| Circuit | Suzuka International Racing Course |
| Date | 08.10.2017 |
| Laps | 53 |
| Distance | 307,471 km / 191,094 miles |
| No | Driver | Ferrari | S/N | Team | Result |
| 5 | Sebastian Vettel | SF70-H | – |
Scuderia Ferrari | retired/ spark plug |
| 7 | Kimi Raikkonen | SF70-H | – |
Scuderia Ferrari | 5. |
Japanese Grand Prix – Suzuka 8 October
Posted: 08.10.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Maurizio Arrivabene: “Once again, despite our car clearly having great potential, things did not go to plan. The problem that stopped Seb was down to a broken spark plug. We spotted that something was not right on the lap to the grid and we tried our best to fix the problem. Seb got a great start, but shortly afterwards we had to call him back to the garage prior to retiring the car. Kimi’s race was compromised by his less than ideal start position, which came about because of the penalty he had to take for a change of gearbox following his accident in P3. From there, he was able to move up the order as far as fifth place. As I’ve said before, we know that the car, the drivers and the team are all on the pace. That is why we will tackle the coming races with great effort and even more determination. Right up to the last corner of thelast Grand Prix.”
Kimi Raikkonen: “Our starting position today was not ideal. I did a decent start on the soft tires and in the first lap I tried to gain some positions, but when I attempted to pass a Renault I ran wide and lost some places; so I had to make them back. The feeling in the car was a little bit tricky all the way through the race, not the nicest balance; some laps were ok, some others a bit more difficult. It’s quite tricky to follow other cars on this track; we did a fairly good job out of overtaking people but we were too far from those at the front. Obviously, the final result is far from being the best possible. As for Sebastian, I don’t know what happened; we have made a lot of improvements over the last few years as a team, but now, for whatever reason, we suddenly seem to have technical issues coming out from nothing. It’s kind of weird, our cars are running perfectly and suddenly on Sunday there is an problem that nobody expects. There is some work to be done on that side. Then we are going to push until the last lap of the last race and we’ll see where we end up.”
Sebastian Vettel: “I don’t know if this situation has much to do with reliability. But we didn’t finish the race, so there is a problem. I think it was a small issue causing a big one. We didn’t have power already at the start and we tried to reset everything getting the power back, but something didn’t work. Of course now the Championship is more difficult and not finishing the race doesn’t help. I also said to the guys to get back home and have some rest because it’s been a tough week with a lot of changes. Then we’ll come back with a better package to do well for the last four races and then we’ll see. Overall, I believe the team is in a good way. We are improving race by race and there are positive aspects too. But, of course, today you can’t look too much at positive things.”
Japanese Grand Prix – Seb let down by a spark plug
Posted: 08.10.2017 / Source: Ferrari
He retires after a few laps. Kimi’s great fight back to fifth
Suzuka, 8 October –Scuderia Ferrari comes away from Japan with the points for fifth after Kimi made up that same number of places off the grid. From the outset, Sebastian Vettel was robbed of any chance to fight for the win, when a spark plug on one cylinder failed. However, Kimi’s performance proved that the team and the car are capable of getting the job done and until the maths says it’s over, we will keep trying. Moving on to the race: it started wth Seb on the right side alongside Hamilton, with Kimi tenth, after taking a penalty for the gearbox change between P3 and qualifying. Seb got off the line well, but not well enough to take the lead, as Kimi maintained position, before dropping down the order after running off track, while dueling with Hulkenberg. But on Seb’s car there was already a problem with the ignition and he lost one place on the opening lap. The Safety Car came out after Sainz crashed and Sebastian was sixth and losing ground. The number 5 car was called back into the pits and the mechanics tried to fix the problem. However, a few minutes later Seb climbed out of the cockpit. A spark plug was broken and it was pointless to go on. Meanwhile, having started on the Soft tyres he had used in Q2, Kimi found himself eighth, 18 seconds off the lead. He passed Massa on lap 14 and kept chasing. By lap 28, he was fourth before pitting for Supersofts and rejoining in sixth. At the start of lap 33, he set his sights on Hulkenberg and passed him. From then on, he managed the fuel and tyres in the closing stages, also putting in some very quick laps, while the Virtual Safety Car came out with four laps remaining. With two cars on track, it would have been a different story.
