Ferrari Challenge APAC – Double for Wu, Zang and Berry and Maiden Win Louis Prette at Fuji
Posted: 09.07.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Oyama, 9th July 2017 – The fourth round of the 2017 Asia Pacific Ferrari Challenge came to a close today under warm and sunny conditions with track temperatures at a high of 40 degree Celsius at Fuji Speedway. The 35 drivers in the field once again showcased pure driving exhilaration during Race 2.
Trofeo Pirelli. The race provided lots of drama when it got off to a chaotic start as Yanbing Xing from China spun in the middle of turn 5 and had contact with a few cars. This triggered the safety car for the first four laps and the race restarted after that. Today’s pole position went to newcomer Louis Prette from Italy. Prette lead the race from start to finish and stood on top of the podium steps as his father Philippe, winner of Race 1, beamed with pride. This win got him onto the standings board but his father, Philippe, is still the leader with 123 points after Fuji round. The younger Prette beat Angelo Negro from Italy, who is now second on the standings with 98 points. Finishing third place in the race was Huilin Han from China.
Trofeo Pirelli AM. The race was just as competitive for the Trofeo Pirelli AM drivers. With Tiger Wu from Chinese Taipei once again leading his group, there was a tight battle for first and second places with Ken Seto of Japan, with only a gap of 2.511seconds between the two at the finishing line. Wu finished first and Seto second. With Xing out of the race after the collision, Wu’s win has propelled him to the top of the standings in his class.
Coppa Shell. Eric Zang from China found success for the second time in the Coppa Shell Class. With a valiant race drive, he maintained his lead in his class throughout his race and powered to victory, with Grant Baker from New Zealand finishing second. David Dicker, also from New Zealand, settled for a third place finish. Baker also captured the Gentlemen Cup while Kanthicha Chimsiri from Thailand took the Ladies’ Cup.
Trofeo Pirelli 458. It was the second win in a row for Martin Berry from Australia when he found himself at the top of the podium once again. Berry started first in his class, lead the way throughout the race and steered his Ferrari 458 Challenge EVO to his fifth win of the season. Berry beat Tsuyoshi Adachi from Japan, who finished by a wide 20.826 seconds behind him, while Paul Wong from Hong Kong, finished third. Berry now leads the standings in his class.
Schedule. The next round of the Ferrari Challenge Asia Pacific will be held at Sepang in Malaysia from 25th – 27th August.
Ferrari Challenge APAC – Prette, Wu, Zang and Berry Roar to Fuji Victory
Posted: 08.07.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Oyama, 8th July 2017 – Under cloudy skies and sunny conditions, crowds came to see the first race of the fourth round of the Ferrari Challenge Asia Pacific at Fuji Speedway, situated in the foothills of Mount Fuji. 35 drivers from 13 different nationalities saw true competition among the various classes on the 4.563 kilometre circuit with one of the longest straights in motorsport tracks, at 1.475 km in length. This round also saw a record 23 Ferrari 488 Challenge cars taking part in the competition.
Trofeo Pirelli. The practice sessions on Friday proved to be essential as many of the Challenge drivers were new to the Fuji circuit. Understanding the track and getting acquainted with it is crucial for a driver’s success at this circuit, known for its tight hairpin turns and demanding esses at Turn 10. Dominating the first race of the Trofeo Pirelli class was pole-sitter Philippe Prette from Italy, the current leader on the standing board. He took charge of the race and lead from start to finish. Go Max, despite homeground advantage, simply could not find his extra pace to overtake Prette, who crossed the finish line unchallenged. Third position went to Angelo Negro from Italy.
Trofeo Pirelli AM. In the Pirelli AM class, the winner was Tiger Wu from Chinese Taipei. Coming in second for this class was newcomer Angie King of Philippines who recovered from a spin to hold track position, followed by Yanbin Xing from China who was leading before this race and now is one point behind Wu.
Coppa Shell. In the Coppa Shell classification, Eric Zang of China, a relative newcomer as this is only his third racing weekend, was the clear victor. He managed to overtake pole-sitter Makoto Fujiwara of Japan during the second lap and kept his lead all the way to the chequered flag. Fujiwara, who remains leader in the championship standings, dropped two places and ended at the bottom of the podium. Charles Chan from Hong Kong took second position. David Dicker from New Zealand was the winner of the Gentlemen Cup while Kanthicha Chimsiri from Thailand took the Ladies’ Cup.
