FIA WEC Super Season 2018 – 2019 – Round 7 – Total 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps – Five Ferraris at Spa-Francorchamps
Posted: 01.05.2019
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 1 May 2019 – The penultimate act of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Super Season takes place this weekend at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps track in Belgium. The seventh of a season that concludes with the 24 Hours of Le Mans, follows the 12 Hours of Sebring where the Ferrari of Spirit of Race driven by Flohr, Fisichella and Castellacci triumphed in the Pro-Am class. Five Ferraris are due to start, two in the GTE-Pro class and three in the GTE-Am.
Not an easy race. The 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps that marked the start of the 2018-19 Super Season was particularly tricky for Ferrari, because of the Balance of Performance. However, it nevertheless secured unexpected podiums in the GTE-Pro with Davide Rigon and Sam Bird, and in the GTE-Am with Matt Griffin, Weng Sun Mok and Keita Sawa for Clearwater Racing. One year later, the situation remains the same at least as far as the BoP is concerned. The potential of the 488 GTE is still more limited than its rivals. So there are no high hopes for the Belgian race. Maranello’s cars will try to use the car’s aerodynamic and chassis qualities to hold off their opponents in the stretches of the circuit that runs along the hills of the Ardennes.
GTE-Pro. In the GTE-Pro, Alessandro Pier Guidi and James Calado will be in world champion car no. 51, while Davide Rigon and Sam Bird in car no. 71, will try to repeat the podium won in round 1.
GTE-Am. In the GTE-Am, the Spa-Francorchamps race offers a chance to Spirit Of Race no. 54 crewed by Giancarlo Fisichella, Thomas Flohr and Francesco Castellacci, to further close the gap on the championship leaders after the podium won in Florida. Matteo Cressoni, Matt Griffin and Luis Perez Companc in Clearwater Racing no. 61 will be seeking payback after an unlucky 12 Hours of Sebring. The third Ferrari in the class is the no. 70 of MR Racing, with Olivier Beretta, Eddie Cheever III and Motoaki Ishikawa which finished fifth in the gruelling American marathon.
History. Ferrari has a long tradition of success at the Belgian track, with over 100 victories to its name. The first came in 1949 courtesy of Luigi Chinetti and Jean Lucas, in a 166 MM, while the latest was the very recent triumph of Jiří Písařík, Josef Kral, Matteo Malucelli in the colours of Scuderia Praha at the 12H of Spa in the 24H Series.
Programme. The first free practice session was on dry track while the second one was affected by torrential rain and was interrupted three times with the red flag. It seems rain will stay for the rest of the weekend, Tomorrow at 11 the cars will take the track for the last free practice session while qualifying will be at 3 pm. The six-hour race kicks off at 1.30 p.m. on Saturday.
Formula 1 Socar Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2019 – We wanted more
Posted: 28.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
28 April 2019 – Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow leaves Azerbaijan having taken its third podium finish of the season, but with a sense of regret at not getting a better result. Sebastian Vettel finished third for the second consecutive race, while Charles Leclerc, starting back in eighth because of his qualifying mistake, worked his way up to fifth and, at one point even led the race for 19 laps. He also took the point for setting the race fastest lap.
Sebastian maintained his third place off the grid, while Charles, on the Medium tyres dropped from eighth to tenth but, from the second lap began a great climb up the order. He picked off his rivals at the rate of one per lap, despatching them in the order Daniel Ricciardo, Daniil Kvyat, Carlos Sainz, Lando Norris, Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen, to move to third place, by the time Vettel pitted on lap 11. Shortly afterwards, Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton pitted to go from Softs to Mediums and that saw Charles in the lead.
At this point, the team opted to lengthen Leclerc’s stint as much as possible, in case a Safety Car period would mean the Monegasque driver could pit losing less time and could thus set off in attacking mode for the final stint. The opportunity never arose and Charles came in on lap 34, rejoining sixth behind Pierre Gasly, whom he took one lap to pass.
In the closing stages, Sebastian managed his lead over Max Verstappen, to finish third behind Bottas and Hamilton. Charles was running unchallenged in fifth and therefore on lap 47, he pitted for fresh tyres to go for the fastest lap of the race. He did it, setting a new track record of 1’43”009. It was Ferrari’s 250th fastest lap in Formula 1. The next round takes place in two weeks’ time in Spain.
Sebastian Vettel #5
“That was fun driving today, although not so much in the first stint when I couldn’t get the tyres to work and I didn’t have as much grip as I’d expected. We were not quick and the performance was uneven because I damaged the tyres trying to get them up to temperature and then, once they were there, they didn’t give the performance I’d expected because, they were damaged. After the pit stop I really got a good pace and I had fun because I felt the car was fully under control and I felt free to push, even if it wasn’t enough to put our rivals under pressure. At the restart following the Virtual Safety Car, I set my fastest lap and I managed to get the gap to Verstappen to a second. I think that by then he realised he couldn’t attack me and so I was able to drop the pace a bit in the closing laps. Our pace was alright today, but not good enough. The whole team is working to the maximum and so I feel confident. I believe in this team and I know we can improve. We have a good car, but we’re not using it in the way to get the results we should be getting. It’s like a Rubik’s cube where you have to have everything in the right order. We have a lot of clever people in the team who could solve that puzzle in less than two minutes, but in this case the cube is a bit bigger.”
Charles Leclerc #16
“We extracted the most we could have done out of today’s race. After the setback in qualifying, I started from P8 on medium tyres. It was a bit tricky in the beginning, because everyone around me was starting on the soft compound while I struggled a little bit to get up to speed. Once I got the tyres up to temperature, I had good grip and the situation improved. We had a strong first stint and were able to gain some positions there. After the pit-stop it became clear that we would not be able to move further up the order, so we decided to stop pushing to save the tyres, pitted for a new set and so I was able to bring home the point for the fastest lap at the end. Overall, it hasn’t been the best weekend but our potential was clearly there and I hope that we will have a much better performance at the next GP in Spain again.”
Mattia Binotto Team Principal
“Our performance did not live up to our expectations today. Qualifying had not gone the way we would have wanted and, on this track, grid positions make a big difference, as starting further back makes everything more difficult. In the race, there were no Safety Car periods to take advantage of, which might have played into our hands against our rivals. Sebastian produced a solid performance, always close to the two leaders and he fully deserved to finish on the podium. Charles ran a great race, moving up the order, after losing a few places at the start, because it was harder for him to get his Medium tyres up to temperature than it was for those on the Softs. Today, our pace was not good enough and our rivals were faster. We have to go home, identify the areas where we are weak and push in our way of working, to make more aggressive choices to get back to where we deserve to be.”
Formula 1 Socar Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2019 – Ferrari third and fifth in Baku
Posted: 28.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Baku, 28 April 2019 – Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow came away from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with a third place courtesy of Sebastian Vettel and a fifth with Charles Leclerc.
The race. Sebastian held on to his start position of third and Charles dropped from eighth to tenth, before climbing all the way up to first, thanks to a long stint, having started on the Medium tyre.
Closing stages. Leclerc took the lead when those ahead pitted to shed the Soft tyres, while he came in on lap 35 for his change. In the closing stages, Vettel managed his lead over Max Verstappen, crossing the finish line in third place, behind Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton. Charles, now in a comfortable fifth place, stopped for fresh tyres to have a go at setting the race fastest lap, which he duly did, setting a new track record of 1’43”009. It was Ferrari’s 250thfastest Formula 1 race lap.
Formula 1 Socar Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2019 – Second and fifth row starts for Ferrari
Posted: 27.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Baku, 27 April 2019 – The Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow SF90s will start the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from the second and fifth rows of the grid, when the race starts at 16.10 (14.10 CET).
Q1. Both drivers comfortably made the cut to Q2, doing three times laps each on just one set of Soft tyres. Charles did a 1’42”652, which he then improved on by over a second, doing a 1’41”426. Unfortunately, Sebastian had to abort his first run because of yellow flags in Sector 1, doing a 1’42”347 followed by a 1’42”042 before pitting.
Q2. In the second session, Leclerc and Vettel went out on Medium tyres. On his first attempt, Charles did an excellent 1’41”995, while Sebastian made a slight mistake and therefore posted a 1’43”355. Charles set off for another quick lap but ended up in the wall at Turn 8, which brought out the red flags. When the session restarted, the track surface was getting progressively cooler. Sebastian went out on the Softs and did a 1’42”209 and then a 1’41”889, which was good enough to get into the top ten shoot-out for pole position.
Q3. In the final 10 minutes of qualifying, Sebastian made two runs; a 1’41”124 and then a 1’40”797 to improve in the final seconds of the session. It was good enough for him to start from third on the grid, behind a front row made up of Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton. Charles Leclerc’s car is currently being repaired by the mechanics and will line up on the ninth spot on the grid, the first of those who will start the race on the Medium tyres. In fact, the time Charles set in Q2 before crashing remained the sixth fastest overall, which is how he qualified for Q3, even though he took no part in it.
Sebastian Vettel #5
“It was a tough call in the end. When the track temperature dropped the car balance changed and getting the tyres to work for that one lap, especially after such a long straight before starting the lap, was not easy. With the clock ticking down, everybody was banking on the last run and getting a tow so at some point I had to make the call; do I prioritise my tyres or the tow? Which would have meant compromising the outlap and I didn’t have the feeling that I could afford that and I wanted to have a clean shot. My first Q3 run was ok, but on the second run I didn’t have anybody to tow me along, so I dealt with it just focusing on my lap and obviously I lost quite a lot, about four tenths, compared to the previous lap. But that’s what happens at this track. It was a tricky session. I saw Charles in the barrier and realised qualifying was over for him. It was a shame to lose one of our cars. In the end, we are one team and everybody is working extremely hard no matter which side of the garage you are on. Anyway, we need to turn the page as tomorrow is a new day and it’s a long race where anything can happen. As a team we can recover and put our rivals under pressure. Overall I feel we have a strong car so we can go and race hard and should have some fun.”