Japanese Grand Prix – A fight and a miracle
Posted: 07.10.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Seb will start from P2, Kimi’s car rebuilt in time for Qualifying
Suzuka, October 7th – A first-row grid position rewarded Seb’s efforts today, while Kimi had a troublesome Saturday. After crashing in the P3 session at Degner curve, a race against time started in the garage, which saw Ferrari’s mechanics complete the almost impossible task of re-building the car around a new gearbox in time to send Kimi out in Q1. He will have to serve a 5-slot grid penalty though, while Seb’s third best time is good enough for second place, as Valtteri Bottas also had to fit a new gearbox to his car and will therefore drops down the order. “I think the car was very good today”, Seb said “and I was happy with it, but it was just not enough for pole position. In my last run, I tried to push maybe a little too much, knowing that Valtteri wasn’t a threat because of his grid penalty, but it didn’t work. But overall, our car was fine. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and hot, which makes the difference and then we’ll see. We normally have a stronger car in the race than in Quali. It’s important to have a good balance here and then you can always try something with the stops. Also, I am confident we should have a good start, and that is important, but after that there are a lot of laps and strategy is important as well. In terms of pace, hopefully we should be closer to our competitors. We’ll see tomorrow”. Kimi’s comments echoed a difficult day: “It was not a great start of the day to go off track this morning in P3, not the ideal preparation for qualifying. After that, everything got more difficult, but the team did a great job to get the car back in one piece. In Qualifying the car felt ok, but it was a bit tricky; the biggest issue was the limited running we had had with new tires in the morning. In Q3, when I really had to push, I made a mistake in the first run and I had a pretty average lap time in the second one. Now I pay the price of my mistake. After my crash, we’ve got a five places penalty for replacing the gearbox. This obviously complicates our race even more. Tomorrow it’s not going to be easy, but I think that we have a good car for the race”.
Japanese Grand Prix – Front row at Suzuka
Posted: 07.10.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Seb will start from second and Kimi gets a 5 place gearbox grid penalty
Suzuka, 7 October – Sebastian Vettel was third quickest in qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix with a lap in 1’27”791. However, the German will start from second as Bottas has a penalty for changing his gearbox. Kimi Raikkonen was sixth fastest in 1’28”498, but he too takes a five place grid penalty as his transmission had to be changed following his crash in FP3. Once again the team produced a real miracle in rebuilding the Finn’s car in time for Q1. The race starts at 14h00 tomorrow local time, (07h00 CET.)
Japanese Grand Prix – FP3, both ends of the spectrum
Posted: 07.10.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Seb third, Kimi crashes
Suzuka, 7October –After last night’s rain, the weather improved this morning prior to the final free practice session at the Suzuka circuit, which got underway at noon. The team began with some long run work, before going on to qualifying simulations. Seb was the quickest of the two Ferrari men, taking his SF70H round in 1’29”379. Unfortunately, Kimi had an off-track excursion when he lost the rear end at turn 9. The car ended up in the barriers, damaging the left side. It will be repaired in the garage in time for qualifying, which gets underway at 15h00 local time, (08h00 CET.)
