrier at Turn 6 in the first lap. This caused the first full-course caution of the race. Romanelli clocked the fastest time with a lap of 1:49:875. Anassis finished at the top of the podium steps in first place, Romanelli in second, and Perez in third.
Trofeo Pirelli AM. Newcomers to the series found the greatest success today in the Trofeo Pirelli AM class. Steve Johnson (Ferrari of Ft. Lauderdale), who started third in his class at the start, battles his way thru the field to finish in first place. Newcomers Caesar Bacarella (Ferrari of Long Island) and Lance Willsey (Ferrari of Central Florida) had the greatest success of all. Both raced for their first time as Ferrari Challenge drivers, and although rookies in the series, stood second and third on the podium steps. Marc Muzzo (Ferrari of Ontario) nearly saw his chance for a win, but with correct alignment and quick adjustments, Bacarella and Willsey bypassed the traffic in the midfield.
Coppa Shell. Veteran driver Joe Courtney (Miller Motor Cars) was unstoppable today. From his exits out of turns and the speeds clocked alongside the straightaways, his success followed him straight to first position in his class. His biggest contender remained with Jean-Claude Saada (Boardwalk Ferrari) throughout the race. Ultimately, Saada finished second and Rodney Randall (Miller Motor Cars) came in third. Race 2 will precede the 24 Hours at Daytona at 9:45 AM EST (3:45 PM GMT) with the classic endurance going green 2:10 PM EST (8:10 PM GMT).
Ferrari Challenge North America – The 2016 Season Opener
Posted: 28.01.2016
Source: Ferrari
Daytona Beach, 28 January 2016 – Defined as one of the the world’s most renowned raceways, Daytona International Speedway retains quite a history within Ferrari’s racing endeavors. With 21 victories at this circuit, the Prancing Horse marque welcomes its return to the 3.56-mile road course for the 24 Hours and Ferrari Challenge season opener. This year, 37 drivers representing four different countries will take to the high banks in two races prior to the GT endurance race which features the new 488 GTE for the first time. Although the drivers ran three successful practice sessions under some slick conditions, the qualifying session this afternoon was cancelled due to inclement weather. Therefore, the starting grid positions reflect the 2015 final point standings.
Trofeo Pirelli. Making his return as the newly crowned 2015 North American Ferrari Challenge champion, Emmanuel Anassis (Ferrari Quebec) is looking forward to start his 6th season with the series driving the 458 Challenge EVO. Finishing with 254 points in 2015, Anassis saw his most successful year as a Challenge driver. However, he’ll find some fierce competition with the rest of the Trofeo Pirelli field. Gregory Romanelli (The Collection), who finished second in the North American championship, will follow behind Anassis in the starting grid for tomorrow’s race, alongside Wei Lu (Ferrari of Vancouver) and a few other additional familiar faces, including 2014 North American champion Ricardo Perez (Ferrari of Houston), Henrik Hedman (Ferrari of Ft. Lauderdale) and Carlos Kauffman (Ferrari of Ft. Lauderdale).
Trofeo Pirelli AM. James Weiland (Boardwalk Ferrari), Marc Muzzo (Ferrari of Ontario), Arthur Romanelli (The Collection), Patrice Brisebois (Ferrari Quebec), Steve Johnson (Ferrari of Ft. Lauderdale), and Brent Lawrence (Ferrari of Newport Beach) will make their return for another consecutive season in the Ferrari Challenge. However, they will test their potential this season against some new and returning drivers in Trofeo Pirelli AM.
Coppa Shell. Although the top contenders — Jean-Claude Saada (Boardwalk Ferrari, Joe Courtney (Miller Motor Cars), Chris Cagnazzi (Ferrari of Long Island), Dan O’Neal (Ferrari of Ft. Lauderdale) – will start in the the front of their class field in tomorrow’s race, the North American Ferrari Challenge sees its biggest field of newcomers in Coppa Shell. Ten rookies will race for the first time this weekend in the 458 Challenge EVO. These drivers have participated in several of Ferrari’s Corso Pilota programs, escalated their skill level to the top with the Challenge portion of the course. Testing in Daytona earlier this month, the newcomers had their first taste of the circuit’s elevated banks in Turns 1 and 4, as well as the high-speed straightaway.
The program. Follow all the action as Race 1 of the weekend goes green tomorrow at 12:00 PM EST (6:00 PM GMT). Saturday will feature Race 2 of the Ferrari Challenge at 9:45 AM EST (3:45 PM GMT) preceding the 24 Hours, which begins at 2:10 PM EST (8:10 PM GMT). Stay up to speed on Twitter and Instagram at @FerrariUSA and follow the conversation at #FerrariGTRacing.
Bonhams Grand Palais Sale Paris – 04.02.2016
Posted: 25.01.2016
Source: Bonhams
Event Information:
| Times: | Viewing: 03 Feb 2016 09:00 – 20:30 CET 04 Feb 2016 09:30 – 14:00 CET The Official Sale: 4 Feb 2016, starting at 10:30 CET with lot 1. |
| Location: | Paris, The Grand Palais, 4, rue de la Paix, 75002 Paris |
| Website: | Bonhams Grand Palais Sale 2016 |
Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais – 04.02.2016
Posted: 25.01.2016
Source: Bonhams
Bonhams returns to Paris for the annual Grand Palais Sale on 4 February 2016, led by the magnificent 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB, estimated at €2,500,000-3,500,000 and offered without reserve.
Developed by marque founder, Enzo Ferrari, the 275 GTB is considered a masterpiece of motor car design. Boasting a V12, 300 bhp engine, it was the successor to the 250 series, spearheaded by the legendary 250 GTO (currently the most valuable motor car sold at auction, following Bonhams $38,115,000 sale of a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO), leading it to be met with great applause when it was introduced at the 1964 Paris Autosalon.
Sleek, muscular, and expertly proportioned, the front-engined, two-door Berlinetta is from the second series of the model’s production, which introduced the longer nosed variant, making it rarer, more aerodynamic, and considerably prettier. Chassis 8973 is one of the ultra desirable ‘torque tube’ models, featuring Pininfarina designed Scaglietti coachwork, complete with matching numbers and continuous history.
Further highlights from the Ferrari stable include a 1990 Ferrari F40 Berlinetta, estimated at €950,000-1,100,000. The F40 was the last model ever approved by founding father, Enzo Ferrari, and when it was launched, it was the most powerful model ever built by the marque – the perfect finale to Enzo Ferrari’s legacy.
Philip Kantor, Bonhams European Head of Motoring, said: “Bonhams Grand Palais Sale returns with more than 150 rare and exciting lots of collectors’ motor cars, motorcycles and automobilia. With several rare and special cars already consigned, we expect another incredible sale at the magnificent Grand Palais.”
Elsewhere, a spectacular 2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Coupé is offered, estimated at €1,800,000-2,000,000. When Mercedes-Benz first unveiled its CLK GTR in 1998, it sold for an astonishing $1.5 million, making it the most expensive production car ever, a figure only recently exceeded by the Ferrari FXX. Supplied new to Switzerland, chassis number ’23’ has covered a mere 3,285km, making one of the rarest and most desirable Mercedes-Benz models of modern times in effectively ‘as new’ condition.
Further early consignments to the Grand Palais Sale include a Porsche Carrera GT, estimated at €800,000-1,000,000, a highly original 1975 Lancia Stratos HF Stradale, estimated at €350,000-450,000, a 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 Speedster with less than 950km from new, estimated at €250,000-350,000, and an ultra rare original left hand drive 1964 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III Drophead Coupé, estimated at €380,000-540,000.
The first F60 America consigned
Posted: 25.01.2016 / Source: Ferrari
The hand-over at the Palm Beach Cavallino Classic
Palm Beach, 25th January – The first F60 America was delivered this weekend to the delight of a discerning crowd of Ferrari collectors and enthusiasts during the 25th annual Palm Beach Cavallino Classic.
This strictly limited-edition car, which was produced to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of Ferrari in America, is the first of just ten to be delivered nationwide. The car pays homage to American clients’ great passion for both the V12 engine and open-top driving. The F60 America’s bodywork adopts the classic North American Racing Team livery, and the special Ferrari 60th Anniversary Prancing Horse badge on the wheelarches appears on the tunnel in the cockpit.
This beautiful example in Blu Nart livery – Bianco Italia looked instantly at home under the azure Florida sky.
Ferrari Celebrates 60 Years In The USA With A Gala In Beverly Hills
Posted: 11.10.2014 / Source: Ferrari
Beverly Hills, 11 October – Ferrari celebrated its 60th anniversary in the USA with a lineup of musical performances, a thrilling auction, limited-edition car reveal, and a boisterous spectacle of fireworks behind a scenic Beverly Hills backdrop.