Trofeo Pirelli 458. Eleven drivers raced in their Ferrari 458 Challenge EVO cars under the Trofeo Pirelli 458 classification. Martin Berry of Australia emerged victorious in this race, taking his fourth win of the season. He held a comfortable lead over Min Xiao of China, who came in second. Tamotsu Kondo of Japan came in third.
Schedule. Track action continues tomorrow for Race-2 of the Ferrari Challenge weekend at Fuji Speedway. This will take place at 4.30 PM local time.
Ferrari Challenge APAC – Championship on track in shadow of Mount Fuji
Posted: 06.07.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Oyama, 6 July 2017 – The Ferrari Challenge APAC returns for its fourth round of the season, held on the legendary Fuji track at the foot of Japan’s sacred mountain, from July 7th to 9th.
Trofeo Pirelli. Philippe Prette tops the Trofeo Pirelli standings, a perennial occupant of the podium so far this season and with three wins to his name. Zen Low is his nearest rival, with four podiums in five races. Low in turn has a two-point lead over Angelo Negro, winner of the first race of the season in Abu Dhabi.
Pirelli Am. The Trofeo Pirelli Am is the most open of the classes, with the highly consistent Yanbin Xing out in front after four podiums in five races. Three points behind comes home driver Ken Seto, winner in Race-2 at Abu Dhabi, followed by Race-1 victor Tiger Wu, five points off the summit.
Coppa Shell. In the Coppa Shell everyone is expecting a fifth triumph for Makoto Fujiwara, dominant both in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai and eagerly awaited on track by friends and fans keen to see another great performance. Andrew Moon is the first of his pursuers, followed by David Dicker in third who also tops the Gentlemen’s Cup for the over-55s. Thailand’s Kanthicha Chimsiri will be defending her lead in the Ladies’ Cup.
Trophy Pirelli 458. All eyes are on Australia’s Martin Berry who, bolstered by three victories, heads the 458 Challenge EVO class. Min Xiao is in second with three podiums, while Sam Lok, winner of Race-2 in Shanghai, follows in third.
The Challenge drivers will undertake five rounds of practice sessions this week, with the first race on Saturday July 8th at 4:00 PM local time and the second race on Sunday July 9th at 4:30 PM local time.
LaFerrari Aperta in Portsmouth
Posted: 06.07.2017 / Source: Ferrari
70th Anniversary celebrations starts in UK
Portsmouth, 6 July 2017 – Meridien Modena had the great pleasure of starting the Ferrari 70th Anniversary tours in the UK on July 5. On a wonderful sunny morning the parade began at the historic Goodwood Motor Circuit to enjoy the spectacle of FF Corse testing the new Ferrari 488 Challenge. From there the 70 Ferrari cars drove a beautiful scenic route finishing at the iconic Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth.
The LaFerrari Aperta lead the parade which had a fantastic range of Ferraris, with the particular mention of; three F40s, two F50s, a stunning Dino, and an F12tdf. In addition to all of the Ferraris there was a very special appearance of Meridien Modena’s Ferrari 250 GT Coupé Pinin Farina. This was driven by Tim Burton who is also very well known as “Shmee150″ on social media channels.
When all Ferraris were parked in their positions over 200 attendees congregated around the LaFerrari Aperta for a group photo with the incredible Spinnaker Tower as the back drop. Whilst the Ferraris were in place, members of the public could walk around the line-up and enjoy taking some photos. The day came to a close with the LaFerrari Aperta leading all of the Ferraris out of Gunwharf Quays with a huge line-up of Ferrari enthusiasts waving them off.
Ferrari takes the Red Dot: Best of the Best design award for the third year running
Posted: 05.07.2017 / Source: Ferrari
The Ferrari J50 takes top honours in the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2017
The GTC4Lusso, LaFerrari Aperta and 458 MM Speciale receive Red Dot distinctions
Maranello, 5 July 2017 – For the third year running, Ferrari has taken the Red Dot: Best of the Best award for the maximum expression of design quality and ground-breaking design. The model to receive the top Red Dot Award in the prestigious annual Product Design competition this year was the Ferrari J50, the strictly limited series of bespoke cars built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Ferrari in Japan.