Charles Leclerc #16
“I am disappointed with myself. Our pace was good all weekend and we expected to have a positive qualifying result. My first lap in Q2 was very good considering we were on Mediums, but then I made a driving error on the second lap. I just didn’t do the job. The team and all the people supporting us out there deserved much more. Tomorrow is a new day. I will stay positive and push to do the best job possible in the race.”
Mattia Binotto Team Principal
“We are not happy about the outcome of qualifying. I think our car was performing well today and we could have certainly achieved a much better result. The upgrades we brought here worked well and we are happy with the way they are behaving. Sebastian improved run after run and found the best feeling with the car right on his last attempt. This is such a peculiar track and had he found a better feeling before he could have done a better job. Charles will be one of the very few of the top ten starting on Medium tyres and he can still have a great race. He was very fast today and can be very fast tomorrow as well. It has been a real shame that his qualifying ended at turn 8, but these things happen when you push to the limit.”
Formula 1 Socar Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2019 – Second and fifth rows for Ferrari
Posted: 27.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Baku, 27 April 2019 – Qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix turned out to be tougher than expected for Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow. Sebastian Vettel will start the race from the second row, while Charles Leclerc will line up on the fifth row, having ended his Q2 challenge in the barriers.
Complicated Q2. Charles and Sebastian both got through the first part of qualifying and took to the track for Q2 on the Medium tyre. The Monegasque driver did a 1’41”995 but his session then ended as he hit the barriers. Sebastian had to do another lap on the Soft tyre, getting through to the final decisive part of the afternoon with a time of 1’41”889. In those last 10 minutes, Vettel did a 1’41”124 before getting down to a 1’40”797 on his second run. Sebastian will start from third on the grid, while Charles will start ninth, once his SF90 has been repaired by the mechanics. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix starts at 16.10 (14.10 CET.)
Formula 1 Socar Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2019 – Ferrari out in front in final practice
Posted: 27.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Baku, 27 April 2019 – The Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow SF90s were first and second fastest come the end of the final free practice session prior to qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the fourth round of the Formula 1 World Championship.
14 laps. Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel each completed 14 laps, setting their best times on the red-banded tyres in the second part of the session, as the track grip levels gradually improved. The Monegasque driver topped the time sheet with a 1’41”604, while the German stopped the clocks in a time around two tenths off his team-mate, in 1’41”802.
Qualifying. Qualifying starts at 17 (15 CET) with tomorrow’s race getting underway at 16.10 (14.10 CET)
Formula 1 Socar Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2019 – A half day
Posted: 26.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Baku, 26 April 2019 – Friday at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was pretty much a half day, given that the scheduled three hours of track time was reduced to slightly less than 90 minutes. The first session was stopped after 13 minutes when a manhole cover came loose in the first sector of the 6.003 km long track, and did not re-start. Then, in the second session, there were two red flag interruptions, which reduced the scheduled time by 18 minutes. Therefore one cannot read too much into the lap times, as teams had to adjust their programmes to fit the available time.
FP1. In the first session, Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow was the only team to set a time. Charles Leclerc did 5 laps with a best time of 1’47”497. Sebastian Vettel did four, the fastest being a 1’49”598. Both drivers used the Medium tyre.
FP2. All the teams tried to make the most of the afternoon session. Charles and Sebastian worked on an evaluation of some aero updates fitted to the SF90. Then they focussed on set-up for the race and qualifying, using the Medium and Soft compounds, setting their fastest laps on the latter, doing 28 laps each. Charles did the fastest lap of the day in 1’42”872 and Sebastian was second in 1’43”196.
Programme. Tomorrow’s third and final practice session to prepare for the race and qualifying takes place at 14 local time. Qualifying is at 17 (15 CET). The race on Sunday gets underway at 16.10 (14.10 CET).
Charles Leclerc #16
“After a day like today, it’s difficult to get a clear picture of where we all stand, especially in terms of long run pace, when I think traffic was a factor. In qualifying trim, I felt comfortable, but also in this aspect, we will have to wait until tomorrow to get a clearer picture. However, we still have quite a bit of work to do to get the maximum out of the SF90 and that’s what we will concentrate on in the final free practice session. If we manage that, then we can be competitive.”
Sebastian Vettel #5
“It was a rather complicated Friday, because we weren’t able to do much running and the track was slippery and dusty. But it was fun all the same. So it took a while to get into a rhythm but overall I feel comfortable with the car. Maybe tomorrow we should be able to get a better idea of where we stand, because while I felt good in the car, there’s definitely still room for improvement. Tomorrow, we will continue working as it’s vital to get into a rhythm and have a good feel for the car and be totally confident about the track. I think qualifying will be very close, because I imagine our rivals will be very fast tomorrow.”
Formula 1 Socar Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2019 – Ferrari out in front in second free practice
Posted: 26.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Baku, 26 April 2019 – The second free practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix saw the Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow SF90s end up at the top of the time sheet. In terms of the work sheet, it was very different to usual, because of the time lost in the morning, when there was only 13 minutes of track time.
28 laps. Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel began the session on the Medium tyres before switching to the Softs, with which they set their fastest times: 1’42”872 for Charles and 1’43”196 for Sebastian was good enough to top the time sheet.
Programme. Track action resumes tomorrow at 14 (12 CET) with the third and final free practice session, before qualifying gets underway at 17 (15 CET.) The race is on Sunday at 16.10 (14.10 CET.)
Formula 1 Socar Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2019 – Only 13 minutes of Practice 1
Posted: 26.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Baku, 26 April 2019 – The first free practice session for the Azerbaijan GP lasted just 13 minutes, before being red flagged when a manhole cover on a straight in the first sector of the track came loose.
Session stopped. Charles Leclerc drove his SF90 over the offending cover just before George Russell’s Williams was damaged when the cover lifted off. The session was immediately stopped so that the track could be cleaned up, but shortly afterwards it was decided that the session would not be re-started as all the other manhole covers on the track had to be checked before the track could be declared fit for purpose again.
Only Ferrari. Up to that point, the only two cars to have set a time were the two Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow SF90s. Charles Leclerc did five laps with a best time of 1’47”497, while Sebastian Vettel did four, the quickest in 1’49”598. The second session is due to start at 17 local time (15 CET.)
Formula 1 Socar Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2019 – “In Baku to do well”
Posted: 25.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Baku, 25 April 2019 – Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc spent their Thursday in Baku splitting their time between talking to media, having meetings with the engineers and walking the track. The two Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow drivers walked round the street circuit here in the Azerbaijan capital, before the first full planning meeting with engineers and technicians prior to the start of track action tomorrow.
Ready to do well. Sebastian Vettel was first up in front of the press, telling them he was set for a busy Friday. “We have some updates that we will have to test and evaluate to decide if they can help us get the results we’re expecting.” As to the topic of their chances of fighting for the championship title, the German had no doubts about it. “We are still in the hunt. In the first three races, things did not go as we had expected and so maybe the competition got a bit more than they deserved, while we got a bit less. But we are working to turn things around. I still believe we have a very competitive package and if we manage to make it work properly we can be very quick and make life difficult for our rivals.”
This track has always smiled on me. Next up it was Charles Leclerc’s turn to face the media in the team hospitality and he began by repeating the fact he loves the Baku track. “I adore all the street circuits and I have to say that this one has always smiled on me, both in Formula 2 and Formula 1, as it was here last year that I scored my first points.” The Monegasque driver expects to be competitive this weekend and is aiming for the win, even if he insists he’s not obsessed with the idea of taking his first Formula 1 win. “If I have a goal, then it’s simply to do a good job, to work on getting everything out of the car and bring home the best result I can. Of course, I’m not saying I’m not impatient to take my first win at this the highest level, but I also know it’s wrong to focus more on the win than on doing the work. We will start like that and I am convinced we can get the results we are after.”
Timetable. The first two free practice sessions take place tomorrow, at 13 and 17, while on Saturday, after a final hour of practice at 14, comes the battle for pole position at 17. The race gets underway on Sunday at 16.10. Baku is 2 hours ahead of Central European Time.
Formula 1 Socar Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2019 – Racing past the castle walls
Posted: 23.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 23 April 2019 – Formula 1 is visiting Baku for the fourth time. The race first appeared on the calendar as the European GP in 2016. As from the following year, it changed its name to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Baku street circuit is one of three venues on the current calendar where Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow has never won. The other two are Sochi in Russia and Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi. The best result for the Maranello squad at this venue was last year’s second place courtesy of Kimi Raikkonen.
The Azerbaijan capital has only recently featured on motorsport’s world stage, with the first race, a GT event, being held as recently as 2012. Nevertheless, the circuit was an immediate hit with the drivers who like the extremely high speeds experienced on the straights, especially on the start-finish one, which sees speeds in excess of 350 km/h.
The track features long straights and right-angle turns. That makes engine power a key requirement, while drivers have to brush the walls in search of a quick lap, using every inch of the track. There’s also a tighter section around turns 8,9,10 and 11, including the incredibly narrow section around the ancient castle, where good traction is the main requirement. The circuit map can be misleading, because it claims there are turns 17,18, 19 and 20 but this section is taken flat out and DRS can be deployed here.
Practice gets underway at 13 (11 CET) on Friday with the second session at 17 (15 CET) with qualifying at the same time on Saturday. The third Azerbaijan Grand Prix starts at 16.10 (14.10 CET) on Sunday over a distance of 51 laps.
Sebastian Vettel #5
“This six kilometre circuit has the longest straight on the calendar, 2.2 kilometres, where we reach 360 kph before the very heavy braking for the first slow left hand turn. The steep climb past the old city walls is only seven metres wide, which feels very tight in a Formula One car – you feel like you are threading a needle. There isn´t enough space for two cars here so you have to agree on the right of way between you! A big challenge at Baku is to find the right wing level to get good grip for the slow corners but also to be fast enough on the straights where we spend a lot of time at full throttle. It’s not an easy compromise.”
Charles Leclerc #16
“Azerbaijan is one of my favourite tracks of the season, I simply love it and I’ve always performed very well there, having won and got another podium finish in Formula 2 and also scored my first Formula 1 points last year. I always enjoy driving on it, especially the castle part with all those tight corners. It’s a unique track, you cannot find anything like it anywhere else in the world, so it’s pretty special. The rule is quite simple: never lose focus during the race otherwise at the first mistake you’re in the wall. Baku is a demanding track, but I can’t wait.”