The Beverly Hills City Hall was bathed in rosso Ferrari with the emblem of the Prancing Horse displayed in grandeur on the building’s façade. Mayor Lili Bosse opened the evening with a proclamation declaring the commencement of the festivities for Ferrari’s 60th anniversary in Beverly Hills. The event was presided by John Elkann, Chairman of FCA, Sergio Marchionne, CEO of FCA and Chairman of Ferrari, Amedeo Felisa, CEO of Ferrari, and Piero Ferrari, Vice Chairman of Ferrari.
Auctioneer David Gooding brought the guests to their feet as he auctioned the first of 499 examples of the newest 458 Speciale A. The car sold for $900,000 with proceeds benefitting “Daybreak,” the American branch of the Italian charity whose mission for nearly 25 years has been to advance research towards a cure for rare genetic diseases.
The 458 Speciale A wasn’t the only Prancing Horse on display. In honor of the Ferrari’s era in the USA, the limited-edition F60 America was unveiled to private guests of the black-tie event.
The evening commenced with a star-studded lineup of musical performances, including Italian conductor Carlo Ponti Jr. leading the Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra, renowned violinist Caroline Campbell and Grammy-award winner Mary J. Blige. Notable guests were actress Megan Fox, TV presenter Mario Lopez, polo player Nacho Figueras and wife Delfina Blaquier, entrepreneur Robert Herjavec, director Michael Mann, and racecar drivers Derek Hill and Dan Gurney.
A lavish display of fireworks concluded the evening’s celebration.
The festivities continue tomorrow with an exhibition of 60 of the most iconic Ferraris ever created on the famed Rodeo Drive. Highlights of the Ferraris to be displayed include the Ferrari 308 GTS (“Magnum, P.I”), Testarossa (“Miami Vice”), and Steve McQueen’s Ferrari 275 GTB/4, the 2014 Pebble Beach “Best of Show” winner 375 MM, and the newest limited-edition F60 America.
Celebrating with the F60America
Posted: 10.10.2014
Source: Ferrari
A new Ferrari to commemorate 60 years in America
Maranello, October 10th 2014. To celebrate Ferrari’s 60th year in North America, Maranello has returned to its 1950s and 60s tradition of producing strictly limited edition, built-to-order cars. The result is the F60America, of which just 10 will be produced. The new car combines our American clients’ two great passions – the V12 engine and open-top driving – and is being unveiled tomorrow evening at an anniversary celebration gala dinner at Beverly Hills City Hall.
The powerful and innovative mid-front-mounted V12 and specific gear ratios underscore the F60America’s wonderfully sporty character. The F60America’s personality is instantly clear from its flanks which are characterised by an innovative diapason design theme.
The front of the car is dominated by the classic Ferrari single front grille with chrome finish and integrated air intakes for the brakes.
The cabin’s asymmetrical design highlights the driver’s area with sporty red trim, while the passenger side is black, inspired by the historic Ferrari competition cars. The cabin trim is exclusive with the dash, tunnel and door panels on the driver’s side all swathed in composite materials. The racing seats also feature a stylised American flag motif on the centre of each seat and backrest.
The F60America’s bodywork adopts the classic North American Racing Team livery, and the special Ferrari 60th anniversary Prancing Horse badge on the wheelarches also appears on the tunnel in the cabin.
The wonderfully elegant and unique F60America has entranced US collectors and all 10 examples are already spoken for.
Good to know
| Chassis numbers (S/N , VIN) |
ZFF85BHA3G0215090 ZFF85BHA5G0215091 ZFF85BHA7G0215092 ZFF85BHA9G0215093 ZFF85BHA4G0215096 ZFF85BHAXG0215099 ZFF85BHA0G0215094 ZFF85BHA2G0215095 ZFF85BHA6G0215097 ZFF85BHA8G0215098 |
Paul Ricard Test – 134 laps for Sebastian
Posted: 26.01.2016
Source: Ferrari
The Pirelli test ends with a “marathon”
Le Castellet, 26 January – With nine planned runs completed today, the Pirelli test drew to a close. It was an opportunity to fire up the engines after a two month break, courtesy of a special test to look at 2016 wet weather tyres. The distances planned for today’s running were much bigger than yesterday, with longer runs to evaluate the behaviour of the prototype tyres in variable track conditions.
In the closing stages, Sebastian Vettel set the fastest time, with a 1.06.750, running intermediate tyres. “It’s always useful to drive a car,” commented the German at the end of the day. “It was fun, even if, with a lot of different prototype tyres, you may get different results, without knowing which tyres we are testing, or if they are going to be used in the future or not. You can have a rough idea which tyres you test and how the tyres were last year, but it’s not clear what’s going to happen with the tyres after this, even if for sure there are some results, but it’s too early to say. It was dryer than yesterday, as they put less water on the track, but they provided us with very consistent conditions.” Sebastian completed a total of 134 laps today, equivalent to around 473 km.
PIRELLI COMPLETES THE FIRST TEST OF THE SEASON AT PAUL RICARD TO DEVELOP THE 2016-SPECIFICATION FULL WET TYRE”
Posted: 26.01.2016
Source: Pirelli
A TOTAL OF MORE THAN 650 LAPS AND 2300 KILOMETRES ARE COVERED BY FIVE DRIVERS FROM FERRARI, RED BULL AND MCLAREN
THE TEST RESULTS WILL NOW BE ANALYSED AT PIRELLI HQ IN MILAN OVER THE COMING DAYS
Le Castellet, January 26, 2016 – Pirelli’s two-day wet tyre test, held at the state-of-the-art Paul Ricard circuit in the south of France, concluded today at 4pm – with the specific aim of developing the latest generation of full wet tyres.
Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull were present at the test, having accepted Pirelli’s invitation to all the teams to take part.
The Paul Ricard circuit’s sophisticated variable sprinkler system allowed Pirelli to test with different amounts of water on the track, in order to simulate a wide range of wet conditions. This meant that the drivers could try a number of full wet tyre prototypes, with different compounds and constructions compared to the existing 2015 Cinturato Blue.
As this was a ‘blind test’ the prototypes did not carry any colour markings on the sidewalls, and the teams and drivers did not know which specification of tyres they were testing. All the cars ran in unaltered 2015 specification.
The test and development programme was completed within two full days at Paul Ricard, with 659 laps of a short circuit configuration run by the five drivers involved, totalling 2326 kilometres.
Temperatures remained consistently low throughout both days of the test, peaking at 11 degrees centigrade. Although these were not ideally representative conditions, a wide range of data was collected that will subsequently be analysed at Pirelli’s headquarters in Milan.
McLaren’s Stoffel Vandoorne was the only driver to drive during both days, while Ferrari ran Kimi Raikkonen on Monday and Sebastian Vettel on Tuesday. Red Bull tested with Daniel Ricciardo on day one and Daniil Kvyat on day two.
These were the quickest times set over the course of the two days:
Vettel (Ferrari) 1.06″750 (134 laps)
Kvyat (Red Bull) 1.06″833 (113)
Vandoorne (McLaren) 1.07″758 (87 + 127)
Ricciardo (Red Bull) 1.08″713 (99)
Raikkonen (Ferrari) 1.09″637 (99)
The development programme will now continue back at base, when Pirelli will compare each team’s telemetry with its own data, in order to obtain a full picture of every prototype’s performance.
The next outing will be the first pre-season test of the year at Barcelona in Spain on February 22-25.
Paul Ricard Test – Vettel takes over at the wheel
Posted: 26.01.2016
Source: Ferrari
Final day of Pirelli wet tyre testing
Le Castellet, 26 January –Testing continues at the Paul Ricard circuit, chosen by Pirelli for a session given over to wet tyre development for the coming season.
After Kimi Raikkonen provided the data yesterday, this morning it was Sebastian Vettel’s turn to slip into the cockpit of the SF15-T at the French circuit, using the short 3.530 km version, which was artificially watered. A change in the Red Bull camp too, where Daniil Kvyat took over from Daniel Ricciardo, while at McLaren, Stoffel Vandoorne is driving for a second day. There are more runs planned today- ten in total – and Vettel has already completed over 80 laps.