A sophisticated two-seater, mid-rear-engined roadster based on the 488 Spider, the J50 features a radically futuristic design language and was praised by the Red Dot jurors for its innovation. Designed by the Ferrari Design team under the direction of Flavio Manzoni, just 10 examples of the J50 will be built in the spirit of Ferrari’s fuori serie tradition.
The international jury of design experts also awarded Ferrari Red Dot distinctions for the high design quality of the GTC4Lusso, LaFerrari Aperta and the 458 MM Speciale. The award ceremony held the evening of the 3rd of July at the Aalto Theater in Essen thus focussed attention on the design excellence that characterises Ferrari’s entire model range in the year that the company celebrates its 70th anniversary.
Ferrari’s unique heritage, in fact, is encapsulated in the most extensive and diverse range of sports cars in the automotive sector. The GTC4Lusso is Ferrari’s flagship GT production car, an exclusive interpretation of the four-seater concept, combining extraordinary performance in all driving conditions with sporty elegance and luxurious comfort. The LaFerrari Aperta is a limited-edition special series, an open-top version of the acclaimed LaFerrari supercar which represents the finest expression of the marque’s technical capabilities in both GT and Formula 1 engineering. The 458 MM Speciale instead is one of the latest creations from Ferrari’s special One-Off programme, a bespoke service for clients who desire a truly unique car with innovative, individual styling.
| Circuit | Red Bull Ring – Spielberg |
| Date | 09.07.2016 |
| Laps | 71 |
| Distance | 306,452 km / 190,461 miles |
| No | Driver | Ferrari | S/N | Team | Result |
| 5 | Sebastian Vettel | SF70-H | – |
Scuderia Ferrari | 2. |
| 7 | Kimi Raikkonen | SF70-H | – |
Scuderia Ferrari | 4. |
Austrian Grand Prix – Spielberg 9 July
Posted: 09.07.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Maurizio Arrivabene: “It was a very close race, which, once again showed that Ferrari is on the pace. Sebastian was able to fight for the win right to the very last corner, having produced a great drive. It was a shame for Kimi, who already on the opening lap, ran wide at turn 3 while fighting with Ricciardo. If not for that, with the car he had today, he too could have had a good race. The next race at Silverstone is just a few days away and as usual, we will be working flat out to prepare for it.”
Sebastian Vettel: “Today I struggled in the first stint with the first set of tires, the Ultrasofts. I think they were just getting too hot. Then the clouds came in and the balance of the car improved. That’s why I think we were starting to get quicker. It was a shame that we couldn’t win, because we were close. We learnt more about the car in these days and there are many positive aspects regarding this race, but I feel like I could have won today and I didn’t, so I am not entirely happy. At the beginning of the race I was just not quick enough. The pace was there, but the balance wasn’t. I like this place, which has a lot of history and it’s the place where I drove a racing car for the first time, in 2003. It’s a long time ago, but I still have beautiful memories. And now I am already looking forward to going to Silverstone.”
Kimi Raikkonen: “In the first part of the race we had some difficulties with the balance of the car. I struggled a little bit with the first set of tires at the beginning, but then it was getting better and better. The second set was fine: at the beginning of the last stint the car felt very good and we had good speed, but at that point we were too far behind to try to recover. As the tires were getting older we obviously started to go slower, but we were still doing good lap times and the balance was improving. Overall, though, it was not a very easy weekend.”