Mattia Binotto Team Principal
Coming off the back of three races that definitely didn’t go the way we wanted, this GP is another important moment for us. We have prepared for it very well, analysing all the data we have acquired up until now, looking at areas where we can improve and working on adapting the car’s set-up and the power unit management to the characteristics of the track. In fact, Baku features a very long straight, which places special demands on the engine, both the internal combustion part as well as the hybrid elements. It’s relatively easy to overtake on this track, partly due to the DRS, especially this year as it has a greater effect than in the past. The track surface is very smooth, which means tyre wear is generally low, but as the tyres therefore generate less energy, it can be difficult to get them in the right working temperature range. We know from past experience that there’s a high probability of the Safety Car appearing on track in Baku and therefore it’s an important aspect to consider when looking at the race strategy. We are bringing a few updates to Baku, as the first step in the development of the SF90.
RM Sotheby’s adds more Zagatos to Villa Erba Sale
Posted: 01.05.2019
Source: RM Sotheby’s
THE BEST OF PRE-WAR, ‘60S ROADSTERS, AND MODERN HYPERCARS ALSO JOIN THE LINEUP
- RM Sotheby’s secures additional Zagato-bodied cars for biennial Villa Erba sale, with Maserati A6G/2000 Berlinetta and Aston Martin V12 Zagato leading the group
- Latest entries also include the best of all categories; a 1931 Bugatti Type 50 Roadster, 1965 Aston Martin Short-Chassis Volante, and 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss
- Further event information and frequently updated list of entries available at rmsothebys.com
LONDON (1 May 2019) – RM Sotheby’s is delighted to announce an additional group of rare, Zagato-bodied collector cars set for the auction house’s biennial Villa Erba auction, due to take place on the shores of Lake Como on 25 May. Held during the exclusive Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este weekend, the auction will also feature a fine selection of pre- and post-war European touring and racing cars, iconic 1960s roadsters, and modern hypercars, creating an exceptionally diverse offering for discerning collectors of all types.
Leading the expanded Zagato-bodied offering, a 1955 Maserati A6G/2000 Berlinetta will go under the hammer at Villa Erba, one of just 20 such cars by Zagato and the first in Berlinetta configuration. Likely used by Maserati for testing in 1955, the A6G/2000 raced in numerous prestigious Italian events in period. Chassis no. 2102 was driven in practice by Sir Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson for the 1956 Mille Miglia, subsequently entering the race piloted by Italian driver Arnaldo Bellini with journalist Nicolo Carosio as co-driver. Now offered from 20 years of single-ownership, the Maserati is estimated to bring €3.000.000 – €3.500.000 later this month.
Additional cars penned by Zagato and set for RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba sale include a unique, removable targa-roof 1966 Ferrari 330 GTC, clothed in a striking, angular Zagato body in 1974 and displayed at the Geneva International Motor Show that year (Est. €425,000 – €475,000). Joining the 330 GTC is a single-owner 1990 Ferrari 348 TB Zagato Elaborazione, the prototype of just 10 examples outfitted with the conversion, which included a new front bumper, enlarged cooling strakes, a triple rear light configuration, a lower roofline with the marque’s traditional “double bubble” arrangement, and a glass engine cover (Est. €180.000 – €220.000). Zagato-bodied Aston Martins are also in abundance at the sale, including the very first 2012 Aston Martin V12 Zagato, offered with custom touches by Aston Martin’s ‘Q’ division (Est. €650.000 – €700.000), alongside a 1987 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Zagato, one of 14 left-hand-drive examples fitted with a manual transmission and showing a mere 15,500 km from new (Est. €300.000 – €375.000). These entries join the previously announced Fiat 8V Coupé, Fiat-Abarth 750 GT ‘Double Bubble’, Lancia Flaminia Super Sport 3C 2.8, and Aston Martin Vanquish Shooting Brake to complete a lineup of vastly different, yet distinctly Zagato cars for the Villa Erba sale in celebration of the coachbuilder’s 100th anniversary year.
Looking ahead to the sale, Augustin Sabatié-Garat, Sale Manager, RM Sotheby’s Europe, said: “Our auction at Villa Erba is always a highlight on the collector car calendar, so the nature of entries we have on offer reflects the status of this sale. We are proud to present what can only be regarded as one of the rarest and most diverse groupings of Zagato-bodied cars to be offered in a single sale, all of which boast intriguing histories and distinct designs from throughout the coachbuilder’s century-long history.”
The high caliber of consignments continues with pre- and post-war European greats readied for sale, led by an immaculate 1931 Bugatti Type 50 Roadster, one of two remaining examples with original Jean Bugatti-designed factory coachwork and documented with factory records including the original bill of sale (Est. €1.400.000 – €1.800.000). A pair of Delahayes also feature in the sale; a 1936 Delahaye 135 S Compétition Court with fascinating period race history, including participation in the 1939 24 Hours of Le Mans (Est. €1.000.000 – €1.300.000), and a 1948 Delahaye 135 M Sport Coupé wearing beautiful coachwork by Hebmüller (Est. €250.000 – €350.000).
The shores of Lake Como also present the perfect venue for the offering of three of the most iconic 1960s roadsters. Bringing the ultimate in post-war style is a late-production, Fire Red 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, equipped with factory disc brakes and an alloy engine block, and one of the most original, well-maintained examples offered in recent years (Est €1.400.000 – €1.600.000); a rare 1965 Aston Martin Short-Chassis Volante, one of the final examples of a mere 37 built and offered from over 25 years of single ownership (Est. €1.300.000 – €1.500.000); and, a beautifully restored 1961 Maserati 3500 GT Spyder in its rare original configuration with Weber Carburettors, a five-speed ZF gearbox, and Borrani wheels (Est. €625.000 – €700.000).
Bringing the sale offering up to date are two modern hypercar legends, led by a seldom-seen 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss, one of just 75 built and inspired by Sir Stirling Moss’ 1955 Mille Miglia victory and offered with less than 8,400 km from new (Est. €1.850.000 – € 2.200.000). The SLR is joined by a virtually as-new 2015 McLaren P1, finished in Supernova Silver with the desirable Stealth Pack (Est. €1.100.000 – €1.300.000).
The official auction of the revered Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, RM Sotheby’s exclusive Villa Erba sale will lift the gavel on a carefully curated roster of more than 50 of the world’s finest automobiles along with a selection of memorabilia and collectibles. To speak with a car specialist, please call RM Sotheby’s London office at +44 (0) 20 7851 7070 or visit rmsothebys.com for further information, a frequently updated list of entries, and to register to bid. The complete digital catalogue will be available next week.
RM Sotheby’s 2019 Villa Erba Auction – The Ferrari Lots
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Ferrari 348 tb Zagato Elaborazione |
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Ferrari 330 GTC Zagato |
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Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider Pinin Farina |
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Ferrari 250 GTE Series II |
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Ferrari F12tdf |
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| S/N |
Ferrari Superamerica |
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Ferrari 330 GTC |
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Ferrari 250 GT Coupé Pinin Farina |
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RM Sotheby’s lines up 1950s Sporting Greats at Villa Erba
Posted: 10.04.2019
Source: RM Sotheby’s
RARE FERRARI 500 MONDIAL AND PORSCHE 550A SPYDER TAKE POLE POSITION
- RM Sotheby’s adds iconic sports racing cars to biennial Villa Erba sale, to take place on shores of Lake Como, Italy on 25 May, with 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider and 1957 Porsche 550A Spyder
- Rare models join already announced 1931 Aston Martin 1.5-litre International ‘LM5’ and lineup of Zagato-designed collector cars
- Further event information and frequently updated list of entries available at rmsothebys.com
LONDON (10 April 2019) – RM Sotheby’s is delighted to announce the addition of two important sports racing cars ahead of the company’s highly anticipated biennial Villa Erba sale, due to take place on 25 May during the revered Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este weekend. At the auction on the shores of Lake Como, an original, matching-numbers 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider will join a 1957 Porsche 550A Spyder, one of 40 cars made by the German marque exclusively for racing and with a documented global competition history.
The 500 Mondial – chassis no. 0448 MD – was completed by the factory in October of 1954, the 12th of only 13 Pinin Farina Spiders built and one of only five with covered headlights, placing it in the first series of cars. It was sold new to Anthony “Tony” Parravano of Inglewood, California. Parravano quickly made himself known as an entrant of numerous exotic Italian sports cars in Californian racing circles. In February 1955, at Willow Springs, it placed 4th overall and 1st in class with Bob Drake at the wheel. In March of 1956, at the same venue, 0448 MD was driven to a 3rd place finish by Pat O’Connor.
The car has been lovingly owned by a number of North American collectors and has enjoyed periods of long-term ownership, although it has seldom been seen since leaving the race track in the late 1950s, making it highly eligible for historic racing and concours events. More recently, the car has returned home to Maranello, where it was inspected by Ferrari Classiche and granted red-book certification. Furthermore, the car’s certification binder confirms that it retains its original engine, gearbox, and bodywork, truly affirming its status as one of the finest 500 Mondials in existence. The car is estimated to achieve between €4.250.000 to €4.750.000 at auction next month.
With an equally impressive racing pedigree, the 1957 Porsche 550A Spyder is offered at Villa Erba with a fascinating ownership and competition history, having been entered in events all over the world. Chassis no. 550A-0121 was first delivered to Denmark in 1957 and would become the only 550A Spyder delivered to that country, where it raced in a number of events before it was sold to an owner in Kenya, where it also ran as a competition car. In the late-1970s, the Porsche was sold to Giuseppe Freschi in Italy, who entered the car into many iterations of the famous Mille Miglia endurance race for classic cars.
In 2011, the Porsche 550A Spyder was sold to its current owner, and the car has undergone a complete, body-off restoration led by Porsche specialists, returning the Spyder to its original configuration and livery. With its recent restoration work, the 550A Spyder is ready for vintage racing or concours events, having only covered 100km on the road since returning from the workshop. This incredibly rare and sought-after Porsche is estimated to achieve between €3.400.000 to €3.800.000 at auction.
