| Circuit | Daytona International Speedway |
| Date | 27.01. – 28.01.2018 |
| Laps | 808 |
| Distance | 4.628,256 km / 2.876,480 miles |
| No | Driver | Ferrari | S/N | Team | Result |
|
51
|
Paul Dalla Lana Pedro Lamy Mathias Lauda Daniel Serra |
488 GT3
|
|
Spirit of Race
|
44. overall / 21. in class GTD
|
| 62 | Toni Vilander Alessandro Pier Guidi James Calado Davide Rigon |
488 GTE | Risi Competizione | 16. overall / 5. in class GTLM | |
| 63 | Cooper MacNeil Alessandro Balzan Gunnar Jeannette Jeff Segal |
488 GT3 | Scuderia Corsa | 30. overall / 10. in class GTD | |
| 64 | Bill Sweedler Townsend Bell Frank Montecalvo Sam Bird |
488 GT3 | Scuderia Corsa | 25. overall / 5. in class GTD | |
| 82 | Miguel Molina Ricardo Perez de Lara Martin Fuentes Santiago Creel Matt Griffin |
488 GT3 | Risi Competizione | 39. overall / 17. in class GTD |
IMSA SCC – 24 Hours of Daytona – Great untapped potential
Posted: 28.01.2018 / Source: Ferrari
Daytona, 28 January 2018 – Ferrari’s experience of the 24 Hours of Daytona 2018 could be summed up in a nutshell as significant untapped potential, a performance at times to match the very best, but an unsatisfactory finish.
GTLM. In GTLM class car no. 62 of Risi Competizione crewed by James Calado, Davide Rigon, Alessandro Pier Guidi and Toni Vilander was the star of the first half of the race. Vilander didn’t push things at the start but was in the leading group after four hours, on the tail of the two lightning fast Fords. Despite various troubles, including a problem with the safety net in the passenger compartment, a puncture and a door replacement, the 488 GTE was in the mix for a podium finish. However, a technical problem at the halfway mark lost it six laps. The almost complete absence of yellow flag phases also did the car no favors, so in the end it had to settle for fifth. Nevertheless, the Ferrari proved its potential by clocking the fastest lap, with James Calado recording a time of 1:44:008 in the first third of the race.
GTD. There was even more cause for regret in the GTD class, given that Ferrari had monopolised the front row in qualifying. Car no. 82 of Risi Competizione took command thanks to a fast Miguel Molina but the Houston team’s performance was compromised by a refueling problem in the first part of the race. The car returned to the pits, but a issue with the filler caused fuel to spurt out, which landed on hot parts of the car, ignited and ruined the rest of the race. Molina drove the car over the line after alternating with Matt Griffin, Martin Fuentes, Santiago Creel and Ricardo Perez de Lara. It finished in 17th. Car no. 63 of Scuderia Corsa was the star of the early stages of the race until technical trouble lost Balzan-MacNeil-Jeannette-Segal nine laps that they only partially made up. They ended in tenth. The crew of the 488 GT3 no. 51 of Spirit of Race was up among the leaders until 8 am, but was forced to retire after Paul Dalla Lana came off track and it was too damaged to continue. The best of Ferraris in the end was car no. 64 of Scuderia Corsa, the one that had struggled most in qualifying. Sam Bird, Frankie Montecalvo, Bill Sweedler and Townsend Bell fought back from 14th to fifth place again proving the car’s potential. Unfortunately though, this great potential remained untapped. The Cadillac of Joao Barbosa, Filipe Albuquerque and Christian Fittipaldi was overall winner.
IMSA SCC – Hour 20 – Hard Fought Battle Nearing Conclusion
Posted: 28.01.2018 / Source: Ferrari
Daytona, 28 January 2018 – As the sun rose over the Daytona International Speedway, the 24 Hours at Daytona entered its final phase. The strongest contenders were the No. 51 Spirit of Race entry and the No. 64 Scuderia Corsa entry. Things looked very close for a podium position, but calamity soon struck the No. 51 when a spin forced a lengthy pit stop for repairs. Further down the field, the No. 63 Scuderia Corsa entry put in some strong lap times, but has thus far been unable to make any headway on their 7 lap deficit to the leaders.
GTLM. Ford has solidified its advantage in the GT-LM field, having lapped all of their nearest competitors. The No. 62 entry from Risi Competitzione is in fifth place with Toni Vilander at the wheel, six laps behind their nearest competitor.