Austrian Grand Prix – Second place: worth its weight in gold
Posted: 09.07.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Vettel extends championship lead, Kimi takes 5th
Spielberg, 9 July –Ferrari is back on the podium thanks to a second place for Seb Vettel, who thus extends his lead over Hamilton to 20 points, while Kimi was fifth at the end of 71 very closely contested laps. All eyes were on the start lights, with Seb on the front row alongside Bottas, with Kimi right behind. The first two tore away while Kimi was immediately in a fight with Ricciardo which saw him go off track: time to get back on track in every sense of the word and that fight began with a nice passing move on Grosjean. The Stewards were investigating a possible jumped start from the poleman. The track surface was boiling hot, almost 50° and that was giving the tyres a harder time than expected. Kimi was fourth, coming under attack from Hamilton, but the Finn was doing well to hold him off. Out in front, nothing much happened until lap 32, when Lewis pitted to take on Ultrasofts. Raikkonen stayed out, while Ricciardo pitted. Then, on lap 34, Seb came in and, as planned, switched to the red-banded tyres. Bottas’ Ultrasofts were done and he pitted on lap 42, coming out on track behind Kimi who, having yet to stop, was in the lead. The Iceman held him off until turn 4 and so it was time for him to come in for new tyres. Seb and Kimi were nibbling away at the gaps to their closest rivals. Vettel posted the race fastest lap on lap 50. Four laps later and Kimi did better, but the backmarkers didn’t help his cause and he repeatedly had to brake on the dirty part of the track. The final stages were very close with traffic typical of a short track like this one, as lap times tumbled and the leaders suffering from blistering on the tyres as did more and more of the pack. In the final two laps, Seb was within DRS distance of Bottas and Hamilton was in the same situation with Ricciardo, but that was the order at the flag, with Vettel coming home second to increase his lead by a further six points in the Drivers’ championship. “Guys, we really tried.” And Kimi brought home a further 10 points to add to the haul.
Austrian Grand Prix – “Could have done even better”
Posted: 08.07.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Seb: I hoped to get pole in the last run. Kimi: happy with starting 3rd
Spielberg, July 8th – It was a very lively and close qualifying session right up to a few minutes to the end, when the Austrian Grand Prix public was deprived of witnessing most drivers’ last runs because of a yellow flag sector. At the end of the qualifying hour, Scuderia Ferrari drivers Seb Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen ended up second and fourth respectively; but since Lewis Hamilton has been handed a penalty for an unscheduled gearbox change, Kimi will start tomorrow’s race from third slot on the grid. Until the end, Seb had hoped for even more: “In the second run I was hoping to jump Bottas and I think I could have done better, but in the end I am pretty happy with my lap; the car is very good. Mercedes is always very quick in qualifying, but today we were close. I think it should be fine tomorrow. It will be a long race and many things can happen. The most important thing is that the car was good in qualifying. We will try to do our race and look forward. For sure it will be tough, but let’s see what we can do”. Team-mate Kimi Raikkonen saw a steady improvement after a not-so-easy start: “The whole weekend had been quite tricky so far and yesterday, for certain reasons, we did not have a very good day. This morning, we basically started from zero. The feeling with the car was getting better and better, but it was not easy to recover from yesterday. The qualifying session was a bit messy, with the traffic and the yellow flags. I’m not very happy overall, but considering how tricky it has been , third place is not bad. It could have been much worse. Later this evening and tomorrow morning we will go through all the different scenarios and we’ll try to pick the best one, depending on what happens in the first lap, how the weather will be and other factors”.
Austrian Grand Prix – Reds on the first and second rows
Posted: 08.07.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Seb will start from second, with Kimi right behind
Spielberg, 8 July – At the end of a closely contested qualifying session on the Austrian circuit, Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen posted the second and fourth fastest times respectively. Seb’s best lap was a 1’04”293 set on the Ultrasoft tyres. His Finnish team-mate was fourth fastest in 1’04”799, but tomorrow Kimi will line up on the third spot on the grid, because Hamilton has a penalty. The drivers only managed one run in Q3 as the yellow flags were brought out on the final lap after Grosjean stopped on track.
Austrian Grand Prix – Free Practice 3: a positive session
Posted: 08.07.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Seb fastest, Kimi fourth
Spielberg, 8 July – In the final 60 minutes of free practice prior to this afternoon’s qualifying, Sebastian Vettel set the fastest time of 1:05.092 on the Ultrasoft tyres, which were used by all drivers during the session. Kimi Raikkonen’s best was a 1:05.611, which was good enough for fourth place. During the hour, Scuderia Ferrari tested running with different fuel loads. Austrian Grand Prix qualifying gets underway at 14h00 local time.
Austrian Grand Prix – A good day at the office
Posted: 07.07.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Seb (2nd) and Kimi (6th) gear up for Spielberg: “We’ve made some improvements”
Spielberg, July 7 – A short burst of rain between P1 and P2 did not prevent Scuderia Ferrari drivers from going through their planned programme, as the afternoon session stayed dry throughout. Sebastian ended up P2 and Kimi P6 in a session where familiarisation was more crucial than lap times.