Augustin Sabatié-Garat, Auction Manager, RM Sotheby’s Europe, said: “Each of these consignments adds to the high sense of occasion we have come to associate with RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba auction, which always attracts the finest collectible sports and racing automobiles in the world. The rare Ferrari 550 Mondial Spider is fitting of an exclusive bracket of prestige collector car, from its charming condition to its considerable history and recent blessing by Ferrari itself. Similarly, the Porsche 550A Spyder is presented as it would have been delivered new in the 1950s, complete with its reimagined livery that is true to the car’s competition pedigree.”
Ahead of the Villa Erba auction on 25 May, RM Sotheby’s has already consigned a selection of world-class automobiles. A 1931 Aston Martin 1.5-litre International ‘LM5’ was announced along with four Zagato-designed collector cars, including a 1955 Fiat 8V Coupe by Zagato, a 1959 Fiat-Abarth 750 GT ‘Double Bubble’ by Zagato, a 1966 Lancia Flaminia Super Sport 3C 2.8 by Zagato and a 2019 Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake.
The official auction house of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, RM Sotheby’s exclusive Villa Erba sale will lift the gavel on a carefully curated roster of 40 of the world’s finest automobiles. To speak with a car specialist, please call RM Sotheby’s London office at +44 (0) 20 7851 7070 or visit rmsothebys.com for further information, to view a frequently updated list of entries, and to register to bid.
Ferrari Club Competizioni GT 2019 – Round 1 – Opening event for Ferrari racing icons at Mugello
Posted: 10.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Mugello, 10 Apr 2019 – The first Club Competizioni GT meeting closed today at the Mugello circuit, with over a dozen of the most representative Ferrari GT racing cars of the last 30 years on track in a non-competitive event.
The Prancing Horse, paying attention to the needs and demands of its customers, presented this new activity at the last Finali Mondiali in Monza, publicly unveiling it at Autosport International in Birmingham. The aim is to bring some of the most iconic models of the last 30 years of racing back on track.
This new programme is designed for customers who like to take to the track and exploit their car to its full potential, without any test sessions lasting just a few minutes or dangerous races that are too short. At Mugello, Club Competizioni GT staged the first rounds of a five-event calendar that will stop off at some of the most beautiful circuits in the world such as Indianapolis, Fuji, Vallelunga and, indeed, Mugello.
Twelve cars. Among the cars on the Tuscan track, the two examples of the 488 GT3 that took the pole position in the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2017 and 2018 stand out. In 2017, Alessandro Pier Guidi was the fastest (1:47.049) in the GTD class at the wheel of the Spirit of Race model participating at Mugello. Alessandro Balzan finished just 18 thousandths of a second behind, also in a 488 GT3. In 2018, Daniel Serra took pole in the GTD class 453 thousandths of a second ahead of Miguel Molina in the 488 GT3 of Risi Competizione. The Ferrari-owned track with its ups and downs also saw several examples of the 360 GT, F430 GT2, 458 Italia GT and GT3, as well as some 488 GT3s.
Gala dinner. The first Club Competizioni GT event was made even more special by a gala dinner held in the evocative setting of the Stibbert Museum in Florence. The Museum, one of the most interesting in terms of the quantity and quality of the objects it houses and for the most part displays, has collections of armour from around the world. This particular exhibition theme naturally led to an evening for customer drivers entitled “Night of the knights”.
Hospitality and official drivers. Club Competizioni GT opens the doors of prestigious circuits to its members, complementing their track experience with top class hospitality and exclusive services. Technical assistance with the tyres is always available on the track, as are Ferrari’s official Competizioni GT drivers, professionals who compete throughout the year in the main world championships and who are ready to assist customers with advice and guidance on how to extract the maximum performance from their cars.
Eligible cars. Twelve Ferrari models are eligible to join Club Competizioni GT, ranging from the F40 Competizione of 1989 to the 488 GTEs and GT3s currently available to Ferrari’s racing customers. In addition to the basic equipment provided by club membership, which includes a custom clothing kit and a set of tyres for each round, there are also special on demand services such as exclusive sessions with a professional driver, car transport, customised logistics, and the option of a tailored menu in hospitality.
Next events. Club Competizioni GT will pay a visit to the legendary Indianapolis circuit on 28 and 29 July, before travelling to Japan and the Fuji International Speedway on 28 and 29 August. The last two events will take place in Italy, at Vallelunga on 5 and 6 September, and again at Mugello, from 22 to 27 October, as part of the Finali Mondiali.
Ferraris at the Mille Miglia 2019
Posted: 09.04.2019
Source and Images: Mitorosso.com / Manfred Steinert
| S/N 00xx |
Ferrari 166 MM/53 Barchetta Touring |
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| S/N 0030 MT |
Ferrari 275 S /340 America Spider |
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| S/N 00xx |
Ferrari 212 Inter |
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| S/N 0196 A |
Ferrari 340 America Spider Vignale |
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| S/N 0578 M |
Ferrari 857 S Spider Scaglietti |
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| S/N 00xx |
Ferrari 212 Inter |
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| S/N 0362 AM |
Ferrari 375 MM Spider Pinin Farina |
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| S/N 0112 E |
Ferrari 212 / 225 S Export Touring Berlinetta |
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| S/N 0223 EU |
Ferrari 225 Europe Vignale Coupe |
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| S/N 0435 GT |
Ferrari 250 GT Coupé Boano |
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| S/N 00xx |
Ferrari 250 GT Coupe |
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| S/N 0462 MD |
Ferrari 750 Monza Spider Scaglietti |
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| S/N 0502 M |
Ferrari 250 MM Barchetta Vignale |
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| S/N 0534 M |
Ferrari 750 Monza Spider Scaglietti |
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| S/N 0533 GT |
Ferrari 250 GT Coupé Boano |
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| S/N 00xx |
Ferrari 750 Monza Spider Scaglietti |
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Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix 2019 – Ferrari third and fifth at Shanghai
Posted: 14.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Shanghai, 14 April 2019 – A third place for Sebastian Vettel and a fifth for Charles Leclerc: that was the outcome of the Chinese Grand Prix, the one thousandth race in the history of Formula 1, for Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow, held today at the Shanghai International Circuit.
Off the grid, Sebastian got away better than poleman Valtteri Bottas and attempted to go down the outside of the Finn at the first corner, but that resulted in Charles going past him on the inside. The cars in front were running at a slightly better pace than the SF90s, which is why, after 10 laps, the team asked the drivers to swap positions to see if Sebastian could match Bottas’ pace. Max Verstappen’s early pit stop then forced the team to bring Sebastian in to cover it, sending him out on the Hard compound, so that he would not end up behind the Dutchman, who did manage to get back on track ahead of Charles.
Sebastian pitted for a second time on lap 35, this time fitting the Medium tyres, as did Hamilton and Bottas, the latter now finding himself behind Charles. Leclerc’s second stop came on lap 43 and he rejoined almost 15 seconds off Verstappen.
In the closing stages, Vettel consolidated his third place behind Hamilton and Bottas, while Charles closed much of the gap to Verstappen, but not enough to try and secure fourth place. Ferrari is second in the Constructors’ championship on 73 points, while Sebastian is fourth in the Drivers’ on 37, with Charles fifth on 36. The next race is the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on 28 April.
Sebastian Vettel #5
“We are happy we got the podium, but overall we can’t be satisfied because we were too slow today. We were hoping to be in a much better place and be a match for Mercedes, but we were not. Also it was a shame we didn’t manage to finish third and fourth, In terms of calls from our pit wall today, the priority always lies within the team and Charles and I are both aware we are driving for the team. We can do our own race but first of all we have to ensure Ferrari is in a position to fight with its rivals. I think we have a good car and we are still not able to unlock its potential completely. We are learning a lot about it and it’s important to do many laps to get a better feeling for it. We are getting an ever clearer picture of what we are lacking at the moment, so I think the next few weeks will be important for us, so that we can get on the right road for the coming months”.
Charles Leclerc #16
“Today’s race wasn’t one of my easiest, since it looks like we didn’t have a good enough pace to fight at the front with our competitors. My start was good, then I think both Seb and myself were struggling with the tyres. We swapped positions and I thought he would have pulled away but he didn’t and this didn’t help my tyres because I had a bit of overheating and I lost some time. On my second set of tyres I hoped I’d be able to go all the way to the end, but unfortunately had to stop again and so lost a place. We will sit down all together in order to understand what could have been done better and I’m sure we will come back stronger at the next race”
Mattia Binotto Team Principal
“Mercedes has been fast throughout the whole weekend, since Friday. They were fast yesterday in qualifying and fast today. We had a completely opposite situation from the one we faced two weeks ago in Bahrain and this shows that we could again have things going the other way around in two weeks time. Things are changing from one weekend to the next and therefore we need to look at the championship thinking that every race may be different. Our decisions on strategy were taken to try to maximize the teams’ result. We will go back to Maranello and look at all the data, try to understand what didn’t work this weekend in order to improve. We need to further develop the car and understand where the limits are, then come back stronger for Baku. It’s again a completely different circuit and we need to approach that race with a positive attitude to do our best.”
Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix 2019 – Ferrari third and fifth at Shanghai
Posted: 14.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Shanghai, 14 April 2019 – Sebastian Vettel finished third and Charles Leclerc was fifth for Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow in the Chinese Grand Prix, the one thousandth race in the history of Formula 1.
The race. The race, held at the Shanghai International Circuit, was won by Lewis Hamilton, with Valtteri Bottas second, while Sebastian finished on the podium for the first time this season. Charles and Sebastian swapped places on lap 10 and the Monegasque driver was then caught out by Red Bull’s strategy, that allowed Max Verstappen to take fourth place. In the closing stages, the Monegasque driver managed to significantly close the gap to his rival, but not close enough to mount an attack. The next round takes place in a fortnight’s time in Azerbaijan.
Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix 2019 – All-Ferrari second row in China
Posted: 13.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Shanghai, 13 April 2019 – Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc will start the one thousandth Formula 1 World Championship race from the second row of the grid. Tomorrow’s Chinese Grand Prix starts at 14.10 local time (8.10 CET).
Q1. The pair of Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow SF90s took to the track on Soft tyres. Sebastian did a 1’33”557, while Charles was slowed by no fewer than four cars in the final sector and could do no better than 1’34”069. That meant the Monegasque driver had to fit another set of new tyres to comfortably make the cut with a 1’32”712.
Q2. In the second part, both Ferrari cars ran Medium tyres, so as to start the race on them. Sebastian did a 1’32”232 and Charles stopped the clocks on 1’32”324.
Q3. In the top ten shoot out, both drivers had two sets of new Softs. Sebastian’s first run delivered a 1’32”001 and Charles did a 1’32”102. On the second set, both drivers improved, the German went down to 1’31”848, good enough for third, while the Monegasque went down to 1’31”865, which netted him fourth place on the grid. Pole position went to Valtteri Bottas in 1’31”574 ahead of Lewis Hamilton in 1’31”570.
Sebastian Vettel #5
“We could have done a bit better today but probably not enough to really beat our rivals for pole. It could have been worse, but I am not entirely happy. We started off well, but then our competitors had more pace over the single lap in terms of pure performance. We should have a good car tomorrow though and hopefully we can show it throughout the whole 56 laps. It’s a long race and I expect it to be a very tight one too. Making the right strategy choices will be important; we must make the right call at the right time and see where that takes us. I am not sure everyone understands how many variables have to be taken into account. The top drivers are all starting on Medium tyres and we will see if that turns out to be the right choice. I believe anything can happen.”
Charles Leclerc #16
“I am annoyed with myself today. I made a mistake on the last lap and I really shouldn’t have done that. Overall, I think there are some positives, because in all three practice sessions I was struggling quite a lot with the setup, the confidence in the car and the driving. But then, before qualifying we introduced some changes, which meant I could drive better and set the lap times we were expecting. It was good but it is also disappointing not to extract all the potential from the car today. We knew our rivals would be competitive as they have been since the first session. The race tomorrow is going to be a bit more complicated than expected, as I haven’t done any long runs yesterday nor this morning because of the red flag so, I will be a bit in the dark. It will be tough but I’ll push as much as possible and we can expect our opponents to be very strong.”
Mattia Binotto Team Principal
“Qualifying wasn’t perfect for us today and in a championship as closely contested as this, that can make the difference. However, I have to say that at his high level of performance, one should not be surprised to find that one can be in front in one race and then behind in the next one. But we have learned to our cost in Bahrain that races are not won on Saturday and I think tomorrow’s Grand Prix will be very closely contested and we expect to be in the fight right to the very end.”
Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix 2019 – Qualifying: An all-Ferrari second row in China
Posted: 13.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Shanghai, 13 April 2019 –The Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow drivers will both start the one thousandth race in the history of Formula1 from the second row of the grid.
Just 17 thousandths. Sebastian Vettel was third quickest in a time of 1’31”848, while Charles Leclerc lapped just 17 thousandths of a second slower to post a best time of 1’31”865, which means he lines up fourth on the grid. Pole position for tomorrow’s race, which starts at 08:10 (14.10 CET,) went to Valtteri Bottas with a lap in 1’31”547.
Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix 2019 – Free practice 3: Ferrari second and third
Posted: 13.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Shanghai, 13 April 2019 – Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc set the second and third fastest times respectively, driving the Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow SF90s in the third and final free practice session.
Close qualifying. The drivers both did two qualifying simulation runs, covering 12 and 10 laps each in total. Sebastian stopped the clocks in 1’33”222, but did not improve on his second run, when he made a small mistake at the final corner. Charles did a 1’33”248 on his second run. Qualifying looks like being extremely close, with several cars all within a handful of tenths. Fastest this morning was Valtteri Bottas in 1’32”830.
Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix 2019 – 86 laps for Seb and Charles
Posted: 12.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Shanghai, 12 April 2019 – It was a busy Friday in China for Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow. On the Shanghai circuit, Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc worked fine tuning the set-up for Saturday qualifying which starts at 14.00 (8.00 CET) and Sunday’s race at 14.10 (8.10 CET).
During the first free practice session the two SF90s ran on the Medium compound tyres. Sebastian set a best time of 1’33”911 (19 laps completed) and Charles posted a 1’34”167 (21 laps). In the afternoon, the drivers tried the other two compounds. Sebastian Vettel did a 1’33”357 on the softest rubber, good enough for the second fastest time of the day, just 27 thousandths off Valtteri Bottas. The German then did race simulation work with a high fuel load and the hardest tyres brought to China by Pirelli.
Unfortunately, Charles Leclerc encountered traffic when running the Soft tyres setting a fastest time of 1’34”158. The Monegasque driver was unable to go for his long run because the team opted to keep him in the garage to carry out checks on the cooling system of his SF90 as the engineers had raised doubts about it. Therefore Charles did just 13 laps, while between them the two cars totalled 86.
Tomorrow gets underway with one more hour of free practice at 11.00 (5.00 CET) prior to the afternoon qualifying session. The Chinese race will be the one thousandth Grand Prix in the history of Formula 1.
Sebastian Vettel #5: “Overall it was a positive day. We still have to do some homework, the picture is a bit similar to Bahrain, where we were competitive. There are some parts of the track where we are very strong and others where we still have to improve. I expect it to be very close tomorrow and also on Sunday, so it will be key to keep working to improve the feeling with the car.”
Charles Leclerc #16: “I got a good feeling from the SF90 today. There is still a bit of work to do in terms of the balance, but overall I’m pleased with the work we did. It’s a shame I wasn’t able to do a long run test, because it would have been useful for the race, but I’m not worried about that. We have all the information we need to do well and now, it’s just a case of putting everything together for qualifying, especially as I expect it to be very close between us and our competitors.”
Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix 2019 – Free Practice 2: Ferrari second and seventh
Posted: 12.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Shanghai, 12 April 2019 – In the second 90 minutes of free practice for the Chinese GP, Sebastian Vettel was second fastest and Charles Leclerc was seventh.
Seb does 33 laps. After running just the Medium compound tyres in the morning, both drivers tried the Soft and Hard ones this afternoon, thus evaluating all possibilities. Seb did 33 laps, the best being a 1’33”357. However, Charles only managed 13, the quickest being a 1’34”158, as he had to make a precautionary stop with 30 minutes remaining, for the cooling system on his SF90 to be checked, to avoid the risk of any damage.
More free practice and qualifying. The third free practice session takes place tomorrow at 11.00 local time (5.00 CET) prior to qualifying at 14.00 local time, (8.00 CET).
Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix 2019 – Free practice 1: first and third place for Sebastian and Charles
Posted: 12.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Shanghai, 12 April 2019 – The Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow SF90s we’re first and third in the opening free practice session for the Chinese Grand Prix which takes place this Sunday at the Shanghai International Circuit.
19 and 21 laps. The Ferraris ran the Medium tyres while working on set-up. Sebastian Vettel did 19 laps with a best time of 1’33”911 which puts the German at the top of the time sheet. Charles Leclerc did 21 laps, with a best time of 1’34”167 ending the 90 minute session in third spot.
Second free practice gets underway at 14.00 (08.00 CET)
Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix 2019 – “The mood in the team is very good”
Posted: 11.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Shanghai, 11 April 2019 – Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc tackled the Shanghai International Circuit on foot today, walking the 5.451 kilometres of asphalt that represents the Chinese symbol “shang” which forms the basis of the name Shanghai. After that, both drivers met fans at the autograph session, before having their first meeting of the weekend with the media in the Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow hospitality.
#Race1000. Sunday’s race that starts at 14.10 local time, (8.10 CET) is race number 1000 in the history of Formula 1 and Sebastian Vettel addressed the topic when talking to the journalists. “I think this is an important weekend and I’ve been asked many times which is the race I remember best as a spectator, before I became a driver. There’s not just one: I remember when Ayrton Senna won the Brazilian Grand Prix (in 1991). I was a kid and watched Formula 1 with my father. I remember I was struck by the fact that, after the chequered flag, the driver was so tired that he was struggling to stand up. The other races I remember well were the key moments in Michael Schumacher’s career.” Sebastian went on to say he felt confident about Sunday’s race, referring to the colours that are considered lucky in China and are also found on the SF90. “I think we have a good car and also, red and yellow bring good luck here. Let’s hope we get to see a lot of red and yellow on Sunday!”
Energy. Next, it was Charles Leclerc’s turn to face the press and the Monegasque driver spoke of the atmosphere within the team and the upcoming Grand Prix. “I don’t have any particular expectations for this race at the moment, but I’m quite sure we will discover our true potential after free practice and even more so after qualifying. Coming to China from Bahrain, the mood in the team is obviously very positive. I think we need to keep this energy going and hopefully we can have a good weekend, just as we did at Sakhir before the issue. The positive thing is that we have understood what the problem was and we do not expect it to happen anymore.”
Free practice tomorrow. Track action for the thousandth Formula 1 Championship Grand Prix begins officially with Friday free practice, the two sessions starting at 10.00 and 14.00 (4.00 and 8.00 CET.)
Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix 2019 – Full day for Sebastian and Charles in Shanghai
Posted: 11.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Shanghai, 11 April 2019 – The Chinese Grand Prix weekend began with an intense day away from the track for the Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow drivers. In collaboration with Shell, Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc took part in a series of promotional activities with the media, while the Monegasque driver also pitted himself against a world short track ice-skating champion in an unusual race.
Vettel at the launch. Sebastian was one of the key players in the launch of a new Shell product in Shanghai city centre and met with the media to talk about the importance of the partnership between the fuel and lubricant manufacturer and the Maranello-based team. The German also spoke of the upcoming Chinese Grand Prix, which will be the one-thousandth race in the history of the category and one in which he expects to be one of the key players.