Paul Ricard Test – “A very useful session”
Posted: 25.01.2016
Source: Ferrari
Kimi pleased at the end of his Pirelli wet tyre test
Le Castellet, 25 January – Scuderia Ferrari stopped work with over an hour to go to the track closure at the end of the first day of wet weather tyre testing, organised by Pirelli at the Paul Ricard circuit. Kimi Raikkonen completed 99 laps at the wheel of an SF15-T, working his way through all the sets made available by the Italian supplier. “It was like a normal day of testing,” commented the Finn at the end of the session. “I think it’s too early to say much about these prototype tyres, but it was a very useful session, because everyone was running under the same conditions. It’s been a while since we’ve driven and, even if it was just one day, there’s always something you can learn from it.” Tomorrow, the Scuderia will be back on track, with Sebastian Vettel at the wheel for the second and final day of the test.
Paul Ricard Test – Focus on wet weather tyres
Posted: 25.01.2016
Source: Ferrari
Pirelli test gets underway at Paul Ricard with three teams
Le Castellet, 25 January – It’s hardly a taste of the season to come, but this test, requested by Pirelli and running for two days, starting today at the Paul Ricard circuit, is nevertheless useful in assessing changes made to the full wet tyres. Kimi Raikkonen for Scuderia Ferrari, Daniel Ricciardo for Red Bull and Stoffel Vandoorne for McLaren are all running last year’s cars, as they try various specifications of extreme wets. The test got underway at 9.30 this morning at the French track, which has been artificially soaked. The type of tyre being used from run to run is not being disclosed as the session is being carried out as a “blind test.” By the middle of the day, Raikkonen had covered around 50 laps, with the session continuing until 5pm.
Pirelli Paul Ricard Circuit – Wet Test – 25.01. – 26.01.2016
Posted: 11.01.2016
Source: Pirelli
FERRARI, RED BULL AND McLAREN AT THE TWO-DAY WET TYRE TEST ORGANIZED BY PIRELLI AT PAUL RICARD CIRCUIT ON JANUARY 25-26
Milan, January 11, 2016 – Pirelli organizes a wet tyre test to be held at Paul Ricard circuit, on January 25 and 26.
The two-day test will be focussing just on wet tyres (no intermediates). Different wet prototypes will be tested.
Three teams will take part in the test: Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren. More details on the drivers participating as well the test programme will be made available in the coming days.
Rétromobile 2016 by Artcurial Motorcars – 05.02.2016 – 06.02.2016
Posted: 25.01.2016
Source: Artcurial Motorcars
Event Information:
| Times: | Viewing: 3 February, 10am-10pm 4 February, 10am-7pm 5 February, 10am-1pm The Official Sale: 5 February 3pm: Lot 101-224 |
| Location: | Salon Rétromobile – Hall 2.2, Parc des expositions Porte de Versailles, 75015 Paris |
| Website: | Rétromobile 2016 by Artcurial Motorcars |
The 335 S breaks the bank in Paris
Posted: 09.02.2016
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 9 February 2016 – The 1957 Scaglietti-bodied 335 S more than lived up to expectations as the star of Artcurial’s Salon Retromobile sale. Chassis no. 0674, owned by collector Pierre Bardinon, fetched €32,075,000, making it the second most expensive car ever sold at public auction. The sale also means that 9 out of the top 10 most valuable cars in the world are now Ferraris.
Incredibly rare. This car, which is in superb condition, enjoyed a brilliant racing career, finishing sixth in the 1957 12 Hours of Sebring with Peter Collins and Maurice Trintignant taking turns at its wheel. Wolfgang Von Trips drove it second across the line in the Mille Miglia in the same year in a one-two finish for the 335 S which also won in the hands of Piero Taruffi. The Scuderia Ferrari then sold the car to Luigi Chinetti’s North American Racing Team which competed it for quite some time, entrusting it the high-profile likes of Masten Gregory and Lance Reventlow.
Blisteringly fast all-round. Sporting a 12-cylinder engine that punched out just short of 400 cv, the 335 S was incredibly fast and powerful. It set the first over 200 km/h average lap record in the history of the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1957 when it clocked the race fastest lap in the classic French endurance race. This lovely Ferrari also held true to its fast and furious past when it went under the hammer, taking just under a quarter of an hour to achieve its record sale price after brisk bidding between the two collectors vying for it.
The 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti from the Pierre Bardinon Collection
Posted: 02.12.2015
Source: Artcurial Motorcars
Paris – Following the sale of the Baillon Collection and the world record for a car sold at auction this year with the Ferrari 250 California Spider (sold for 16,3 M€ / 18,5 M$), in its Retromobile sale, Artcurial Motorcars will present in the 2016 official Salon Retromobile sale, one of the most iconic cars in the history of motor racing : the 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, chassis 0674 from the Pierre Bardinon collection. Voluntary auction with the participation of Philippe Dohr, sworn commodity broker appointed as ad hoc agent.
It is estimated to fetch 28 000 000 – 32 000 000 € /30 000 000 – 34 000 000 $
« Both a Work of Art and the Queen of Speed, this represents the elixir of the exceptional : beauty, rarity, racing success, history, authenticity and provenance ! » declared Matthieu Lamoure, Managing Director of Artcurial Motorcars.
A « WINNING » OFFICIAL FACTORY CAR
The car left the workshops at the start of 1957, fitted with a striking Scaglietti body, a design born of the requirements of a powerful racing car. It was fitted at that time with a 3.8-litre V12 Tipo 140 engine (315 S) that had twin-cams per bank of cylinders and produced around 360 bhp.
In March of that year it was entered by Scuderia Ferrari for the Sebring 12 Hours, driven by Peter Collins and Maurice Trintignant, and finished sixth.
However, the Italians were really waiting for the Mille Miglia in May, when the best teams and the most experienced drivers would go head to head over 1 600 km of roads, without any break. Ferrari lined up four cars including chassis 0674 that was given to Wolfgang von Trips, who finished second behind the Piero Taruffi’s Ferrari. On being returned to the factory, its engine size was increased to 4.1-litres, therefore becoming a 335S. With close to 400 bhp under its belt, the car could reach 300 km/h.
For the 24 Heures du Mans, the car was given to Mike Hawthorn (who would become Formula 1 champion in 1958) and Luigi Musso. Hawthorn took the lead in front of the Maserati and Jaguars and set the first lap record in the history of the Le Mans 24 Hours of over 200 km/h (203.015 km/h average speed) but unfortunately the car retired in the fifth hour with mechanical problems.
This stunning Ferrari then finished fourth in the Swedish Grand Prix, and second in the Venezuela Grand Prix on 3 November (still with team of Hawthorn-Musso), helping Ferrari to win the World Constructors’ Title in 1957.
In January 1958 it was sold to Luigi Chinetti, the Ferrari importer based in New York.
On 24 February of that year, with Masten Gregory and Stirling Moss at the wheel, the car won the Cuba Grand Prix. During the 1958 season, it participated successfully in various American races driven by Gaston Andrey and Lance Reventlow (creator of the famous Scarab), before being sold to Robert N. Dusek in 1960, an architect living in Pennsylvania.
THE BARDINON COLLECTION
Following this American adventure, the car was brought to France in 1970. The American architect sold it to Pierre Bardinon, the astute collector who over the years assembled some fifty factory Ferrari comprising the most successful and iconic models in the history of the marque. Based near Aubusson, his collection is considered to be one of the most important, in terms of Ferrari.
“The Bardinons had the highest requirements: the most successful Ferrari race cars !” explained Hervé Poulain, Honorary President of Artcurial.
Kept as part Pierre Bardinon’s private collection for over 40 years, the car has been used and maintained regularly and is presented in excellent condition.
PIERRE BARDINON
Bardinon is a name that resonates with all those who love racing cars, and behind the name is a character who made a huge impression in the collecting world during the second half of the 20th century. Passionate about motorsport from a young age, the industrialist, himself a gentleman driver, assembled an unrivalled collection dedicated to Ferrari and motor racing.
Initially passionate about Bugatti, and then Jaguar, it was not until the end of the 1960s that he devoted himself completely to Ferrari. He brought together the rarest models, those with the most outstanding racing history, and put together the most famous group of Maranello factory cars, fifty in number including four of the nine winners of the Le Mans 24 Hour Race. Such a collection has its particular requirements, to keep these machines alive. To do this, Pierre Bardinon designed his own private circuit, « a speed garden », calligraphic bitumen set in natural surroundings, to which he invited the Matra and Alpine teams, Ferrari, Bugatti and Bentley clubs, and developed links with manufacturers such as Peugeot, Mercedes-Benz, Alfa Romeo, Porsche…
THE RETROMOBILE SALE 2016
Following the record-breaking sale in 2015, the Collectors’ Car department at Artcurial is proposing a spectacular 2016 edition. The auction will take place over two days.