“Today we did a lot of laps and learnt a lot about the car,” commented Seb. “We had a good feel with it and that is what we need. So, we’ll see what we can do tomorrow. We understood the problems we had in Baku, but here it’s completely different. The weather and the asphalt temperature are not the same as they were there. Today it is still difficult to judge, but the car is very good and we made some improvements. We proceed step by step; tomorrow we’ll have another free practice session and then we’ll see”.
Kimi had a slightly more troublesome day, but in the end he was not worried about the remainder of the weekend: “It was a very normal day, trying different solutions and seeing how they went. We struggled a bit with some things, but we know what is going on and we should be able to fix it. It was one of those Fridays, not great and not bad either. Obviously it could have been a bit better and straightforward, but it’s only the first day of practice. I don’t think it will be very difficult with tires as long as we do the normal things; it’s a very similar story as any other race. Now we have to go through everything and improve for tomorrow”.
Austrian Grand Prix – “Let’s focus on this race now”
Posted: 06.07.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Seb: “Never easy to get it right”. Kimi: “We can be up there”
Spielberg, July 6th –Formula One has returned to Europe, with all the teams preparing for the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix. At Spielberg, the morning sun gave way to clouds and a burst of rain in the afternoon. Scuderia Ferrari drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel look ahead to the weekend after the well-publicised events in Azerbaijan.
“At the beginning of this week, I went to Paris to speak with the FIA and talk about what happened. Now we are here to move on and focus on the race. It is never easy to get everything right and to come out on top. I don’t think this has been a terrible week, but then it depends on what happens for the rest of it…”.
Kimi seems to be keen on the 4.3 km Austrian circuit: “I like the layout of this track: it doesn’t have many corners, so the lap time is quite short and everybody is quite close in qualifying. It’s not easy to make predictions for the weekend, even if, in the past this track has been quite good for us but obviously, with the new rule changes, you never know. I think that our car should be fine, we have been pretty strong everywhere so far. We are quite confident that wherever we go and in whatever conditions we can be up there. The end result obviously depends on many things, we’ll see how it goes but we should be ok”.
Austrian Grand Prix – The fastest lap
Posted: 04.07.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Less than 70 seconds to do a lap, half of it at full throttle: that’s Spielberg
In the beginning there was the airport called Zeltweg, at the bottom of a valley, featuring a notoriously atrocious track surface. That’s where Formula 1 came for its first official Austrian GP back in 1964. It turned out to be the first and, unfortunately, the only win for Lorenzo Bandini, driving for Scuderia Ferrari. Then came the Osterreichring, a permanent track featuring some frightening high speed corners. It staged the race up until that difficult 1987 event. It would be ten years before F1 returned to the Styrian valley on a significantly shorter layout, which is pretty much the one in use today. The Austrian race returned to the calendar in 2014, along with the hybrid cars. A favourite with the fans because of the atmosphere and the great view, the Zeltweg track, or more correctly, Spielberg, is one of the shortest on the calendar in terms of distance and in time taken for a lap, half of which is spent at full throttle. There are nine corners in total, a mix of hard braking and fast curves, with endless changes of gradient. For this race, the tyres will be the softest available: Soft, Supersoft and Ultrasoft. That’s as long as the rain tyres are not required and, at the moment, the weather forecast for the weekend is still uncertain…
At university with Ferrari
Posted: 04.07.2017 / Source: Ferrari
MUNER course enrolments open
Maranello, 4 July 2017 – Enrolment for courses at the Motorvehicle University of Emilia-Romagna (MUNER) are open until 28 July. The university is an association promoted by Emilia-Romagna Region, which includes the universities of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Bologna, Ferrara and Parma along with car companies in the Region that represent the excellence of Brand Italy and that of course include Ferrari.
Six areas. The course covers six areas of specialisation. Advanced Powertrain is or engineers who want to deepen their knowledge of engines. Advanced Motorcycle Engineering is for anyone who wants to focus on motorcycle-related aspects. Advanced Sportscar Manufacturing aims to nurture talents in the planning, development and control of activities related to sports cars. Advanced Automotive Electronic Engineering is for the development of electronic systems for the automotive world. High Performance Car Design is for talents specialising in the design of high performance cars. The sixth area is the sportiest: Racing Car Design.