IMSA SCC – 24 Hours of Daytona – Hour 17: Ferrari Mounts a Charge in GT-Daytona
Posted: 28.01.2018 / Source: Ferrari
Daytona, 28 January 2018 – At hour 17, all five Ferraris continue to work their way towards dawn in the 24 Hours at Daytona. The night has shaken up the running order, but consistency, speed and some well timed caution periods have brought the No. 64 entered by Scuderia Corsa (the car received a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pit lane) and No. 51 entered by Spirit of Race back to the lead lap of the GT-Daytona battle. Both cars are running within twenty seconds of the leading Lamborghini, ensuring a dramatic final third of the 24 Hour classic.
GTLM. Mechanical woes have blunted the Ferrari challenge in the GTLM class as the team has been required to spend additional time in pit lane. The No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari is currently 7th in class, and seven laps behind the class dominating Fords.
IMSA SCC – 24 Hours of Daytona – Hour 2: Spirit of Race in command
Posted: 27.01.2018 / Source: Ferrari
Daytona, 27 Jan 2018 – After two hours car no. 51 of Spirit of Race is ahead in the GTD class. The Ferrari has so far been driven by Daniel Serra, Paul Dalla Lana and Pedro Lamy. However, a problem sent car no. 82 of Risi Competizione into the pits, after it had led the first part of the race. The two 488 GT3s of Scuderia Corsa with Townsend Bell and Cooper MacNeil are still racing and in the top ten.
GTLM. In the GTLM class James Calado has taken over from Davide Rigon in the Ferrari 488 GTE of Risi Competizione. The car is in ninth place in a race where up to now there have been no yellow flags.
IMSA SCC – 24 Hours of Daytona – Molina ahead in the first hour
Posted: 27.01.2018 / Source: Ferrari
Daytona, 27 Jan 2018 – The 2018 edition of the 24 Hours of Daytona got underway at 2:40 pm local time. Two Ferraris lead the field in the GTD class. Miguel Molina, at the wheel of the Ferrari 488 GT3 of Risi Competizione, started by immediately overtaking Daniel Serra in the sister car of Spirit of Race. The two Scuderia Corsa Ferraris are respectively in seventh, with Sam Bird making up seven positions, and in ninth with Alessandro Balzan.
GTLM. In the GTLM class the 488 GTE of Risi Competizione is placed seventh, the same position in which it started, with Vilander in the driver’s seat. After a shower just before the race, the track dried quickly and the temperatures rose but humidity remains high.
IMSA SCC – 24 Hours of Daytona – All Ferrari front row in GTD class
Posted: 25.01.2018 / Source: Ferrari
Daytona, 25 January 2018 – Daniel Serra in the 488 GT3 no. 51 of Spirit Of Race will start from pole position in the GT-Daytona (GTD) class of the 24 Hours of Daytona. Miguel Molina will be in second for Risi Competizione in an all Ferrari front row. In the GT-Le Mans (GTLM) class Tony Vilander qualified the 488 GTE of Risi Competizione in seventh place.
GTD. Right from the start, Daniel Serra in the Ferrari 488 GT3 of Spirit of Race dictated the pace. He improved lap by lap for a final time of 1:46:049, the fastest ever recorded in this category at the International Speedway. Serra will be joined by Paul Dalla Lana, Pedro Lamy and Mathias Lauda. Second place was taken by the sister car of Risi Competizione, driven in qualifying by Miguel Molina. He also improved lap by lap, stopping the clock at 1:46:502. Miguel, an official Maranello driver, will share the car with Matt Griffin and Mexicans Martin Fuentes, Santiago Creel and Ricardo Perez de Lara. The first of the two Scuderia Corsa Ferraris will set off in fifth. Alessandro Balzan recorded a time of 1:47:055. In the race, he will share the 488 GT3 with Gunnar Jeannette, Cooper MacNeil and Jeff Segal. The other Scuderia Corsa car, the no. 64 of Sam Bird, Townsend Bell, Bill Sweedler and Frankie Montecalvo enjoyed a less successful qualifying. Bird recorded a time of 1:47:839, for 14th place.