Leclerc on ice. Charles was busy at the Shanghai Ice Rink where, aside from interviews to local journalists, he took part in an unusual race against a World Short Track Speed Skating champion. The Ferrari driver raced a kart on a difficult twisting ice course against Han Tian Yu, the 1500-metre world champion in Seoul in 2016.
On the track. From tomorrow Sebastian and Charles will focus solely on the race weekend. Both will be at the Shanghai International Circuit for meetings with technicians, journalists and the classic track walk to take a detailed look at the circuit the two will first drive in their respective SF90s in Friday’s free practice, starting from 10 am (4 am CET).
Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix 2019 – Sebastian and Charles ready to fight at Shanghai
Posted: 09.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 9 April 2019 – This weekend sees the sixteenth running of the Chinese Formula 1 Grand Prix. Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc are ready to fight on the Shanghai track.
Sebastian Vettel #5
“The Chinese GP has been on the calendar for quite a while and it’s held on one of the most technical and difficult tracks of the year. Two of the corners are especially important: the first one and the one leading to the very long straight, over a kilometre in length. They’re both very technical and it’s difficult to find the right line because the track there is also very wide. They are challenging, not only in qualifying when you need to do just one lap, but also in the race. Looking after tyres is one of the key points in Shanghai, it’s the most important job to do on Sunday in order to be fast for the whole race. In the past I’ve had some good races here with Ferrari, coming very close to winning. Maybe this time we’ll get that little bit of luck, so that we can really celebrate the thousandth Formula 1 race.”
Charles Leclerc #16
“I don’t know the Shanghai track that well, having only raced there once, last year. I have good memories of qualifying, less so of the race itself. But overall, I like the track a lot because there are many different types of corner that you don’t find elsewhere on the calendar, especially turn 1, and also 13 which leads onto the long straight. Usually, the Chinese race is good fun, because the weather can be unpredictable and rain can arrive when you least expect it. It’s the thousandth race in the history of Formula 1 and I hope the car will be as good as it was in Bahrain, so that I can continue to go for the results we deserve.”
Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix 2019 – The Scuderia at Shanghai for Formula 1’s 1000th race
Posted: 08.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 8 April 2019 – This weekend, Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow will be competing in the sixteenth edition of the Chinese Formula 1 Grand Prix. As always, it takes place at the Shanghai International Circuit, where Rubens Barrichello in a Ferrari won the very first race in 2004. The track features long straights, high speed corners and some tight turns that call for heavy braking. The key points include Turn 13, which leads onto a straight over one kilometre in length and 15, that exits onto the start/finish straight, at the end of which overtaking is a possibility.
Four wins. Apart from the aforementioned victory in 2004, Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow has won a further three times in China. Michael Schumacher won in 2006 in the 248 F1 to record the 91st and final win of his amazing career, his 72nd for Ferrari. The following year it was Kimi Raikkonen’s turn, making the most of championship rival Lewis Hamilton’s retirement, thus laying the foundations for taking the world title in Brazil. The fourth win came courtesy of Fernando Alonso in 2013.
Thousandth Grand Prix. This year’s Chinese Grand Prix is truly a milestone in the history of Formula 1, as the Shanghai circuit hosts the one thousandth race of the championship. The top motor sport series began on 13 May 1950, with the British Grand Prix. Scuderia Ferrari did not take part, joining from the next round in Monaco. From then on the Scuderia has been a constant presence, contributing to some of the sport’s greatest moments. Ferrari has won 16 Constructors’ and 15 Drivers’ titles, as well as 235 race wins, 220 pole positions and 752 podium finishes.
Programme. The Chinese Grand Prix gets underway on Friday with two free practice sessions at 10:00 and 14:00 local time (4:00 and 8:00 CET.) The final free practice is on Saturday at 11:00 (5:00 (CET) with qualifying starting at 14:00, (8:00 CET.) The 16th Chinese Grand Prix gets underway at 14:10 local, (8:10 CET.)
Mattia Binotto, Team Principal
“The third round of the season takes place at a track that is different in character to those in Melbourne and Bahrain. Here, we have a very long straight and corners that put an uncommon amount of load on the front end. For our part, we want to verify that the SF90 is also competitive on this type of track and ensure that the reliability problems we had in Bahrain are not repeated. As usual, we want to do well and take on our competitors. It will be race number 1000 in the history of Formula 1, which is a further reason to try and excel.”
Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix 2019 – #essereFerrari – #Lavorare
Posted: 08.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 8 April 2019 – “Man is the most intelligent of animals because he has hands”, said the Greek philosopher Anaxagoras. Hands are the main tools for working and for Scuderia Ferrari, the work comes first. The people in the team, be they the mechanics working on the cars, the drivers at the wheel of the SF90, the trackside cooks, the engineers, as well as the press and marketing people, never back away from the work. There’s an almost constant symphony of hands, with one sole objective: to get results. Even #lavorare is #essereFerrari.
Ferrari Challenge North America 2019 – Round 2 – Drivers Survive the Heat, Excel at Sebring
Posted: 08.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Sebring, Florida | 8 April 2019 – Sweltering heat continued, accompanied by even higher humidity on Sunday, making things even harder for the drivers of Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli. The Ferrari 488 Challenge, however, stood up to the bumps and bruises of Sebring International Raceway well, as drivers fought to come to grips with the high speed and low grip offered by the nearly 70 year old racing surface.
Trofeo Pirelli. Cooper MacNeil made a statement at Sebring International Raceway with a dominant win in Race 2, beating Thomas Tippl by nearly 15 seconds. After some issues robbed Cooper of pace on Saturday, he switched to the back up car and his weekend completely changed. Starting with qualifying, Cooper carried his pace advantage into the race. The opening lap was full of high drama but excellent heads-up driving ensured everyone made it through safely. Benjamin Hites (The Collection) was the main victim of the drama when a big wiggle forced him wide and back into the field. That allowed Thomas Tippl (Scuderia Corsa, Ferrari of Beverly Hills) through to second while Ben had to fight forward, passing Trofeo Pirelli and Trofeo Pirelli AM competitors alike. Ultimately, he was able to regain his footing in third and closed to within six tenths of a second of Thomas, but could not pass.
Trofeo Pirelli AM. Ziad Ghandour (Boardwalk Ferrari) solidified himself as a podium contender in the Trofeo Pirelli AM category, beating out Barry Zekelman (Ferrari of Ontario) and Brent Holden (Scuderia CAVA, Ferrari of Newport Beach). Ziad and Barry Zekelman both spent much of their races mixing up with the Trofeo Pirelli category, especially Barry as he contested overall finishing position with Benjamin Hites. Ziad was six seconds up the road, while Barry was a further five seconds ahead of Brent. Brent, however, did an excellent job to hold up yesterday’s winner, Neil Gehani (Continental Autosport), as the two finished only three tenths of a second apart.
Coppa Shell. Mark Issa (Ferrari of Atlanta) made good on the pace he showed throughout the weekend with a win on Sunday leading home Dale Katechis (Miller Motorcars) and Geoff Palermo (Ferrari of San Francisco). A dramatic start saw Danny Baker run wide at Turn 1 and then spin at turn five, sending him plummeting back towards the back of the pack. That left Mark and Dale to build a gap over the rest of the field, something they did with relative ease. Geoff Palermo, however, had a dramatic race, making some strong passes at some of Sebring’s tighter corners. The high speed of the Ferrari 488 Challenge car, combined with tight corners at the end of long straights meant it was frequently the last of the late brakers that prevailed. Ultimately, an incident in the Coppa Shell AM category brought the race to a conclusion as the field was slowed behind the safety car and took the checkered flag to end the race.
Coppa Shell AM. Brian Davis (Ferrari of Palm Beach) dominated the Coppa Shell AM category, running a lights to flag victory where he frequently diced with the more experienced drivers in the Coppa Shell category until the late caution period confirmed his status as the Race 2 winner. He led home Jay Schreibman (Cauley Ferrari of Detroit) and Brad Horstman (Foreign Cars Italia). Jay also captured the Gentleman’s Cup trophy for Sunday. The leading Lady’s Cup contender, Lisa Clark, however, crashed out in Turn 12, and thus Debra Palermo (Ferrari of San Francisco) earned her first Lady’s Cup win of 2019.
Schedule. The North American series of Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli will return to racing on the second weekend of May for Ferrari Racing Days. The Ferrari Challenge drivers will join once again with the XX Program and F1 Clienti for the annual Ferrari Racing Days extravaganza.
Ferrari Challenge North America 2019 – Round 2 – Drivers Battle for Pole Position in Final Day at Sebring International Raceway
Posted: 07.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Sebring, Florida | 7 April 2019 – Another scorching day welcomed drivers at Sebring International Raceway as temperatures inched up through the morning qualifying sessions. Coppa Shell drivers took advantage of the cooler temperatures, starting their pole position shoot out at 9.40am, before Trofeo Pirelli drivers took to the track for the first time at 10.20am
Trofeo Pirelli. Cooper MacNeil (Scuderia Corsa, Ferrari of Beverly Hills) made a statement in his qualifying session with a 2:03.301 second lap, leaving him almost nine tenths of a second clear of Benjamin Hites (The Collection). The Chilean driver gave it his all, running an extra lap compared to Cooper to try to inch closer to the American’s time, but was unable to close the gap in the hot and humid conditions. Thomas Tippl (Scuderia Corsa, Ferrari of Beverly Hills) bested Amir Kermani (The Collection) by only two tenths of a second to earn the third position.
Trofeo Pirelli AM. Ziad Ghandour (Boardwalk Ferrari) took a significant step forward on his performance from Saturday’s session to earn pole for race 2. His time, a 2:05.292 bested the best lap of Barry Zekelman (Ferrari of Ontario) by just two tenths of a second. Brent Holden (Scuderia CAVA Ferrari of Newport Beach) was able to pip yesterday’s pole sitter, Neil Gehani (Continental Autosports) by just one tenth of a second.
Coppa Shell. Mark Issa (Ferrari of Atlanta) took pole in the Coppa Shell category with a 2:06.723, besting yesterday’s pole sitter and winner, Danny Baker (Ferrari of Palm Beach) by three tenths of a second. Dale Katechis (Miller Motorcars) claimed third with a 2:07.470, a further four tenths adrift. If yesterday’s race is anything to go by, however, the trio will be nearly inseparable for the duration of the upcoming 30 minute race.
