F1 Clienti – XX Programmes – The sun shines on the second day of tests

Posted: 01.09.2015
Source: Ferrari

Spa, 2 September – Second and final day of tests for the Formula 1 Clienti and the cars of the XX Programmes on the legendary Spa-Francorchamps racetrack. Today the rain was replaced by unhindered sunshine that drove out Tuesday’s humidity, thus allowing the single-seater drivers and the selected customers-testers of the XX Programmes to fully exploit the seven kilometres of the Ardennes course.

XX Programmes. Sixteen cars of the XX Programmes flashed along the mythical Eau Rouge-Raidillon “S”: one FXX, the earliest ancestor of this very special car, nine 599XX, and six FXX K, the latest incarnation among the test cars whose drivers are also test drivers for the Maranello firm. Christine Sloss was among the drivers at the wheel of one of these extraordinary cars.  She thus established a record, becoming the first woman to drive a car of over one thousand horsepower in a closed circuit. In fact, the FXX K boasts 1,050 HP, thanks to its 12 cylinder, 6-litre engine and a hybrid system derived from Formula 1. In addition to the engineers, a group of drivers and instructors (Thomas Kemenater and Christian Colombo among them) supported the customers and read the telemetry with them.

Formula 1 Clienti. Again, during the second day of tests on the Belgian track, the cars of the XX Programmes alternated with the Formula 1 Clienti cars; the latter made history in the category and Ferrari makes them available for sale to a very select group of persons. Some of the most successful single-seaters in the history of Ferrari and of the entire Formula 1 could be seen on the Ardennes circuit: the F2002 and F2004 for example, which, thanks to the feats of Michael Schumacher, but also Rubens Barrichello, still occupy a special place in the hearts of fans. Today, once again, Marc Gené, test driver for Scuderia Ferrari, was there to help and advise the customers drivers to enable them to fully exploit the available potential.

Pit stop. Tuesday evening, the traditional gala dinner hosted in the customers’ honour was held at the most spectacular spot of the track, Eau Rouge. Never before was the event as lively and unusual as on this occasion. In fact, a Ferrari F60, which quickly became a test bench for would be mechanics, was at the centre of the hall, among the tables. The customers were invited to form six-member teams, which were supplemented by the box crews of Corse Clienti. The result was amazing: the six guests that won the competition were able to change the car’s tyres in just over five seconds, an absolutely phenomenal time that left the mechanics astounded. The next event devoted to Formula 1 Clienti and XX Programmes will be held during the first weekend of October, on the occasion of the Ferrari Racing Days of the NOLA, in the United Stares.

 

F1 Clienti – XX Programmes – Cars on the track at Spa despite the rain

Posted: 01.09.2015
Source: Ferrari

Spa, 1 September  – The first of two days of test is under way on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, with the special drivers of Formula 1 Clienti and XX Programmes at the wheels. Ten single seaters and 17 cars of the XX Programmes took turns on the Belgian track, although heavy rain earlier in the day delayed the start of the activities.

Dream cars. The first Formula 1 that dared to tackle the rain was the 1995 412 T2 which, with its unmistakable sound, made it clear that the action at Spa-Francorchamps is to be taken seriously. The other customers watched carefully the laps of the first Ferrari driven by Michael Schumacher (whose official debut in Ferrari red was the following year) and then joined it on the track. The Scuderia’s test driver Marc Gené advised customers on how to best tackle the challenging conditions of one of the most beautiful circuit in the world; he explained how to approach braking on the wet track and how to manage the singleseater’s huge power. The cars present at Spa-Francorchamps during the two days of test cover a time span of 16 years.

FXX K and more. The Formula 1 Clienti singleseater alternated with the exceptional cars of the XX Programmes, which immediately accepted the challenge of the rain-soaked track showing off their extraordinary power. One FXX, ten 599XX and six FXX K took to the track. The FXX K is the latest addition to this very special series of cars, reserved to equally special customers that Ferrari selects carefully and who become testers for the Maranello firm. The data collected during the tests will be used by the engineers to design the Ferraris of the future. Tomorrow is the second and last day of the Spa-Francorchamps two-day event.

 

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