GTLM. In the GT-Le Mans the Ferrari 488 GTE of Risi Competizione had a less successful qualifying session. Toni Vilander began by recording relatively high times, but improved towards the end for a time of 1:43:601 good for seventh place. He was just over eight tenths of a second behind the Chevrolet of Jan Magnussen, which took pole in 1:42:779. The overall pole went to the Cadillac of Renger Van Der Zande in 1:36:083.
Programme. The race will start on Saturday at 2:40 pm local time (8:40 pm CET) but is preceded by more free practice sessions, including one at night so that all the drivers can become familiar with the conditions they will have to face in the race.
IMSA SCC – 24 Hours of Daytona – Five Ferraris chase a dream
Posted: 25.01.2018 / Source: Ferrari
Daytona Beach, 25 January 2018 – Ferrari returns to Daytona with five cars, one in the GT-Le Mans (GTLM) class and four in the GT-Daytona (GTD). The 488 GTE and four 488 GT3s will be trying to beat the many other manufacturers at the legendary 24 Hours that opens the IMSA SportsCar championship season and, indeed, a full-on year of GT racing.
GTLM. One car will be competing in the GTLM class. The 488 GTE of Risi Competizione will be there with an entirely official crew of Toni Vilander and Davide Rigon, plus the FIA World Endurance Championship winners, James Calado and Alessandro Pier Guidi. Calado and Vilander came third last season, so now the goal is to win, even if the BoP once again penalises the Italian berlinetta on the straight, which at Daytona means much of the track given that the 31-degree parabolic curves are also driven at full throttle. Calado and Vilander’s best finish at Daytona is still the third place of 2017, while Rigon was sixth in 2016 with the 488 GTE of Risi Competizione, and Pier Guidi won the 2014 edition in the GTD class with Level 5 Motorsports, for the Prancing Horse’s most recent triumph on the legendary Florida track.
GTD. Four 488 GT3s will be involved in the GTD class. Expectations are high for the car of Scuderia Corsa that, without Christina Nielsen, will see Alessandro Balzan, the return of Jeff Segal and new entries Cooper MacNeil and Gunnar Jeannette. Segal was part of the team that won in 2014, while MacNeil was second in 2015. Fourth is the best result so far for both Balzan (for Ferrari in 2013) and Jeannette (2014). Giacomo Mattioli’s team is also fielding a second car, the no. 64 of Townsend Bell, Bill Sweedler, Sam Bird and Frankie Montecalvo. Bell won in 2014 with Sweedler while both Bird and Montecalvo recorded their best results in 2014, with respectively a sixth and a fourth place. The third 488 GT3 belongs to Spirit of Race and will be driven by Paul Dalla Lana, Mathias Lauda, Pedro Lamy and Daniel Serra, who more usually compete against Ferrari crews. Fourth place is the best result achieved so far by all four drivers. Dalla Lana, in his ninth outing, recorded it in 2016, just like his three co-drivers, although Lamy had previously been fourth also in 2009. The last of the Ferrari group is Risi Competizione’s second car, crewed by rookie Miguel Molina, official Ferrari driver, Matt Griffin, and Mexicans Santiago Creel, Martin Fuentes and Ricardo Perez de Lara, an old acquaintance of the Ferrari Challenge. Griffin was fourth in 2015, Fuentes sixth in 2014, Creel tenth in 2017 and Perez De Lara 17th in 2013.
History. Ferrari has twice been overall winner of the 24 Hours. The first victory came in 1967 with the official 330 P3/4 of Lorenzo Bandini and Chris Amon, when there was the famous one-two-three finish and a Ferrari hat trick on the podium. Then in 1998 the 333 SP of Doran-Moretti Racing won with Arie Luyendyk, Didier Theys, Mauro Baldi and Gianpiero Moretti. There have also been eight class victories, most recently in 2014 in the GTD with Segal-Pier Guidi-Bell-Sweedler and Level 5 Motorsports. However, there were also another 11 wins not obtained in the 24 hours. The first came in 1959, in the USAC series, with Santiago Gonzalez and Skip Hudson in a 250 GT of the Hans Hirch team. We also shouldn’t forget the triumph in the 6 Hours of 1972 by the 312 PB of Scuderia Ferrari with Mario Andretti and Jacky Ickx.
Programme. The long weekend at Daytona kicks off on Thursday with the free practice sessions followed by qualifying at 3:55 pm local time (9:55 pm CET) for the GTLM class and at 4:20 pm (10:20 pm CET) for the GTD. On Friday, there is another test session before the race starts at 2:40 pm local time (8:40 pm CET) on Saturday. The conclusion is of course scheduled for the same time on Sunday.