Coppa Shell AM. Brian Davis (Ferrari of Palm Beach) again took pole at the Sebring International Raceway. His Ferrari 488 Challenge car paced the Coppa Shell am field with a 2:07.796. Jay Schreibman (Cauley Ferrari) was the only driver who posed a serious challenge, setting a time that was only three tenths slower than Brian. Mark Davies (Wide World Ferrari) rounded out the top three in Coppa Shell.
Schedule. Racing action will get underway at 12:50pm for Coppa Shell followed by Trofeo Pirelli at 1:50pm.
Ferrari Challenge North America 2019 – Round 2 – First Winners Crowned at Sebring International Raceway
Posted: 07.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Sebring, Florida, 7 April 2019 – Sweltering temperatures greeted Ferrari Challenge pilots for the first race day at Sebring International Raceway. Racing for the first time on the 3.74 mile circuit since 1999, pilots not only had to manage the notorious bumps of Turn 1 and 17, but also temperatures that topped 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The high temperatures, however, did not carry over to the circuit. Drivers maintained their cool, fighting clean and fair in both 30 minute sprint races.
Trofeo Pirelli. Benjamin Hites (The Collection) earned the win in the Trofeo Pirelli class after a hard-fought race fought in sweltering conditions. The race began with a dramatic opening 15 minutes when Martin Burrowes (Ferrari of Ft Lauderdale) jumped into the lead on the start. The race officials, however, determined that he had jumped the start and assessed a 15 second time penalty to his race time. That didn’t stop him, however, from holding off Benjamin for the opening segment of the race. Whenever Benjamin would make a move, Martin would inevitably rebuff the young Chilean driver and push him back into the clutches of the ever-lurking Cooper MacNeil (Scuderia Corsa, Ferrari of Westlake). Ultimately, Martin took too much life out of his Pirellis too early and committed a series of spins relegating him to the back of the pack. Ben took the win over the fading Cooper MacNeil who almost fell to the charging Thomas Tippl (Scuderia Corsa, Ferrari of Beverly Hills) as they crossed the line.
Trofeo Pirelli AM. Neil Gehani (Continental Autosports) ran an event-free race on his way to his first win of 2019. The American driver ultimately ended up finishing eleven seconds ahead of Brent Holden (Scuderia CAVA – Ferrari of Newport Beach). Brent also took the Gentleman’s Cup, earned by being the best finishing driver over 55. The closest battle in the Coppa Shell AM category was for third where Ziad Ghandour (Boardwalk Ferrari) took third over Chris Carel (Scuderia Corsa – Ferrari of Silicon Valley) by just over a second at the line.
Coppa Shell. Danny Baker (Ferrari of Palm Beach) continued his run of remarkable performances with a win in Race 1 after a hard-fought race against Dale Katechis (Miller Motorcars). The Coppa Shell race was neutralized by a safety car after 2nd place starter Mark Issa (Ferrari of Atlanta) made contact with another driver and ultimately retired. The break seemed to re-energize Danny’s nearest challengers as he fended off several attacks in the final fifteen minutes of the contest. Claude Senhoreti (Ferrari of Ft. Lauderdale) ultimately took the third and final spot on the podium.
Coppa Shell AM. Brian Davis (Ferrari of Palm Beach) took a dominant win in Coppa Shell AM. He scrapped with the very top of the Coppa Shell category, finishing 13 seconds ahead of his nearest challenger, Ladies Cup winner Lisa Clark (Scuderia Corsa, Ferrari of Beverly Hills). Lisa held off significant pressure, but was able to take advantage of other battles a bit further back to build a gap of two seconds over Ted Giovanis (Scuderia CAVA – Ferrari of Washington).
Schedule. Ferrari Challenge will return to the Sebring International Raceway for warm up at 9am on Sunday. Qualifying will begin at 9:40am followed by racing action at 12:50pm
Ferrari Challenge North America 2019 – Round 2 – Grids are Set for Race 1 at Sebring
Posted: 06.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Sebring, 6 April 2019 – Ferrari Challenge has returned to the bumps and undulations at Sebring International Raceway after a 20 year absence, with the field setting qualifying times in the cooler morning hours before getting ready for races this afternoon.
Trofeo Pirelli. Benjamin Hites (The Collection) claimed pole position, pipping Cooper MacNeil (Scuderia Corsa Ferrari of Westlake) by just over one tenth of a second. It was an excellent result for the young Chilean driver having trailed Cooper by nearly half a second in yesterday’s practice sessions. New arrivals to the Trofeo Pirelli category, Thomas Tippl (Scuderia Corsa, Ferrari of Beverly Hills) and Martin Burrowes (Ferrari of Ft Lauderdale) put on a great performance to qualify so close to their more experienced competitors. Ultimately, Martin took the third position, 1.5 seconds off of Cooper, but less than a tenth of a second ahead of Thomas Tippl, who sits fourth.
Trofeo Pirelli AM. Neil Gehani (Continental AutoSports) claimed pole position ahead of Brent Holden (Scuderia CAVA Ferrari of Newport Beach) and Chris Carel (Scuderia Corsa Ferrari of Silicon Valley). The trio were able to put together similar times to some of the Trofeo Pirelli drivers and were all in a clump of eight drivers who were within a single second of each other.
Coppa Shell. Danny Baker (Ferrari of Palm Beach) was able to put it all together and claim pole position again in the Coppa Shell category with a 2:06.768. His lap left no question who was the fastest Coppa Shell driver of the day, as he was the only driver to crack the 2 minute, 7 second barrier. He qualified ahead of Mark Issa (Ferrari of Atlanta) and Claude Senhoreti (Ferrari of Ft Lauderdale).
Coppa Shell AM. Brian Davis (Ferrari of Palm Beach) took pole position in Coppa Shell AM over Jay Schreibman (Cauley Ferrari of Detroit) and Lisa Clark (Scuderia Corsa, Ferrari of Beverly Hills). It was a remarkable qualifying performance for Brian as he separated himself from the rest of the Coppa Shell AM field by over a second. Lisa Clark also put in a strong performance with her best qualifying performance in the series.
Ferrari Challenge North America 2019 – Round 2 – Drivers Ready for Bumps in Sebring
Posted: 05.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
The North American series of Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli will make its way to Sebring International Raceway April 5 through 7 for the second round of its seven round 2019 calendar. Fifty one drivers will take on the classic 3.74 mile, 17 turn circuit, starting with practice sessions on Friday followed by qualifying and racing action on Saturday and Sunday.
Historic Setting. Sebring’s place in the lore of sports car racing in North America began two years after its opening with a 12 hour competition of endurance that became known as the 12 Hours of Sebring. Initially raced over the adjacent airfield, leveraging runways and taxiways, the circuit became known for its rough, changeable concrete surface and its utter lack of elevation change, a byproduct of the Florida topography. Held every year since 1952, the Sebring 12 Hour has become a benchmark for endurance sports car racing, both in the US and internationally, and the scene of a number of notable Ferrari sports car wins, with the first overall win coming in 1956 and the most recent overall win in the monstrous 333SP in 1998.
Mind the Bumps. This will be the first time that Ferrari Challenge has visited the south Florida circuit in the current decade, meaning many drivers will be unfamiliar with its particular characteristics. Two critical corners, turn 1 and turn 17 both have significant undulations and will require commitment and precision to navigate successfully. In turn 1, the apex is not visible at the turn in point, and is right up against a concrete wall to the inside. At track out, a surface change and narrowing of the course make for a difficult opening to the lap. Turn 17, however, offers a greater challenge, and larger bumps. Drivers will arrive in 7th gear and will need to slow to 4th gear through a corner that has many correct lines. It also has some of the worst bumps on the circuit, making power application extremely difficult. Watching the 488 Challenge car and Ferrari Challenge pilots navigate these two corners will certainly be a highlight of the weekend.
Broadcast to Augment Challenge Experience. The North American leg of Ferrari Challenge will be live streamed via live.ferrari.com for all stand-alone rounds going forwards in 2019. Drivers, family, friends and fans will be able to tune-in on live.ferrari.com on race day to see the racing schedule, and learn more about the Ferrari Challenge series and its participants.
Championship Battles. While it is still early days, some championship battles are coming in to focus. In Trofeo Pirelli, Cooper MacNeil (Scuderia Corsa, Ferrari of Westlake) leads Benjamin Hites (The Collection) by four points. The two swapped wins at COTA, and the rivalry will certainly continue for much of the season. In Trofeo Pirelli AM, Ziad Ghandour (Boardwalk Ferrari) has an eight point lead, earned by winning race 2 and taking pole position and fastest lap. His nearest competitor, Todd Morici (Wide World Ferrari) is just one point ahead of Barry Zekelman (Ferrari of Ontario). In Coppa Shell, Danny Baker (Ferrari of Palm Beach) had a perfect weekend with two wins, and leads Mark Issa (Ferrari of Atlanta) by eight points. In Coppa Shell AM, Brian Davis (Ferrari of Palm Beach) also had a perfect weekend with two wins, while the results behind him were a bit mixed. Ian Campbell (Ferrari of New England) currently leads the charge, but sits 19 points back, and only one ahead of his nearest competitor, Eric Marston (Scuderia Corsa, Ferrari of Westlake).
Schedule. On track action begins on Friday, with qualifying and racing on both Saturday and Sunday. The live stream will begin at 9:30AM on Saturday and will conclude after the podium at 3:35PM, and will recommence at 9:40AM on Sunday and end after the Sunday podium at 2:30PM.
Britcar 2019 – Round 1 – Silverstone
Posted: 05.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Four Ferraris race in Britcar at Silverstone
Maranello, 5 April 2019 – The Ferrari entrants at Silverstone enjoyed an extraordinary opening round of the Britcar Endurance Championship 2019. In Class 2, the 488 Challenges scored a one-two in Race-1 and swept the podium in Race-2.