On 5 February, some 130 automobiles including five important Ferrari will be presented :
– 1957 Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti from the Pierre Bardinon collection (estimate 28 – 32 M€ / 30 – 34 M$),
– 1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta from the Antoine Midy collection (estimate 9 – 12 M€ / 10 – 13,2 M$)
– 1986 Ferrari Testrossa Spider built for Gianni Agnelli (estimate : 700 000 – 900 000 € / 750 0000 -1 M$)
– 1962 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series 2, Ex-King of Morocco, from the Adrien Maeght collection (estimate : 1,4 – 1,8 M€ / 1,5 – 1,9 M$)
– 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona (estimate : 750 000 – 900 000 € / 800 000 – 950 000$)
On 6 February, Artcurial Motorcars will celebrate the history of a French brand – Citroën. Around forty popular models collected by André Trigano, completed by another ten double chevron automobiles will retrace the marque’s history.
A RECORD YEAR FOR ARTCURIAL MOTORCARS
2015 has been a breakthrough year for Artcurial Motorcars, confirming its leading position for Collectors’ Car sales in Continental Europe. Organising the official sales at the Salon Retromobile in Paris, Le Mans Classic and the Automobiles sur les Champs-Élysées series of auctions, the annual sales total of this department led by Matthieu Lamoure has increased from 6 M€ / 6,9 M$ in 2009 to 71 M€ / 78 M$ in 2015.
Preview of Artcurial Motorcars 2016 Retromobile Sale
Posted: 05.11.2016
Source: Artcurial Motorcars
Paris – The official Retromobile sale by Artcurial Motorcars, an annual fixture at the leading classic car show in Paris, is one of the most important collectors’ car auctions in the world. The sale in February of this year was the largest ever held in continental Europe, realising €48M / $52M. It starred the extraordinary Baillon Collection that attracted worldwide attention, with thousands of visitors queuing daily at the Retromobile Salon to see the cars on show. The star of the collection, a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider sold for a world record €16.3 M / $18.5M, the highest price for any car sold at auction this year.
Artcurial Motorcars’ next Retromobile sale, to be held on 5 February 2016, is set to make the headlines again, with early consignments including a selection of extremely rare Ferrari and a stunning classic yacht.
Highlights include:
· 1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta – the last example built (estimate €9M – €12M / $10M – $13.2M)
· Ex- Gianni Agnelli 1986 Ferrari Testarossa Spider (estimate €680 000 – €900 000 / $750 000 – $1M)
· Classic yacht, Moonbeam III, from 1903 (estimate €500 000 – €1 500 000 / $550 000 – $1 650 000, no reserve)
1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta
Estimate €9M – €12M / $10M – $13.2M
This is the last example of the highly sought-after model to be built and it is the first time the car has come to the market. A matching numbers, lefthand drive car, it has exceptional provenance, having belonged to the great Swiss collector Antoine Midy since 1989, and is being sold by the Midy estate.
Ex-Gianni Agnelli 1986 Ferrari Testarossa Spider
Estimate €680 000 – 900 000 / $750 000 – $1M
This is the only official Testarossa Spider to be commissioned and built by Ferrari. It was
produced for Gianni Agnelli, then the president of Fiat, who requested an open version of the emblematic model he loved. The silver theme refers to the periodic table abbreviation for silver: Ag, the first two letters of Agnelli’s name. The car’s unique features include a blue stripe above the black sills and a white hood.
FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH – ARTCURIAL MOTORCARS’ RECORD-BREAKING YEAR
The collectors’ car department at Artcurial has grown steadily since Matthieu Lamoure, its Managing Director, and his team took the helm in 2010. Responsible for the official sales at the Salon Retromobile in Paris and Le Mans Classic, the department has also established regular collectors’ car auctions on the Champs-Elysées. Annual sales totals have increased from around €6M in 2009 to more than €71M / $78M in 2015. The department has also sold achieved the highest price for a car sold at auction during the 2014/2015 season (€16.3M for the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California)
FIA WEC 2016 – First day at Ferrari for Sam Bird
Posted: 21.01.2016
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 21 Jan 2016 – Sam Bird went for his first day at Maranello on Thursday. In early January the Briton became Ferrari’s eighth GT racing driver. Sam passed through the factory gates in the morning where GT Sporting Activities Director Antonello Coletta greeted him. He then met some of the technicians with whom he will be working during the 2016 season of the World Endurance Championship (WEC). The driver then had a go on the GT simulator and at the end of the first session shared his impressions with the technicians.
Crew 71. At lunchtime Davide Rigon was waiting for Sam at the company restaurant. Rigon will team up with the Briton in the brand new Ferrari 488 GTE no. 71, which will compete under the AF Corse banner. In the afternoon, Sam was then taken on a tour of the factory, from the assembly lines of the 8- and 12-cylinder models to the Classic Department and the Atelier, where he was keen to pose with the exclusive F12tdf.
A unique company. “This is one of those days that you remember for a lifetime,” said Bird, who will soon return to Maranello to continue development work on the simulator. “Ferrari is a unique company where road and racing cars are assembled under one roof. During the morning I could see the high level of technology and innovation within this company, while in the afternoon tour I was thrilled to see how much tradition there is at Maranello and the affection felt for Ferrari by the people who work here. I am proud to represent the Prancing Horse in the WEC and at the Le Mans 24 Hours and I hope to achieve great results at the wheel of the new 488 GTE,” the driver concluded.
| Circuit | Daytona International Speedway |
| Date | 30.01. – 31.01.2016 |
| Laps | 736 |
| Distance | 4.215,837 km / 2.620,160 miles |
| No | Driver | Ferrari | S/N | Team | Result |
|
51
|
Peter Mann Matteo Cressoni Raffaele Giammaria Marco Cioci |
458 Italia GT3
|
F 142 GT xxxx
|
Spirit of Race
|
26. overall /11. in class GTD
|
| 62 | Giancarlo Fisichella Davide Rigon Toni Vilander Olivier Beretta |
488 GTE | F 1xx GT xxxx | Risi Competizione |
12. overall / 6. in class GTLM |
| 63 | Christina Nielsen Jeff Segal Alessandro Balzan Robert Renauer |
458 Italia GT3 | F 142 GT xxxx | Scuderia Corsa | 21. overall / 7. in class GTD |
|
68
|
Alessandro Pier Guidi Daniel Serra Alexandre Premat Memo Rojas |
488 GTE |
F 1xx GT xxxx
|
Scuderia Corsa | 10. overall / 4. in class GTLM |
|
72
|
Viktor Shaytar Gianmaria Bruni Andrea Bertolini James Calado |
488 GTE | F 1xx GT xxxx | SMP Racing | 41. overall / 10. in class GTLM / retired |
Imsa SportsCar Championship – Encouraging début for the 488 GTE in Daytona
Posted: 31.01.2016
Source: Ferrari
Daytona Beach, 31 January 2016 – The racing journey of the 488 GTE started with a fourth place earned by the Scuderia Corsa team. The 24 Hours of Daytona was a true baptism of fire and the new Ferrari intended for GT competitions displayed great speed, finishing at the top among the first-time participants, as two other models of competing manufacturers had their début in the same race.
The race. As is often the case in Daytona, the first hours of the race were not especially meaningful, although they were enough to demonstrate the potential of the 488 GTE: in fact, all three Ferraris competing in the GTLM class led for at least one lap during the first 12 hours of the race, and this although car number 68 of Scuderia Corsa did not have an easy start, due to a fuel pressure problem that forced Alessandro Pier Guidi to start from the back of the field. On the other hand, the 488 number 72 of SMP Racing team had a great start: after disappointing qualifications, Gianmaria “Gimmi” Bruni was able to gain one position after another, even taking the lead a number of times while being driven by Bruni himself, but also by James Calado, Viktor Shaytar, and Andrea Bertolini. Car number 62 of Risi Competizione team was also constantly among the leaders, being able to keep first place for several laps with Toni Vilander, but also being competitive with Giancarlo Fisichella, Davide Rigon, and Olivier Beretta. The race of this car was affected by a rear-end collision caused by one of the Fords early in the morning. The accident wrecked the Ferrari’s diffuser and caused a long stop at the box that irreparably compromised the final outcome. In the end, it finished sixth, a useful result in terms of the championship. On the other hand, the car of SMP Racing did not finish the race, which seemed to lead to a certain podium position until it was interrupted by the breakdown of a turbine. The Chevrolet of Gavin-Milner-Fassler won the race.