Ferrari Challenge Completes Thrilling Weekend at Daytona
Posted: 27.01.2018 / Source: Ferrari
The Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli made a thrilling debut on the high banking of the Daytona International Speedway in support of the 24 Hours at Daytona. Saturday morning’s race was run under cloudier skies, but less wind than earlier in the weekend. Drivers took the green flag just a few minutes past 9:30 and raced hard for thirty minutes. Fierce competition marked the thirty minute race with some podium winners earned penalties for their driving tactics.
Trofeo Pirelli. Peter Ludwig (Wide World Ferrari) took the top step of the podium in the Trofeo Pirelli class after a late braking maneuver took him past pole-sitter Cooper MacNeil (Ferrari of Silicon Valley). Cooper did his best to keep Peter honest, but besides late drama with a back-marker, Peter was able to hold on for the win. James Weiland (Boardwalk Ferrari) took his second podium of the weekend as well in a distant third.
Trofeo Pirelli AM – Rob Hodes took the top step of the podium in the Trofeo Pirelli AM class in his Ferrari of Vancouver 488 Challenge car. Rob was able to take a fairly comfortable victory after contact between Dave Musial (Lake Forest Sportscars) and Alfred Caiola (Ferrari of Long Island) sent Alfred back to 9th in class and earned Dave a post-race time penalty. Barry Zekelman (Ferrari of Ontario) and Osvaldo Gaio (Miller Motorcars) were promoted to second and third place respectively.
Coppa Shell – The Coppa Shell class results were marred by post-race penalties, most importantly to Mark Fuller of Ferrari of Westlake. While Mark was first to cross the line, a driving infraction meant a 10 second penalty dropped him back in the order. That advanced Brian Kaminskey (Ferrari of Long Island) to the top step of the podium with Chris Carel (Ferrari of Beverly Hills) and Robert Picerne (Ferrari of Central Florida) to second and third respectively.
Coppa Shell AM – Thomas Tippl (Ferrari of Beverly Hills) took his first ever victory in his first Ferrari Challenge weekend at the Daytona International Speedway, holding off his rival, Dale Katechis (Miller Motorcars) by two seconds. Brian Simon of Cauley Ferrari of Detroit finished in third position.
Ferrari Challenge North America Takes Off at Daytona
Posted: 24.01.2018 / Source: Ferrari
The cool but sunny weather continued from the morning qualifying session into Race 1 of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli at Daytona International Speedway. Having just set the grid for Race 2, drivers had a short break before preparing to do battle in the late morning.
Trofeo Pirelli. Cooper MacNeil (Ferrari Silicon Valley) took victory in his first of three races at Daytona International Speedway. Cooper will be racing not only in the Ferrari Challenge this weekend, but also in the 24 Hours at Daytona. He held off a strong charge from Peter Ludwig (Wide World Ferrari) who maintained a close gap and even took the fastest lap of the race (1:47.962), until backing off at the end. James Weiland completed the podium in his Boardwalk Ferrari 488 Challenge car.
Trofeo Pirelli AM. Alfred Caiola returned to Ferrari Challenge after a hiatus and started his season off with a win in the Trofeo Pirelli AM category. Driving his Ferrari of Long Island powered 488 Challenge Car, Alfred took the win by only two tenths of a second over the hard charging Dave Musial (Lake Forest Sportscars). Rob Hodes (Ferrari of Washington) completed the podium with third place.
Coppa Shell. Michael Fassbender (Ferrari North America) took his first victory in Ferrari Challenge in the Coppa Shell class with a charging drive after starting in fourth position. Once taking the lead from Brian Kaminskey (Ferrari of Long Island), Michael went to work establishing a gap over his nearest rivals. However, Chris Carel (Ferrari Westlake) soon made it by Brian and began closing the gap. He soon ran out of time, however, and had to settle for second, while Brian rounded out the podium in third.
Coppa Shell AM. John McGrue (Ferrari of Long Island) took his first victory in Ferrari Challenge and set his season off to a great start. John was able to get a couple of Coppa Shell cars between himself and second place Jason McCarthy (Wide World Ferrari) while Brian Simon (Cauley Ferrari of Detroit) rounded out the podium in third.