Race-1. The 488 Challenge of JMH Automotive won Race-1 in Class 2 with Wayne Marrs and Charlie Hollings, ahead of reigning champions Paul Bailey and Andy Schulz in the twin car of SB Race Engineering. FF Corse’s entry, crewed by reigning Sprint Class 1 champions David Mason and Ross Wylie, finished seventh. Winners Marrs and Hollings crossed the line in third overall, while Mason and Wylie set the fastest lap in their class after also holding first position for four laps. The safety car came out and remained on track for four laps before the green flag flew again.
Race-2. The second race saw Ferrari score a fantastic hat trick, monopolising the podium with the crews of JMH Automotive, SB Race Engineering and FF Corse in that order. This result further confirms the excellent sprint capabilities of the 488 Challenge, which was also competitive on the single qualifying lap when the FF Corse crew notched up the best class time.
Qualifying. Ferrari also dominated the only qualifying round in this new championship format, with three cars taking the first three places in Class 2. The 488 Challenge of FF Corse, the fastest of the trio in 1:04.926, set the third best time overall, followed by that of JMH Automotive, for an all-red second row. SB Race Engineering’s entry qualified third in its class and in seventh overall.
Club. The second round of the British series will be held on 27 April, again at Silverstone. However, this time the participants will face each other in the ‘club’ configuration of the historic English track.
Italian GT Championchip 2019 – Round 1 – Ferrari on the podium at Monza in Italian GT
Posted: 07.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Monza , 7 April 2019 – The first round of the Italian GT Endurance Championship held on Sunday in Monza ended with a Ferrari on the podium and some regrets. The Ferrari 488 GT3 of Easy Race, with Mancinelli, Veglia and Cioci behind the wheel, finished second in a tricky race hampered by wet and changeable weather conditions.
First hour. After all the sessions in the dry, the competitors had to deal with the rain that fell on the Lombard track in the hours and minutes immediately before the race began. The drivers set off behind the safety car that returned after two laps, as did the 488 GT3 of Scuderia Baldini with Stefano Gai at the wheel who stopped to mount slicks. Di Amato began his determined climb up the standings and very quickly moved into fourth, imitated by the Ferrari of Mancinelli. On lap three, the 488 of AF Corse retired with 18-year-old Simon Mann driving the car into the pits. A few minutes later Di Amato also replaced the tyres although, against his will, he was forced to return to the pit lane again when the rain increased in intensity. The pit lane became crowded once more as the mechanics waltzed around the cars. When the situation returned to normal, Di Amato lapped in some very fast times, moving into second position with Gai’s 488 GT3 behind him. Mancinelli, brilliant in the opening stages, was in eighth an hour into the race.
Second hour. A few laps before handing over to Vezzoni, Di Amato had to deal with a puncture suffered at the Roggia, forcing him to complete almost an entire lap on three wheels and, above all, opening the way ahead to Stefano Gai who, shortly after, handed over to Jacques Villeneuve. The Canadian, once the obligatory stops were over, took the race lead, while Veglia, who had replaced Mancinelli, was seventh. Vezzoni, in eighth, made way for Di Amato. Meanwhile, the track was still wet even though the sun had started to peep out. Villeneuve, in his debut in the Italian GT, stretched his lead over his rivals to more than 12 seconds. Unfortunately for him, the safety car – which came on 1h21 minutes from the end – compacted the group, thwarting the efforts of the former Formula 1 world champion. When the race resumed, Villeneuve regained a small lead, while the young Veglia took advantage of the situation, to claim third in his 488 GT3.
Third hour. The third and final hour yielded many surprises, unfortunately not all pleasant for Ferrari. The track, now dry in many places, encouraged the drivers to switch permanently to slicks when changing drivers. Villeneuve handed over to Fisichella in first while Cioci, who replaced Veglia at the wheel of the Ferrari of Easy Race, was fourth but very close to Andrea Palma. The two fought it out at different points of the track but Cioci got the better of the Roman driver with a masterful manoeuvre out of the first chicane. On the other hand, Fisichella in the lead started to suffer problems causing him to slow down and then retire on lap 74. At this point, the best of the Ferraris remaining was that of Cioci who used all his experience to fight off Andrea Palma’s attempt to reclaim second position. The second Ferrari still on the track, that of RS Racing with Di Amato at the wheel, attempted a difficult recovery after the puncture, but unfortunately was still far off the podium. The trio of Mancinelli, Veglia, and Cioci crossed the line in second, three hours after the start, while the 488 GT3 of Di Amato and Vezzoni was in eighth.
Upcoming rounds. The Italian GT Championship will return in less than a month, at Vallelunga, where the first round of the Italian GT Sprint Championship will be held from 3 to 5 May, while the Endurance Championship will take place in Misano from 17 to 19 May.
Italian GT Championchip 2019 – Round 1 – Monza – 488 GT3 of Scuderia Baldini on the front row at Monza
Posted: 06.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Monza, 6 April 2019 – The Ferrari no. 27 crewed by Giancarlo Fisichella, Stefano Gai and Jacques Villeneuve will start on the front row in tomorrow’s Endurance race at Monza, the first round of the Italian GT Championship. The starting grid, calculated by adding up the times of the individual drivers, will see the Scuderia Baldini trio start from second.
Two Ferrari 488 GT3s will occupy the fourth row; with the cars driven by Di Amato and Vezzoni (RS Racing), and Mann, Cressoni and Nielsen (AF Corse) starting ahead of the twin car crewed by Mancinelli, Cioci and Veglia (Easy Race).
Q1. In the first session, the Ferrari 488 GT3 set the best time of 1:47.452 with Daniele Di Amato (RS Racing), four-tenths of a second ahead of his nearest rival. Former F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve (Scuderia Baldini) came fourth ahead of Marco Cioci (Easy Race), while Simon Mann (AF Corse) set the ninth fastest time.
Q2. In the second qualifying session, Nicklas Nielsen (AF Corse) recorded the third fastest time and was the best of the Ferrari drivers. Sixth place went to Stefano Gai (Scuderia Baldini), eighth to Lorenzo Veglia (Easy Race) and tenth to Alessandro Vezzoni (RS Racing).
Q3. In the third and final session, the official GT competition driver, Giancarlo Fisichella, stopped the clock at 1:46.667, the fastest lap of all three qualifying sessions. The Scuderia Baldini driver recorded this time on lap four of seven recorded. Daniele Di Amato clocked the third fastest time in every session on the Lombard circuit. Matteo Cressoni (AF Corse) finished in the wake of the RS Racing driver, while Daniel Mancinelli (Easy Race) came ninth.
Live race. The three-hour race sets off at 2.10 pm on Sunday. You can follow its progress on the official championship website: http://www.acisport.it/it/acisport-service/live-streaming/ita
Italian GT Championchip 2019 – Round 1 – Monza – Four Ferraris in the Italian GT Championship
Posted: 05.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Monza, 5 April 2019 – The 17th edition of the Italian Gran Turismo Championship opens at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, in a new format that has immediately met the approval of teams and drivers. Four Ferrari 488 GT3s will line up at the start, all equally in with a realistic shout for the title, including one total newcomer: Jacques Villeneuve.
Villeneuve and 27. The fans are very keen to see the Canadian 1997 Formula 1 World Champion and winner of the 1995 Indianapolis 500, who will be flanked by crewmates Stefano Gai – 2016 Italian GT3 Champion – and the official GT and ex-Formula 1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella. The Scuderia Baldini trio will carry the number 27, a fascinating and exciting connection with Gilles Villeneuve, one of the best-loved drivers in the history of the Prancing Horse.
Ambitious crews. The other 488 GT3 teams are no less ready for the fray. Marco Cioci will once again take the wheel for Easy Race, teaming up with Daniel Mancinelli and Lorenzo Veglia, while Matteo Cressoni and the youngsters Simon Mann and Nicklas Nielsen drive for AF Corse. Daniele Di Amato and Alessandro Vezzoni, who also competes in the Ferrari Challenge, are also ready to do battle in the colours of the RS Racing-CDP arriving from the GT Open.
Programme. The action begins on Sunday at 2.10 pm, with the first of the four three-hour races in the Endurance series, while the Sprint, which includes two 50-minute + 1 lap races, will start from Vallelunga from 3 to 5 May.
Ferrari Corse Clienti – F1 Clienti and XX Programme – Round 2 – Valencia
Posted: 04.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
F1 Clienti and XX Programmes tests completed in Valencia
Valencia, 4 Apr 2019 – Two days of testing and free practices for customers driving the cars of the XX Programmes and F1 Clienti concluded at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia. The track, which over the weekend hosted the Ferrari Challenge races and Passione Ferrari events, welcomed more than 20 Ferraris, including the F2007, the winner of the world constructors’ and drivers’ championships with Kimi Räikkonen.
F1 Clienti. After the spectacular Bahrain circuit with floodlit sessions just like the first Formula 1 Grand Prix of the season, the F1 Clienti single-seaters lapped a track that is twisty but also technical and a pleasure to drive. Seven single-seaters covered the track’s 4,005 metres. The previously mentioned F2007 was accompanied by the F150 Italia in which Fernando Alonso raced the 2011 season and the cars the Spaniard drove in 2012 and 2013. In addition to the F2012 and F138, there were two examples of the 248 F1, with which Massa competed in the 2006 season and the F2004 that his compatriot Rubens Barrichello drove in 2004.
XX Programmes. There were also free practices for the cars of the XX Programmes with customer testers behind the wheel of nine FXX K Evos, powered by the exceptional hybrid-thermal synergy of the V12 engine equipped with Hy-Kers. In addition to the latest addition to the programme, there were also a 599XX and two 599XX Evos.
Gala. As usual, there was a gala dinner for XX Programmes and F1 Clienti customers in a unique location, this time Valencia’s oceanographic park of Valencia, in the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (City of Arts and Sciences).
Next events. The cars of the XX Programmes and the F1 Clienti single-seaters are due to travel to the United States where they will take part in a two-day test at the Sonoma circuit on 7 and 8 May in preparation for the Ferrari Racing Days at the Laguna Seca circuit from 10 to 12 May.