From university to company. All courses include lectures and university activities but also an intense work programme to be performed in-house at companies, in the workshops and design areas of the most prestigious manufacturers in the area, such as Ferrari. The course is open to 150 talents from all over the world. Follow this link to enrol: https://motorvehicleuniversity.com
Ferrari celebrates 70th anniversary at the world renowned Hockenheim circuit
Posted: 01.07.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Wiesbaden/ Hockenheimring, 1 July 2017 – As a special initiative for Ferrari owners and fans based in Germany, Ferrari has hosted a 70th anniversary celebration of the marque’s foundation at the world-renowned Hockenheim circuit this Saturday attracting over a thousand visitors to the track through the day. A fair number of Ferrari guests also travelled in from neighbouring countries Switzerland and Austria to join in the market’s festivities.
Having turned Baden-Württemberg successfully into Rosso Corso Italian red, Passione Ferrari created a remarkable day hosting a series of spectacular attractions, all designed to bring visiting enthusiasts up close and personal with the brand.
The celebratory anniversary logo for 70 years of Ferrari was proudly displayed on a Ferrari Classiche dedicated platform showcasing a rare collection of iconic cars each representing special eras in time of the manufacturer’s history. Nearby the full range of current model Ferrari cars from the CaliforniaT, 488GTB, GTC4Lusso and the recently launched 812Superfast as well as the famous LaFerrari Aperta a special series and a unique model in terms of both its technology and styling, making it the perfect symbolic model to represent this important anniversary.
The early morning led the impressive dynamic activities with over 400 Ferrari cars arriving for the unique opportunity to actively participate on track, racing against each other as gentlemen drivers in a series of classes: Modern, Rookie, Classic cars and Race cars. Considered as the gathering of the year the sight and sound of the cars on track was a sight to behold.
As an exceptional action, Kimi Räikkönen, Ferrari’s revered Formula One Champion driver joined to pay tribute to the birthday gathering. Having the Formula One star on the track alongside a collection of 488Challenge cars which compete in Ferrari’s prestigious international Challenge racing series for clients, meant a prime opportunity for some revving fun. In a spur-of-the-moment inspired test, three FXX-K drivers were invited to compete against Räikkönen with all four racing technically identical 488Challenge cars. The show was cheered on by a full gathering of spectators around the circuit which ended amusingly in Kimi rewarding his aspiring opponents each with a hard-earned podium position. To complete his visit after a meet and greet with fans, Kimi led the 70th parade consisting of ca. 250 Ferrari cars around the Hockenheim circuit by driving the limited-edition LaFerrari Aperta himself.
Jean-Philippe Leloup, Managing Director of Ferrari Central/East Europe GmbH revelled in the joy of the crowds and stated, “Germany is one of the most important markets for Ferrari and it is fantastic to see all our customers from all across the region come to join us in this remarkable gathering here, additionally the delight from the spectators has made this feel like a true family gathering in every degree. The brand today could not be any closer to every true Ferrari fan, we are very proud to host the 70th anniversary here at Hockenheim.”
Through 2017 Ferrari is hosting a world tour spanning more than 60 different countries, a year-long series of worldwide events celebrates classic Ferraris and modern cars side by side. The celebrations will conclude with an exclusive event in Maranello this September.
Ferrari GTC4Lusso Drive Days in Australia
Posted: 01.07.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Australia has celebrated the arrival of the Ferrari GTC4Lusso with a series of drive days from Sydney to the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Blue Mountains.
The drive days started at the Ferrari Sydney showroom, alongside a stunning 1972 365GTC4 example to showcase the noble heritage of the new Ferrari V12 four seater.
Guests travelled in convoy from Sydney to the Blue Mountains, stopping at the Norman Lindsay Gallery and Museum in Faulconbridge for morning tea and a private tour of the collection. The beautiful sandstone gallery was once home to acclaimed Australian artist, Norman Lindsay, himself. Guests were introduced to a number of Italian-inspired artworks from 1947, including the spectacular and seductive watercolour, ‘Visitants from the Moon’ which showcases female nudes descending from heaven. Of particular interest to Ferrari’s guests was a cartoon Norman Lindsay had published in The Bulletin Magazine on 12 March 1947, the very day the first Ferrari left the factory gates in Maranello. The study of Norman Lindsay’s works underlined the confidence and optimism with which Ferrari was founded and the appreciation of art and design which is still strongly associated with the marque today.