The car: what’s new for 2018
Posted: 22.01.2018 / Source: Ferrari
The less well known points of the F1 regulations and their effect on the design
Last year, the rules underwent a truly revolutionary change, but there will be less upheaval in 2018. Nevertheless, the look of the car will change in several areas. Also down to the regulations, there will be different parameters when it comes to how the mechanical components are managed. Let’s take a closer look at these changes, including their finer points:
Chassis and Aerodynamics. The most visible modification is the introduction of the HALO, the structure designed to protect the driver from being hit by a flying object. This change involved a great deal of work for the designers, on the one hand because the 5 kilo increase in the car’s minimum weight, to 733 Kg, only partly compensates for the weight of the component and, on the other, because of the inevitable effect on air flow. Aesthetically however, one can expect an improvement over the prototypes seen to date, thanks to it being slightly faired-in and also integrated into the livery of the car.
The large “shark fin” on the engine cover has almost completely gone, while the positioning of the transversally mounted T-wing, which all the teams used in 2017 to better direct air flow towards the rear wing has been reviewed. Also gone at the back end of the car is the crash wing, better known as the “monkey seat” which used to sit below the rear wing. The exhaust exit has been position further back and this year, as a further safety precaution, each wheel will have three cable tethers to prevent them detaching in an accident. The frontal crash test standard is also more severe and finally, on the front of the chassis, cars will carry a 360 degree video camera.
Power Unit. According to the sporting regulations, the number of internal combustion units (the V6 engines) that can be used over the course of the 21 race season, has been reduced from four to three, which means each one will have to deal with a 40% increase in its mileage. There are more severe restrictions on oil consumption, with just one type of lubricant allowed over the course of a race weekend, to be used at a rate of no more than 6 litres every 100 Km. There are new regulations relating to the positioning of some electrical components in the area around the rechargeable batteries, while further restrictions are imposed when it comes to rules regarding fuel and the air temperature going into the air intake, as well as of the exhaust gases.
Ferrari at Autosport International 2018
Posted: 12.01.2018/ Source: Ferrari
At Birmingham NEC until Sunday
Birmingham, 12 January 2018 – Ferrari is pleased to be the main feature at the annual Autosport International racing car show at the NEC in Birmingham, which runs until Sunday. This is the first time that Ferrari’s Competizioni GT and Corse Clienti departments have had a motor show stand dedicated to the company’s racing activities.
Dream display. On display are a Ferrari 488 Challenge, with which clients compete in the Ferrari Challenge European series, the world-championship 488 GTE driven by James Calado and Alessandro Pier Guidi, a FXX K EVO, the new entry among the XX Programmes cars, the F2004 F1 car, a single-seater that takes part in the F1 Clienti activities, and the SF17H F1 car driven by Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen during the 2017 season.
Top class drivers. As part of the company’s involvement in the show, Ferrari drivers and World Champions James Calado and Alessandro Pier Guidi were protagonists on the Autosport main stage, entertaining the live audiences with a recap of their experiences in Ferrari GT racing and what it feels like to be a world champion. Ferrari drivers Miguel Molina and Marc Gene join the Autosport International show on Friday and will be taking part also on Saturday.
“Muner”. Ferrari is also supporting the “Muner” project (Motorvehicle University of Emilia Romagna) which is a new initiative with four Universities in the Italian Motor Valley, based in the Emilia Romagna region, in partnership with several automotive manufacturers in the region. The initiative will see the Universities offering a range of Master’s Degree level courses with the aim of preparing young top class engineers for the automotive industry.
Challenge UK series. The Autosport International show was the perfect location for Ferrari to announce the company’s intention to evaluate to launch a dedicated Ferrari Challenge series in the UK in 2019. A dedicated UK series of the Ferrari Challenge would be run to the same regulations as the Ferrari Challenge European Series, and would be open to any UK clients who own a Ferrari 488 Challenge race car. Further details regarding the potential race calendar and other technical details will be announced at the Ferrari Challenge Europe race weekend which takes places at Silverstone from 27-29 April 2018 and at the FIA WEC’s 6 Hours of Silverstone from 17-19 August 2018.