GTD. Two Ferrari 458 Italia raced in the other GT class and turned out to be very competitive. However, both crews were unlucky in their strategies, as they ended up paying too heavily for some pit stops made under the green flag. Both car number 63 of Scuderia Corsa and number 51 of the Spirit of Race team led the race for at least one lap, but slipped to the back of the field towards the end of the race. At the finish, the car driven by Christina Nielsen, Jeff Segal, Alessandro Balzan and Robert Renauer was in seventh place, while car number 51 of Peter Mann, Raffaele Giammaria, Marco Cioci and Matteo Cressoni was just out of the top ten. The Ligier of Sharp-Brown-Van Overbeek-Derani won the overall race. The second event of the championship is scheduled for mid-March, when another great classic of American motorsport will take place: the 12 Hours of Sebring.
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship 2016 – 24 Hours of Daytona – Hour 18: SMP and Scuderia Corsa in the lead group
Posted: 31.01.2016
Source: Ferrari
Daytona Beach, 31 January 2016 – The 24 Hours of Daytona has reached the 75% mark of its duration. The sun is completing its rise over the horizon of Florida’s tri-oval and the race is still wide open, even though it has become more difficult for one of the Ferrari 488, due to some problems.
GTLM. In the GTLM class, the car of the Risi Competizione team had to stop for some repairs to the body following an accident. This activity, conducted under a green flag regime, cost four laps to the Houston team; therefore, Davide Rigon and car number 62 currently occupy 8th place, four laps behind 7th place. On the other hand, the SMP Racing team and Scuderia Corsa cars are in the breakneck group of the GTLM class led, for the moment by Kevin Estre’s Porsche. James Calado, at the controls of car number 72, is in 3rd place, while Alexandre Premato, on the 488 GTE number 68, is 5th.
GTD. In the GTD class, car number 63 of Scuderia Corsa continues to play a prominent role. The car is currently in 9th place, but Jeff Segal, who is at the wheel, is imposing a very fast pace. Car number 51 of the Spirit of Race team, currently in the hands of Matteo Cressoni, is further behind the leaders. Andy Lally (Audi) leads this category.
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship 2016 – 24 Hours of Daytona – Mid-race: everything still to play for
Posted: 31.01.2016
Source: Ferrari
Daytona Beach, 31 Jan 2016 – The 24 Hours of Daytona is nearing the halfway point, but the fight is still wide open in both GT categories (GT-Le Mans and GT-Daytona) with lots of cars bunched together at the front.
GLTM. Ferrari is close on the heels of its rivals in the GTLM class, just a few tenths of a second off the leader, Nick Tandy in a Porsche. Russia’s Viktor Shaytar recently took the wheel of car no. 72 (SMP Racing) setting an excellent pace, while Davide Rigon is in no. 62. One highlight to mention is the comeback by the crew of the 488 GTE no. 68 Scuderia Corsa, which started from the back of the grid, failed to obey a red light as it exited the pits and suffered a three-lap penalty. However, Alexandre Premat, Memo Rojas, Daniel Serra and Alessandro Pier Guidi did not lose heart and recently Premat, with the help of the frequent full-course cautions, has driven the car back into contention.
GTD. Car no. 63 Scuderia Corsa is still in among the leaders in the GTD class, with Jeff Segal driving the 458 Italia into second behind the Porsche of Sven Muller. Car no. 51 Spirit of Race has continued to rise through the ranks, currently in fifth with Matteo Cressoni at the wheel.
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship 2016 – 24 Hours of Daytona – Hour 6: the Ferrari’s are battling it out
Posted: 30.01.2016
Source: Ferrari
Daytona Beach, 30 January 2016 – The 24 Hours of Daytona has completed its first quarter from the moment that the clock struck the first hour of the race, while darkness has now fallen on Florida’s tri-oval.
GTLM. In the GTLM class the Ferrari’s continue to battle it out. Car number 72 (of SMP Racing) and car number 62 (of Risi Competizione) have each completed several laps in the lead, but the Russian team’s car was slowed down by a drive-through penalty which it received for an illegal maneuver at the pit boxes. The more well-placed car in the classification is number 62, in sixth place with Olivier Beretta at the wheel, who precedes number 72, driven by “Gimmi” Bruni. Car number 68 (of Scuderia Corsa), driven by Alessandro Pier Guidi, has been slowed down for this portion of the race due to a penalty.
GTD. In the GTD class car number 63 of the Scuderia Corsa continues to hold the lead positions, with Alessandro Balzan and Christina Nielson each completing excellent stints. With Balzan the car is holding second place. The position of number 51 of the Spirit of Race team has also improved, currently holding tenth place with Marco Cioci at the wheel.
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship 2016 – 24 Hours of Daytona – Hour 1: Ferrari cars take the initiative
Posted: 30.01.2016
Source: Ferrari
Daytona Beach, 30 January 2016 – The 24 Hours of Daytona started just over 60 minutes ago and the Ferraris are among the leaders in both the GTLM and GTD classes.
GTLM. In the GTLM class, the 488 GTE with the best grid position, car number 68 of Scuderia Corsa had a challenging start, after being relegated to the back of the field due to a fuel pressure problem that was later solved. Alessandro Pier Guidi is now in comeback mode, currently occupying 10th place. The car of the SMP Racing team, with Gianmaria “Gimmi” Bruni took the initiative during the first hour of the race, moving up from 11th to 2nd place. The 488 GTE of the Risi Competizione team entrusted to Toni Vilander is having a steady race in 5th place.
GTD. In GTD class, the best-positioned Ferrari is car number 63 of Scuderia Corsa, in second place with Jeff Segal at the wheel. Car number 51 of Spirit of Race is further behind, but it has already made a pit stop and is currently being driven by Peter Mann. A yellow flag during the first hour helped car number 68 re-join the group, while the Porsche driven by Nick Tandy is currently in the lead position. The next bulletin will be issued in five hours.
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship 2016 – Second and third row in Daytona for 488 GTEs
Posted: 28.01.2016
Source: Ferrari
Daytona Beach, 28 January 2016 – The Ferrari 488 GTE made is American debut today, qualifying in the second and third rows for the esteemed 24 Hours of Daytona in Florida. Although inclement weather prevailed during the practice and qualifying sessions today, the GT cars were faster than prototypes under slick conditions.
GTLM. The best results from the field of 488 GTE was the Scuderia Corsa number 68 with Alessandro Pier Guidi behind the wheel. Pier Guidi qualified the car in fourth position, stopping the clock at 2.03.309, 77 thousandths better than Toni Vilander with 488 GTE of Risi Competizione. Pier Guidi will share the car with Daniel Serra, Alexandre Premat and three-time winner Memo Rojas in the classic endurance race. Vilander will compete with Olivier Beretta, Davide Rigon and Giancarlo Fisichella as his teammates.
SMP Racing. The third 488 GTE entered in the weekend’s race, the number 72 team SMP Racing, will begin the race in eleventh position. The car did not get any time during a very rainy qualifying as Gianmaria “Gimmi” Bruni veered off the track in the first lap of the session. The pole position and the best time of class was clocked by Nick Tandy with Porsche.
GTD. The two Ferrari 458 Italias entered in the GTD class are both committed to start in midfield on Saturday. Jeff Segal of Scuderia Corsa’s number 63, qualified with a time of 2.09.398. The car, which starts eleventh on the grid, will also be driven by Christina Nielsen, Alessandro Balzan and Robert Renauer. Car number 51 of team Spirit of Race will stand fourteenth at the start and will be driven Raffaele Giammaria, Matteo Cressoni, Marco Cioci, and Peter Mann. Television coverage of the 24 Hours of Daytona will be broadcast from Saturday, January 30 at 2:00 PM EST (8:00 PM GMT) on FOX Sports 1. You can also stream the race live on IMSA.com. Stay up to speed @FerrariUSA and take part in conversations with #FerrariGTRacing and #FerrariFirst.
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship 2016 – Ferrari targets victory at Daytona
Posted: 28.01.2016
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 28 January 2016 – The 2016 motorsport season is ready for the off and as usual the first race meeting of the year sees the great endurance competitors in Florida for the 24 Hours of Daytona, first race of the IMSA championship. Five Ferraris will line up on the circuit, which in December will host the Ferrari Finali Mondiali. Three examples of the Ferrari 488 GTE will take to the track at Daytona International Speedway to compete for victory in the GT-LeMans class. The Ferrari 488 GTE is heavily based on Ferrari’s newest road car, the Ferrari 488 GTB. Not only do the two vehicles share a large amount of DNA, but are assembled in the same factory in Maranello, Italy. The new turbocharged racer has completed over 10,000km in testing in preparation for its debut in Daytona.