The GTC4Lusso convoy then travelled along several scenic twisting and turning roads, stopping briefing to admire the views from Hawkesbury Heights lookout. From there it was on to lunch at the impressively revamped Hydro Majestic luxury hotel property, with stunning views out over the Blue Mountains’ Jamieson Valley. After lunch the convoy followed the sweeping curves of Bells Line of Road back to Sydney. The Blue Mountains drive allowed guests to experience the extraordinary V12 performance of the GTC4Lusso both on the highway and on great driving roads, with the sporty elegance and luxurious comfort impressing both drivers and passengers alike. Even in traffic coming into Sydney, guests agreed that the drive offered an unforgettable opportunity to experience the pleasure of driving this new Ferrari anywhere and anytime.
Ferrari F1 Clienti and XX Programme 2017 – Round 5 – Spa-Francorchamps
Posted: 28.06.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Francorchamps, 28 June 2017 – The two-day event for F1 Clienti and XX Programmes, two of the most exclusive Corse Clienti activities, concluded on the legendary Spa-Francorchamps track.
Schumacher era. The single-seaters lapping the track included a number from the golden age when Michael Schumacher reigned supreme. La Source, Eau Rouge and Raidillon saw a display by three F2001s with which the German won the world title and then an F2002 and a F2004 whose apotheosis came on the Spa-Francorchamps track, with the conquest of Michael’s seventh world title.There was also a V12 engine, that of the 412 T2 raced by Gerhard Berger, the last Prancing Horse F1 car to boast 12 cylinders.
Modern era. An F2007 took part in the two days of testing. This was the racing car with which Kimi Raikkonen won the world drivers’ title and that took the constructors’ title. There were also three F2008s, two driven by Felipe Massa and one by Kimi, two F150° Italias of Fernando Alonso and one F138 also driven by the Spaniard.
F1 and more. The legendary Spa-Francorchamps track not only saw Formula 1 cars but also two splendid F333 SPs, the barchetta built by Ferrari in the mid-1990s for its customer teams. This prototype, the last competition one made by Ferrari, won the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1998 and was one of the stars of the 2016 Finali Mondiali on the classic Florida tri-oval. The cars of the XX Programmes were also out in force, with Marc Gené tutor helping customers make the most of their FXX K, FXX, 599XX and 599XX EVOs.
Gala evening. On Saturday evening, the restaurant nestling on the inside of the Eau Rouge corner hosted a gala evening for customers. It included an exceptional guest of honour, Alessandro Pier Guidi, winner of the 24 Hours in 2015, and recently second in the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in the FIA WEC championship after a thrilling duel with Sam Bird, his teammate in the 488 GTE no. 71 of AF Corse.
XX Programmes / F1 Clienti – The FXX K on the legendary Spa-Francorchamps track
Posted: 27.06.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Francorchamps, 27 June 2017 – The first of two test days for the special XX Programmes and F1 Clienti, two of the most exclusive activities run by Attività Sportive GT, have been completed on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
Unique track. The track needs no introduction. Spa-Francorchamps is a circuit on which some of the most important pages of motorsport history have been written. It was once over 14 kilometres long and was on public roads. Now it is half that size and is a permanent track. The drivers love it for some of its most famous sections: Eau Rouge, Raidillon, and Stavelot, the high speed corners before the finish line and the Bus Stop chicane.
Exceptional tutors. Ferrari Development Driver Marc Gené guided participants in their pursuit of maximum driving pleasure. Marc helped the customers of the 15 Formula One cars and over 50 of the XX cars to focus on the key points of the track and then assisted them in setting up the car. There were 15 FXX Ks on the Ardennes track, for a total of 15,750 hp, an incredible figure in addition to the other two cars of this very special activity.
Downforce and Extreme Power. Two 599XXs and fourteen 599XX Evos, the second car of the XX Programmes launched in 2009, took to the track. This front-engine car is endowed with extremely sophisticated technologies, such as a system that sucks the air from the undercar to help it adhere to the tarmac. There were also five FXXs, the first car in the series, launched in 2006, whose extraordinary power still makes it a favourite for professional drivers who play the role of tutor.
Ferrari celebrates 70 year anniversary at the Goodwood Festival of Speed
Posted: 03.07.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Goodwood, 3 July 2017 – Ferrari celebrated its 70th anniversary at the Goodwood Festival of Speed with 70 historic, iconic and championship-winning Ferrari cars thrilling crowds with a special parade of cars tackling the famed hillclimb circuit, before coming together on the Lawn of Goodwood House to create a unique and spectacular “Ferrari Moment”.