FIA WEC – Calado and Pier Guidi: “We aim to retain the title in the Super Season”
Posted: 11.01.2018/ Source: Ferrari
Birmingham, 11 January 2018 – FIA World Endurance Championship champions, James Calado and Alessandro Pier Guidi, appeared on stage at the Birmingham Autosport International where they reviewed their extraordinary 2017 and talked about their expectations for a 2018 season that is shaping up to be intense and special and will see the two together again on the 51 Ferrari 488GTE with Sam Bird and Davide Rigon confirmed on the 71 sister car.
Perfect reaction. James and Alessandro won the title in their first season as teammates, achieving great results right from the off. However, their sprint to the title began after the disappointment of Le Mans. “We were very unlucky in France because we were involved in an accident in the morning while we were in the leading group,” said James Calado. “That disappointment rather than discourage gave us a chance to react. We started right from the following race at the Nürburgring, and we didn’t stop.” Alessandro Pier Guidi is very clear about the turning point: “I think it was in Austin, when bad luck seemed to be dogging us again. Near the end of the race, when we were comfortably ahead, we had a puncture but managed to react and secure the win. At that moment we realised that we could do it.” James remembers the relief and joy at crossing the finish line: “For 15 seconds I screamed about everything down the radio… I was over the moon.”
Daytona and Super Season. The 2018 season is already about to begin for the two world champions: “Alessandro and I will be at Daytona at the end of the month and along with Toni Vilander will try to win one of the world’s most important endurance races,” said James. “Risi Competizione finished third in 2017. We want to try to do even better.” Then there will be the WEC Super Season: “It will be a special one spread over two years and comprising two editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans,” explained Pier Guidi. “Our aim, of course, is to retain the title, but also we would like at least one podium finish in the two races to be held in France.”
Ferrari Challenge – Evaluating a UK series for 2019
Posted: 11.01.2018/ Source: Ferrari
Birmingham, 11 January 2018 – Ferrari’s Corse Clienti division is evaluating to launch a dedicated Ferrari Challenge series in the UK in 2019, as announced at the Birmingham Autosport International today.
National B licence. A dedicated UK series of the Ferrari Challenge would be run to the same regulations as the Ferrari Challenge European Series, and would be open to any UK clients who own a Ferrari 488 Challenge race car. Clients wishing to race in a Ferrari Challenge UK Series would only require a National B racing licence, and participating in the UK series would enable clients to progress and to qualify for an International C racing licence which is required for the Ferrari Challenge European Series.
Dealer network. Clients wishing to register their interest in the Ferrari Challenge UK Series for 2019 should contact their local official Ferrari dealership. The official Ferrari dealer network will be an integral part of the Ferrari Challenge UK Series, and will be able to provide a “turn-key” solution for clients wishing to participate in this exciting new UK motor sport opportunity.
Challenge Europe in the UK. Further details regarding the potential race calendar and other technical details will be announced at the Ferrari Challenge Europe race weekend, round 2 of the European series, which takes places at Silverstone from 27-29 April 2018 and at the FIA WEC’s 6 Hours of Silverstone from 17-19 August 2018.
Benelux debut for Ferrari Portofino at Brussels Motorshow
Posted: 10.01.2018/ Source: Ferrari
Brussels, January 10th, 2018 – The new Ferrari Portofino makes its Benelux debut at the upcoming Brussels Motor Show where visitors of the Belgian show will also be able to admire all the latest additions to the Ferrari model range.
The Ferrari Portofino is the new V8 GT set to dominate its segment thanks to a perfect combination of outright performance and versatility in addition to a level of driving pleasure and on-board comfort unparalleled on the market. Capable of unleashing a massive 600 cv and sprinting from 0 to 200 km/h in just 10.8 seconds, the Ferrari Portofino is the most powerful convertible to combine the advantages of a retractable hard top, a roomy boot and generous cockpit space complete with two rear seats suitable for short trips.
On the Ferrari stand, flanking the Bianco Italia Portofino, are a 812 Superfast finished in Rosso 70 Anni, a GTC4Lusso T in Grigio Silverstone, a 488 Spider in Rosso Corsa and a 488 GTB in Grigio Titanio.
The GP d’Autore exhibition officially opened at Ferrari Museum in Maranello
Posted: 09.01.2018/ Source: Ferrari
Internationally-renowned artists give their unique take on the world of Formula 1 in the “GP d’Autore’ exhibition officially opened at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello today.
Twenty works by nine different graphic novel artists each tell the story of a different round of the 2017 F1 World Championship, taking their inspiration from the traditions and legends of the various host nations.