GLTM. Three cars are down for the GT class-Le Mans (GTLM), all 488 GTEs, the brand new Ferrari GT competition car presented for the first time at the Finali Mondiali at Mugello in November. Two belong to teams traditionally prominent in American motorsport. Car no. 62 of the Texas based Risi Competizione will be crewed by Giancarlo Fisichella, who stays with the Texas based team, and Toni Vilander, recently arrived from Europe and ready to give chase for the American title. They will be joined at Daytona by Davide Rigon, a Ferrari driver who normally competes in the World Endurance Championship (WEC), and Olivier Beretta, winner in 2000 who last year raced in the Pirelli World Challenge with the Ferrari of R. Ferri. Scuderia Corsa will field car no. 68, driven by 2014 GTD winner Alessandro Pier Guidi, three-time winner Memo Rojas, Daniel Serra and Alexander Premat. No. 72 SMP Racing will be the third Ferrari in the GTLM class, with WEC 2015 (GTE-Am) world champions Andrea Bertolini and Viktor Shaytar ably assisted by a new pair in Ferrari no. 51 for the WEC 2016, “Gimmi “Bruni and James Calado.
GTD. A couple of Ferrari 458 GT3 Italias will be racing in the GTD class, ahead of the coming debut of the 488 GT3s, which have proved very competitive since the first tests. No. 63 Scuderia Corsa will be in the hands of the excellent Danish driver Christina Nielsen together with the German Robert Renauer and the highly experienced 2014 winnerJeff Segal and Italy’s Alessandro Balzan, both former Grand-Am champions. Peter Mann, Matteo Cressoni, Raffaele Giammaria and Marco Cioci will be at the wheel of no. 51 Spirit of Race.
History. Ferrari has twice been overall winner of the 24 Hours. The first time was in 1967 with the official 330 P3/4 of Lorenzo Bandini and Chris Amon, when there was the famous one-two-three overall finish and a Ferrari hat-trick on the podium. Then in 1998 the 333 SP-Moretti Doran Racing team won with Arie Luyendyk, Didier Theys, Mauro Baldi and Gianpiero Moretti. There have also been eight class victories, most recently in 2014 in the GTD with Segal-Pier Guidi-Bell-Sweedler and Level 5 Motorsport. However, there have been another 11 wins not obtained in 24 hours. The first came in 1959, in the USAC series, with Santiago Gonzalez and Skip Hudson in a 250 GT for the Hans Hirch team. We also shouldn’t forget the triumph in the 6 Hours of 1972 by the 312 PB Scuderia Ferrari with Mario Andretti and Jacky Ickx.
TV and web. The television broadcast for the 24 Hours of Daytona will begin Saturday, January 30 at 2:00 PM ET on FOX Sports 1. Coverage will alternate throughout the race on FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports 2 and IMSA.com. Stay up to speed at @FerrariUSA and @FerrariRaces and join the conversation with #FerrariGTRacing and #FerrariFirsts.
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship 2016 – The road to Daytona 24H: Ferrari duo in GTD class
Posted: 28.01.2016
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 28 January 2016 – The 24 Hours of Daytona marks the race debut of the Ferrari 488 GTE and Ferrari.com has so far presented all three GTLM crews class at the wheel of the new car. However, the 458 Italia is still competitive and is the reigning champion car in the GTD class of the IMSA series. Two 458 Italias will be on track at the 24 Hours of Daytona for Spirit of Race and Scuderia Corsa, the winning team in this class for 2015.
Car no. 63. The 458 Italia no. 63 Scuderia Corsa won the title in 2015 in the GTD class with Bill Sweedler and Townsend Bell. The crew has changed for this season with Christina Nielsen lead driver. The excellent Danish woman last year battled to win the title for Ferrari until the final race. The highly experienced Alessandro Balzan and Jeff Segal will join Nielsen, along with Germany’s Robert Renauer. Segal is clearly the driver with the most experience of this race having previously competed nine times and won in the GTD class for Ferrari in 2014 at the wheel of the 458 Italia of Level 5 Motorsports. Nielsen, Renauer and Balzan have each competed twice, their best results being a ninth, a tenth and a fourth at the wheel of the Ferrari 458 Italia Scuderia Corsa along with Pier Guidi, Frezza and Beretta in 2013.
Car no. 51. Peter Mann, Raffaele Giammaria, Marco Cioci and Matteo Cressoni will be in charge of the 458 Italia of Spirit of Race. This is a fast and highly experienced crew, although only Giammaria and Cioci have previously appeared at the 24 Hours of Daytona.
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship 2016 – The road to Daytona 24H: No. 72 SMP Racing Ferrari
Posted: 27.01.2016
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 27 January 2016 – Ferrari.com continues its journey of discovery of the Ferrari customer teams competing in the 24 Hours of Daytona, one of the classics of American and world motorsport. Our survey of the 488 GTEs registered for the GT-Le Mans (GTLM) class concludes with car no. 72 of the Russian team SMP Racing, which is making its debut in America’s greatest endurance race.
Champion crew. The crew dominated the 2015 season in the GTE-Am class of the World Endurance Championship (WEC), winning both the Le Mans 24 Hours and world team and drivers’ titles with Andrea Bertolini, Viktor Shaytar and Aleksey Basov. Two of the WEC champion drivers will be at Daytona, with two other key WEC drivers, Gianmaria “Gimmi” Bruni and James Calado, alongside them. This is Bertolini’s fourth visit to Daytona. His best result was fifth place in 2012 in the 458 Italia Risi Competizione with Olivier Beretta and Toni Vilander. However, it is Shaytar’s first appearance in the race.
New pair. As mentioned, Bertolini and Shaytar will be joined by Bruni and Calado, who are sharing a car for the first time since the announcement of the crew changes for the 2016 WEC. The Italian ace and the rising British star, as of 12 April will share the 488 GTE AF Corse in the World Championship, and will be among the favourites for the title. As for the 24 Hours of Daytona, while Calado is making his debut in Florida, this is Bruni’s fourth appearance. This time though he will be hoping to dispel a sort of curse, with his previous appearances always dogged by misfortune.
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship 2016 – The road to Daytona 24H: Ferrari No. 68 Scuderia Corsa
Posted: 26.01.2016
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 26 January 2016 – Ferrari.com continues its look at the teams that will represent the Prancing Horse at the 24 Hours of Daytona next weekend. After beginning with car no. 62 Risi Competizione, we move onto Scuderia Corsa. In 2015 the Californian Ferrari team won the USCC IMSA title in the GT-Daytona class, but will also compete in the GT-Le Mans class at the Florida classic with a brand new 488 GTE.
The crew. The car will be in the hands of two Americans and two Europeans, Brazil’s Daniel Serra, Mexico’s Memo Rojas, France’s Alexandre Premat and Italy’s Alessandro Pier Guidi. Serra will be making his fourth appearance at Daytona. His best result was 10th in the GT-Daytona (GTD) class in 2014 with Scuderia Corsa, along with fellow countrymen Francisco Longo, former star of the Ferrari Challenge, Xandinho Negrao and Marcos Gomes. Memo Rojas is a very experienced Daytona driver and three time-winner (2008, 2009 and 2013, driving a Riley). This is his debut with Ferrari.
Europeans. Alexandre Premat debuts both at Daytona and for Ferrari, but everyone knows about the honours won by the Frenchman. Premat has had many successes in the lower formulas and a taste of F1 with Midland in 2006. In recent years he has driven Audi prototypes. Then finally Italy’s Alessandro Pier Guidi has his third outing at the 24 hours where he triumphed in 2014 in the GTD class at the wheel of the 458 Italia Level 5 Motorsports along with Townsend Bell, Bill Sweedler, Scott Tucker and Jeff Segal.
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship 2016 – The road to Daytona 24H: Ferrari No. 62 Risi Competizione
Posted: 25.01.2016
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 25 January 2016 – Next weekend will see a great motorsport classic, the 24 Hours of Daytona. The race marks the beginning of the IMSA USCC championship and the debut of the new Ferrari 488 GTE. Three cars will compete in the GT Le Mans (GTLM) class race, while two 458 Italias will be ready at the off in the GT-Daytona (GTD) class.
Experienced team. Risi Competizione has competed in endurance racing with Ferraris in America for many years. Olivier Beretta, Giancarlo Fisichella, Davide Rigon and Tony Vilander will be at the wheel of the 488 of the Texas based team. Beretta, in his eighth Daytona, won the 2000 race with a Dodge Viper for the Oreca team, coming fourth in 2013 with the Scuderia Corsa 458 Italia and fifth in 2012 with Risi Competizione.
Rest of the crew. Giancarlo Fisichella and Davide Rigon are at respectively their fifth and third Daytonas, while Finland’s Toni Vilander closes the quartet in the Ferrari 488 no. 62. Vilander came fifth in 2012 with Olivier Beretta and Andrea Bertolini. Fisichella and Vilander will compete in the whole of this year’s IMSA United SportsCar Championship season with the GT-Le Mans class title their clear target.