Iconic cars. The parade was led by the first car to wear the Ferrari badge, the 1947 125 S, and Maranello’s latest model, the very limited edition LaFerrari Aperta, which is the star of the company’s anniversary celebrations. Multiple championship-winning single seaters and endurance racers from the Scuderia Ferrari’s illustrious racing history joined the two iconic cars to create an incredible display at the very heart of the Festival of Speed.
Legendary drivers. These cars were driven by motorsport legends Derek Bell, Jackie Stewart and Dario Franchitti, as well as Marc Gene (Ferrari Developing driver), Alessandro Pier Guidi, Davide Rigon and Olivier Beretta (Ferrari Competizioni GT drivers). Ferrari’s XX Programmes cars, the FXX and FXX K were driven by Factory GT Drivers Sam Bird and James Calado, while the 599 XX was piloted by ex-Scuderia Ferrari driver, René Arnoux.
Goodwood FOS – Ferrari cars and drivers ready to put on a show
Posted: 30.06.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 30 June 2017 – The Goodwood Festival of Speed, a favourite of motorsport enthusiasts, takes place next weekend. Every year thousands of car lovers and many Ferrari fans flock to Sussex for the event and the tifosi will find a lot of Prancing Horse cars, from the Classic Ferrari cars of the Fifties and Sixties to the current road range.
Out in force. Five GT drivers plus Development Driver Marc Gené, fresh from the F1 Clienti and XX Programmes event at Spa-Francorchamps, will be there to represent Maranello. Davide Rigon, who recently competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 1000 Km of Paul Ricard, where he finished second with the 488 GT3 of SMP Racing, will be at the wheel of the F2007 that won the F1 world title with Kimi Raikkonen. The Italian driver will star in Goodwood’s legendary drive-by on all three days of the event. He will be joined by Marc Gené in an F60, and Olivier Beretta, in command of an F1-90, the car in which Alain Prost at the Paul Ricard sealed Ferrari’s 100th Formula 1 victory.
Closed wheels. British Ferrari GT racing drivers Sam Bird and James Calado will be in action with an FXX and an FXX K, putting on a display at the wheel of the mighty cars of the XX Programmes. They will be joined by an old glory of Scuderia Ferrari, René Arnoux, who will drive the 599XX, a car he has previously tried out at many Corse Clienti events. Alessandro Pier Guidi will complete the Ferrari show at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, performing at the wheel of the 488 GTE no. 51 of AF Corse. He will drive the car officially on track again in 15 days with the fourth race of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the 6 Hours of Nürburgring.
Korea celebrates the Premiere of Ferrari ‘812 Superfast’
Posted: 26.06.2017 / Source: Ferrari
A dynamic appearance accompanied by massive exhaust sound captured customers’ eyes
June 2017 – Ferrari, together with FMK, the official Ferrari importer and distributor in South Korea, has recently launched the Ferrari 812 Superfast in Seoul. The event took place at a special stage in Yangjae-dong.
The special stage was decorated with specially-designed cargo containers which gave a powerful feeling to the event, much like the latest Ferrari 812 Superfast. The impressive performance of the rock band harmonized well with the charm of the 812 Superfast, which heightened the electrifying atmosphere of the venue.
The highlight of the event was the dynamic appearance of the main character, the Ferrari 812 Superfast. The 812 Superfast appeared under intense lighting and flames with the heavy and sonorous exhaust sound of the new Ferrari 12-cylinder engine to exude a brilliant and elegant performance, while attracting over 300 people gathered at the venue. Customers attending the ceremony were able to see the new masterpiece of Ferrari’s unique craftsmanship and technology, including the new aerodynamic design and sophisticated sculptural interior.
The CEO of FMK Co., Ltd Mr. Kim Kwang-chul said, “We are delighted to introduce the 812 Superfast, which emanates the charm of the Ferrari supercar with the strongest and fastest performance ever of its range cars. We would also like to thank the customers who have been waiting patiently for the debut of the 812 Superfast in Korea with high interest and the fans who love Ferrari. We will continue to make every effort to return the kind support of our Ferrari customers through excellent customer service and various events and social activities,” he added.