The exploits of the Scuderia Ferrari’s SF70H single-seater are immortalised in works featuring pyramids and superheroes, skyscrapers and dragons, mountains and deserts that reference modern-day stories as well as those from history.
Challenge APAC – And the winners are Prette, Seto, Fujiwara and Berry!
Posted: 22.12.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 22 December 2017 – The seventh season of the Ferrari Challenge Asia-Pacific (APAC) had the honour of hosting the debut of the 488 Challenge in Abu Dhabi. In the Trofeo Pirelli Angelo Negro was first driver to win with the new car. Philippe Prette came back to take Race-2, while the Racing Days in Shanghai as usual witnessed some excellent performances from the Chinese drivers. Hulin Han won Race 1, but the following day it was the turn of Prette who also triumphed in the only race at Zhejiang and the first at Fuji. However, Race-2 in Japan saw a win for his rookie son Louis. Prette took another step toward the title with a victory at Sepang in Race-1, while the next day Han bagged his second victory of the season. Ringo Chong prevailed twice in Singapore while Prette wrapped things up in Race-1 at Mugello.
The duel between Japan’s Ken Seto and Taipei’s Tiger Wu dominated the Trofeo Pirelli Am season. The two shared the spoils in Abu Dhabi, with Wu making a clean sweep at Fuji. However, Seto limited the damage and then triumphed at Sepang in Race 1. Ziad Ghandour enjoyed two days of glory in Singapore, while Wu lost precious points to Seto. Then finally, while King ruled the roost at Mugello, Seto sealed the title with a second and a fourth place.
Makoto Fujiwara made an explosive start to the Coppa Shell. The Japanese driver finished first in two races at Abu Dhabi and at Shanghai but he had to fight it out with China’s Eric Zang who won the two races at Fuji. The rivals shared the winner’s laurels at Sepang while in Singapore Zang pulled-off a one-two, although Fujiwara limited the damage with a second and third place. The Japanese won the title finishing second and a fourth at Mugello. David Dicker took the Coppa Shell by just one point over Grant Baker, 105 to 104, while the Ladies’ Cup went to Indonesia’s, Kathicha Chimsiri.
Australian rookie Martin Berry was fastest right from the get-go in the 458 Challenge EVO class and sealed the title very early. The only other drivers to win were Tani Hanna, Hidehiko Hagiwara, Sam Lok and Tamotsu Kondo.
“We have taken giant strides”
Posted: 18.12.2017 / Source: Ferrari
The President’s message: “There are already signs of progress for 2018”
Maranello, 18 December –The Gestione Sportiva Christmas lunch with members of the media is a time for exchanging season’s greetings after a year spent together at the race tracks. Furthermore, it is an opportunity to look back at the key moments of what was an action packed championship.
“Given where we started from last year, this season we have taken giant strides forward,” was president Sergio Marchionne’s overview. “Having said that, the second half of 2017 was…character building. We learned a lot over the past six months, trying to move forward and that’s the most important thing. From back in August of last year, when we overhauled the organisation, I totally believed that these guys, with Maurizio Arrivabene as team principal and Mattia Binotto heading up the technical side, would be capable of doing something amazing. We really believed we could do much more: but in 2017, we were unable to reach our objectives. That has also resulted in some changes to the organisation of the Gestione Sportiva. We can already see significant signs of change when it comes to the team’s production capacity. The important thing is to start 2018 with all this expertise and experience and to manage this organisation. I have no doubt that we will be competitive.”
Naturally enough, the conversation moved on to the subject of the drivers: “Sebastian Vettel is a guy who studies a lot, studies himself and is committed, therefore, I think that we will see less of his emotive side. I think he has learned enough. Plus, there were plenty of opportunities for him to get annoyed, as he’s had a couple of rather difficult seasons, this year and the previous one. I continue to maintain we have an obligation towards these drivers, to give them a car with which they can race the others. I think we gave them a great car in 2017 and so, from now on, it’s down to him. As for Kimi Raikkonen, I believe he is really great, truly talented and I have never doubted his abilities. I tell you, he’s a really top guy, otherwise he wouldn’t have taken pole at a track like Monaco. I think Maurizio has done a great job with the drivers and that’s not an easy task.”
Until we meet again on 22nd February, when we will reveal the car that will race in the 2018 world championship, happy holidays to you all.