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship 2016 – Risi Competizione 488 ready for Daytona
Posted: 21.01.2016
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 21 January 2016 – The third 488 GTLM to compete in the 24 Hours of Daytona has arrived in America. The Risi Competizione team car performed its shakedown at Fiorano on Monday, leaving the next day for the United States where it arrived a few hours ago.
The team. Davide Rigon and Olivier Beretta will drive the car in the 24 Hours. The pair, present at Fiorano on Monday, will join Giancarlo Fisichella and Toni Vilander, team drivers for the entire championship season.
Other cars. Two other Ferraris will line up at the start of the 24 Hours of Daytona, the no. 68 of Scuderia Corsa, crewed by Alessandro Pier Guidi, Alexandre Premat, Daniel Serra and Memo Rojas, and the no. 72 of SMP Racing, in the capable hands of Viktor Shaytar, Andre Bertolini, James Calado and “Gimmi” Bruni, in its first outing with the new British teammate for the World Endurance Championship 2016.
GTD class. Two 458 Italia GT3s will race in the GTD class. Peter Mann, Raffaele Giammaria, Marco Cioci and Matteo Cressoni will drive the no. 51 of Spirit of Race, while the no. 63 of Scuderia Corsa will be crewed by Christina Nielsen, Jeff Segal, Alessandro Balzan and Robert Renauer.
Ferrari Racing Days – A roaring success at Suzuka
Posted: 06.03.2016
Source: Ferrari
Tokyo, 6 March 2016 – With breath-taking racetrack action and a massive turnout from both owners and fans, the last day of Ferrari Racing Days at Suzuka was an unmitigated success. Around 15,000 Ferrari tifosi were mesmerised by hours of gripping racing action and on-track displays from the Corse Clienti team, while close to 700 owners brought their beloved Ferrari vehicles from all across the country.
The queen. The extreme 1,050 hp FXX K made its first public appearance on this circuit in Japan and many of the fans and tifosi could not hide their excitement with cameras on hand. In addition, the F1 circuit run shook the whole site with dramatic exhaust notes and speeds from the F1 singleseaters. Owners, their families and friends enjoyed experiencing the world of Ferrari through various programmes such as XX Programme, Sports Drive, Enjoy Drive and many others. They were also treated to a display of several extremely rare Classiche cars from the Prancing Horse’s illustrious history, confirming Japan’s status as home to some of the marque’s most precious cars.
Racing. On track, visitors saw an exciting Race 2 of Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Asia Pacific. A hot battle among the Challenge drivers got the attention of fans at the grandstand with more people indulging themselves within the world of motorsports, the very DNA of the Ferrari brand.
Anniversary. The unveiling of Ferrari Japan’s 50th anniversary logo and the announcement that the brand’s annual International Cavalcade event will be held in Kyoto in November this year generated a palpable sense of excitement among the attendees. The logo, titled “Soul&Spirit” features an interpretation of the rising sun motif, representing “Soul”, accompanied by a dynamic calligraphy brush stroke to represent “Spirit”. Ferrari Japan Managing Director, Reno De Paoli commented: “It is very fitting that this special year for Ferrari Japan begins at the iconic Suzuka track. The great turnout of both owners and fans reflects the steady growth of the brand and the depth of understanding and appreciation of our brand among Japanese consumers. We look forward to providing more opportunities to share our passion for Ferrari throughout the course of this special anniversary year.”
Ferrari Racing Days Suzuka 2016
Posted: 04.03.2016
Source: Ferrari
Challenge APAC series ready for first round
Tokyo, 4 March 2016 – With great anticipation, the Prancing Horse marque will make its return to the Suzuka Circuit at the Ferrari Racing Days Suzuka 2016. This 5.807 km circuit boasts a famous figure eight layout and holds a close connection within Ferrari’s racing history. When the circuit became the new home for Formula 1 in 1987, the first race here proved propitious for Ferrari, with Gerhard Berger taking the win in the F1-87. Ferrari Racing Days is one of the biggest events organised by Ferrari Japan every year with an impressive number of Ferraris expected to arrive with many Ferrari owners and tifosi. Together they will enter the fabulous world of Ferrari and kick off an entire weekend of festivities.
Another debut for the queen. The highlight of this event will be the debut of the Ferrari FXX K on a Japanese race track, which has just won the Gold Award at the 2016 IF Design Awards ceremony in Munich. This laboratory car, based on Ferrari’s first hybrid model the LaFerrari, was officially unveiled in December 2014 during Finali Mondiali in Abu Dhabi and boasts extreme performance, total system output of 1,050 hp, and a maximum torque in excess of 900 Nm. The K in FXX K stands for KERS, Kinetic Energy Recovery System, used to maximize performance on the track.
Glorious singleseaters. F1 Clienti track activity of Formula1 cars F2001B (2001), F2003-GA (2003), and F10 (2010) will also be making an appearance. In addition, other track-only models, such as the FXX and 599XX will also be making demonstration runs, only available for viewing at this event. These programs are organised by Corse Clienti, the department that coordinates all the sporting activity involving Ferrari owners. The event will also feature supercar drives including LaFerraris, the iconic model of the Prancing Horse, as well as a display of exclusive Ferrari Classiche cars. The owners will enjoy various track sessions and experience their cars’ ultimate potential.
Challenge APAC ready to start. Ferrari Racing Days Suzuka 2016 will also host the first round of the world’s popular one-make racing series, the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Asia Pacific. This season is expected to be exhilarating, with 34 of the best drivers to date set to participate including a record number of 9 Japanese drivers. All the champions of 2015 and new entries including Florian Merckx, third in Trofeo Pirelli 2015 in Europe, will put on a true racing spectacle on the fantastic track amidst a grandstand full of fans enthusiastically watching the intense races. Follow all the action as Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli APAC Race 1 of the weekend starts at 14.10 local time on Saturday and Race 2 will start at 13.00 local time on Sunday.
Social contest. To share the excitement of the event, #FerrariRacingDays SNS photo contest will be held. Participating is easy: just take a photo/video which describes your passion for “Ferrari Racing Days 2016”, and post on your Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #FerrariRacingDays. Five pairs will be chosen as winners and they will obtain ultimate prizes such as 2016 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix pair ticket. This action-packed weekend will be open to everyone including current owners and Ferrari fans to experience the world of Ferrari.
#FerrariRacingDays photo contest is ready to take off!
Posted: 29.02.2016
Source: Ferrari
#FerrariRacingDays photo contest is ready to take off! Share your experience at the Ferrari Racing Days Suzuka 2016 and get 2016 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix pair ticket!
Tokyo, 29th February 2016 – To commemorate the “Ferrari Racing Days Suzuka 2016,” which will be held at the Suzuka Circuit over two days from March 5 to 6 2016, a photo contest will be held on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
When:
March 5 to 6, 2016 (two days)
How to take part:
Participating is easy: just take a photo and/or video which describes your passion for “Ferrari Racing Days 2016”, and post on your Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #FerrariRacingDays. 5 pairs will be randomly chosen as winners and they will obtain ultimate prizes such as 2016 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix pair ticket.
Rules:
– To take part in this contest, participants need to have accounts on Facebook , Twitter or Instagram.
– There is no limit to the number of photos each person can post. Photos can be posted to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
– Each person can only be selected once.
– Please note that photos which cannot be viewed (due to privacy settings, etc.) will not be accepted as entries.
Winners:
– Winners will be directly notified through Ferrari Japan’s official account on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
– Please note that winners who cannot be contacted will be disqualified.
– Please note that we will not be answering any inquiries on the selection. We appreciate your understanding on this matter.
– The rights of the winners cannot be transferred, and prizes cannot be exchanged for cash.
Ferrari Japan SNS Official Accounts :
– Facebook: @FerrariJapan
– Twitter: @FerrariJPN
– Instagram: @FerrariJPN
About “Ferrari Racing Days Suzuka 2016″
“Ferrari Racing Days Suzuka 2016″ is one of the largest events organised by Ferrari Japan in 2016, for owners of the Prancing Horse and fans, celebrating the spirit of its motorsport and racing DNA.
The highlight of this event is the debut of the Ferrari FXX K on a Japanese race track, which was officially unveiled in December 2014 during Finali Mondiali in Abu Dhabi. Four rare Formula One cars will also be making an appearance. In addition, other track-only laboratory cars, such as the FXX and 599XX will also be making rare demonstration runs, only available for viewing at this event.
The Ferrari Challenge Asia-Pacific is expected to be exhilarating, with more than 30 of the best drivers to date set to participate. The number of Japanese drivers participating is likely to be the highest so far.
Ferrari Racing Days returns to Suzuka: 5-6 March 2016
Posted: 22.01.2016
Source: Ferrari
Tokyo, 22nd January 2016 – Ferrari Racing Days Suzuka 2016, the special circuit event for Ferrari owners and fans, will be back to Suzuka Circuit again this year, for 2 days on 5th – 6th March 2016. Regular admission tickets and Upgrade pass will be available from tomorrow, 23rd January, via Lawson Tickets (http://l-tike.com/). Furthermore OWNER PASS for Ferrari owners goes on sale via the Official Ferrari Network.
Ferrari Racing Days Suzuka 2016 is one of the largest events organised by Ferrari Japan in 2016, for owners of the Prancing Horse and fans, celebrating the spirit of its motorsport and racing DNA. The world’s most prominent one-make race and opening race of the 2016 season, the Ferrari Challenge Asia Pacific (*1), will be held, as well as an array of exciting track activities by Corse Clienti (*2).
The highlight of this event is the debut of the Ferrari FXX K on a Japanese race track, which was officially unveiled in December 2014 during Finali Mondiali in Abu Dhabi. The FXX K is a laboratory car, based on Ferrari’s first hybrid model, the LaFerrari, and boasts extreme performance, total system output of 1,050cv, and a maximum torque in excess of 900 Nm. The K in FXX K stands for KERS, Kinetic Energy Recovery system, used to maximize performance on the track.
F1 Clienti (*3) track activity of Formula1 cars F310B (1997), F2001 (2001), F2003-GA (2003), and F10 (2010) will also be making an appearance. In addition, other track-only models, such as the FXX and 599XX will also be making rare demonstration runs, only available for viewing at this event.
A record number of 35 drivers, including an all-time high number of Japanese drivers, are scheduled to race at the Ferrari Challenge Asia Pacific. There are four categories for each race: Trofeo Pirelli, Trofeo Pirelli AM, Coppa Shell and Gentlemen Cup, the latter for those over 55. Four races in one, therefore, with four winners per race and four opportunities for a great spectacle.
Among the many programmes during the weekend, Ferrari owners will get the opportunity to get behind the wheel of their own splendid cars to see how they measure up during track sessions such as the Sports Drive and Excite Drive. Also this year, and for the first time, the Upgrade pass, with pit walk, will be available for purchase for Ferrari fans. This is a rare chance to see, up close, all the race cars in the paddock area.
This action-packed weekend will be open to everyone including Ferrari owners and fans to experience the world of Ferrari.
*1 Ferrari Challenge Asia Pacific Series
The Ferrari one-make race, Ferrari Challenge, established in 1993, will be holding its 24th event in 2016. In addition to many owner drivers having made their debut, many experienced veteran drivers have participated in this race since 1993. The Asia Pacific series, established in 2011 and now in its sixth year, will be kicking off the 2016 first round of six races at the Ferrari Racing Days Suzuka 2016.
*2 Corse Clienti
The Corse Clienti service was set up in 2001 with a department that supports owners of Prancing Horse race cars and which helps them in all types of racing activity, from running old Formula 1 cars to the XX Programmes and also in the Ferrari Challenge and GT races. These racing activities are designed and arranged to match each individual’s skill level. Reflecting the conviction of Enzo Ferrari to preserve the rigorous relationship between the race cars and road cars, Corse Clienti seeks to honor the wishes of owners that desire to challenge themselves by racing in the one-make race, Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, Ferrari GT races and other F1 and XX programmes.
*3 F1 Clienti
Established in 2003, the F1 Clienti department brings to life an otherwise would be only dream, that allows certain lucky Ferrari owners to own and drive special Formula 1 cars. F1 Clienti obtains the models previously used by Scuderia Ferrari, outfits them with the latest safety installations, and operates test driving sessions at Corse Clienti organized events such as Ferrari Racing Days and Finali Mondiali, where they can savour the pleasure of driving on famous circuits, with the added excitement of being watched by spectators on their feet in the grandstands.
Ferrari Racing Days Suzuka 2016 Ticket Sale Information:
When:
Saturday 5th March – Sunday 6th March
Where:
Suzuka Circuit (http://www.suzukacircuit.jp/en/)
Ticket Information
OWNER PASS:
Owner Pass allows owners special access to the Hospitality lounge and to participate in the various programmes to enjoy the world of Ferrari during the Ferrari Racing Days Suzuka 2016. Owner Pass is available for purchase at any Official Ferrari Network for below listed prices.
■ March 5th (Saturday)
Adult (ages 13+) : 20,000 yen
Children (ages 6-12) : 2,000 yen
■ March 6th (Sunday)
Adult (ages 13+) : 25,000 yen
Children (ages 6-12) : 3,000 yen
■ 2-Day Pass
Adult (ages 13+) : 30,000 yen
Children (ages 6-12) : 4,000 yen
REGULAR ADMISSION
PRE-SALE TICKETS:
Regular admission pre-sale tickets is available for purchase at any Lawson Tickets
(http://l-tike.com/).
■ Pre-sale tickets (Saturday and Sunday two-day pass)
Adult (junior high-school and above) : 3,200 yen
Children (elementary school) : 800 yen
Infant (less than 3 years) : 600 yen
DAY OF EVENT TICKETS / UPGRADE PASS:
Regular admission day of event tickets and upgrade pass are available for purchase at Suzuka Circuit on the day of the event.
■ Day of event ticket sales
Adult (junior high-school and above) : 1,700 yen
Children (elementary school) : 800 yen
Infant (less than 3 years) : 600 yen
■ Upgrade Pass (Saturday and Sunday two-day pass)
Adult / Children : 2,000 yen
Ferrari’s latest information is available at Ferrari.com (in Japanese)
http://www.ferrari.com/japanese
California T – Introducing the new Handling Speciale (HS) option for an even sportier driving experience
Posted: 22.01.2016
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 22 January 2016 – The California T, Ferrari’s immensely successful front-engined V8 model with retractable hard top and 2+ seating configuration, is now available with the brand-new Handling Speciale (HS) option.
Clients the world over have been so impressed with the California T’s ideal combination of performance and versatility that it has become the benchmark for all high-performance Grand Tourers. Now owners looking for an even more sporty driving experience, particularly on challenging, twisty routes, have a new optional package to meet their needs.
The Handling Speciale option offers a series of specific calibrations and a set-up that lends an extra edge, especially in the manettino’s Sport mode. This bespoke solution incorporates new damper settings and modified springs that make the car stiffer which, although marginally reducing the ride comfort, results in even sportier feedback, aided and abetted by the new engine sound that increases as revs rise.
The gear-shift logic for the Sport mode has been modified (both in automatic and manual), resulting in faster, sportier gear engagement during both up- and down-shifts.
The HS package also includes 16% stiffer front springs and 19% stiffer ones at the rear with a consequent increase in body control thanks to lower roll, dive and pitch.
The differences in Sport mode are underscored by a new strategy for the SCM3 magnetorheological dampers that increases their speed of response and improves their efficiency. The revised F1-Trac logic helps ensure even better acceleration, particularly when exiting corners and on more bumpy road surfaces.
The HS package also includes a new exhaust system with silencers featuring two primary pipes and a new geometry designed to yield an exhaust note that increases progressively as engine speed increases, with a sound in keeping with the car’s more sporty character.
The exhaust was developed in tandem with the engine and gearbox control software to underline the performance gains, with a more rapid response and improved sound and volume when driven hard.
The exhaust’s new timbre is instantly recognisable as soon as the driver hits the Start button. It is fuller, richer and more involving at all speeds and in all driving situations.
On an aesthetic level, certain elements have been highlighted to underscore the HS package’s sporty vocation while still retaining the California T’s signature elegance and sophistication. These include the new front grille in matte Grigio Ferro Met and the rear diffuser in the same colour with matte black fences and matte black tailpipes. A special plaque in the cockpit also indicates that the car sports the HS optional package.
The new option makes its official debut at the upcoming Geneva International Motor Show.
Ferrari California T technical specifications
Engine
Type 90° V8 – direct injection
Overall displacement 3855 cc
Maximum power * 412 kW (560 cv) at 7500 rpm
Maximum torque * 755 Nm (77 kgm) at 4750 rpm
Dimensions and weight
Length 4570 mm
Width 1910 mm
Height 1322 mm
Dry weight ** 1625 kg
Weight distribution 47% fr. – 53% r.
Performance
Maximum 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 petrol
** With optional lightweight equipment
*** Combined cycle with HELE system (ECE+EUDC)