Japanese Grand Prix – “It was good to feel the power”
Posted: 06.10.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Seb and Kimi believe the car can be on the pace-also in the wet
Suzuka, October 6 – An encouraging first session and a nearly useless second one sums up the first day of practice at the Japanese Grand Prix. After setting first and fourth best times respectively in the morning P1, Seb and Kimi limited their running to an installation lap each in a rain-soaked afternoon session. “Today we were expecting to have difficult conditions in the afternoon, so we focused on the morning session”, said Kimi. “We did a little bit more running and generally, we worked on our programme like every other Friday. Overall it was not bad and the feeling was ok. In the afternoon we did not even try to learn anything; we are limited on tires and we have to save the full wet compound in case qualifying is run in wet conditions. It’s a pity because we did not do a lot of laps, but at least we have got some ideas. As for tomorrow, let’s wait and see what happens in the morning and then through the day. Whatever it will be, we are going to do our best”. Seb added: “I think we had a decent morning. We tried a lot of things and it was good to feel the power of the car. This afternoon was expected to be wet. We would have loved to run a little bit more, but you can’t do the right amount of driving, because you don’t want to “burn” your tire supply in these conditions. The results of the last two races were not good, but the car is strong. We have every reason to be confident and I am sure that on Sunday we’ll be able to show what we can do. If tomorrow’s qualifying is wet, then we should improve. The last qualifying in wet conditions happened in Monza and it was not a good result. In Malaysia it was a little bit better, but we hope we learned our lesson. It’s up to us to get it right. Whatever the weather will be, I hope we can show our potential”.
Japanese Grand Prix – Free practice 2, a flooded track at Suzuka
Posted: 06.10.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Seb and Kimi only do an installation lap
Suzuka, 6 October – Torrential rain washed out the entire second free practice session. The two Ferrari drivers limited their activity to a single installation lap, running the Extreme tyres, without setting a lap time. FP3 starts at 12h00 local time tomorrow (05h00 CET.)
Japanese Grand Prix – Seb fastest in FP1
Posted: 29.09.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Kimi fourth. Soft and Supersoft tyres used
Suzuka, 6 October –Formula 1 is back in action for the 16th round of the World Championship in Japan, having come here straight from last Sunday’s race in Malaysia. At the end of the first free practice session, Sebastian Vettel was quickest with a lap in 1’29”166, with Kimi Raikkonen fourth in 1’29”638. Both Scuderia Ferrari drivers used the Soft and Supersoft tyres. The session was red-flagged, after Carlos Sainz crashed in his Toro Rosso. Once the session restarted the Ferrari duo did some race configuration running.
Japanese Grand Prix – “We have a strong package here”
Posted: 05.10.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Seb and Kimi relish the challenge of Suzuka
Suzuka, October 5 – It’s back to old Suzuka again: the Japanese Grand Prix landed here thirty years ago for the first time and the circuit has become a highlight of the championship ever since. Scuderia Ferrari drivers have made no secret of ranking Suzuka among their favourite tracks. The goal here is to keep the battle for the championship alive after the difficulties experienced in the last two Grands Prix.
“I believe we still have a chance” Sebastian says “and I want to be sure we’re going to use it. We’ve been looking at the issues we had in our cars and I think we have a pretty good understanding of them. But the process is still ongoing in order to get the big picture of what happened. At least it’s nice to hear that the gearbox should be OK after the accident on the slow-down lap at Sepang. As for this weekend in Japan, in the last two years we have not been competitive enough here, but this year it may be different; I am fairly open minded, but I’m convinced that we have a strong package. There are five races to go in the championship and we are behind in the points standings: the final outcome will also depend on what our competitors do”.
Kimi also relishes the challenge of the track: “Suzuka is a challenging circuit, a bit old style. It‘s quite narrow and the run-off areas, which used to be gravel, now have a tarmac surface. You need a good set-up to be able to push because in the first sector you can lose a lot of time. Here, like any circuit this year, I think we’ll be quicker. Because of the downforce we can be a bit slower in the straight, but through the corners we should be faster. There’s a lot of high speed corners, especially the first part. In the past, some corners have been a bit tricky, maybe this year they are going to be easier because we’ll be driving full speed through them. Hopefully our car will be where we have been lately. In the last race we have had an unexpected issue, bua a lot of work has been done to understand what failed. If that’s going to be enough to be first or second, we will see. The three top teams are pretty close, you have to get everything right and do your best. Hopefully tomorrow the weather will hold at some point, so that we can actually do some proper running”.
Japanese Grand Prix – Suzuka, a driver’s paradise
Posted: 03.10.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Even after 30 years, all drivers like it
Suzuka, 3 October – Torrential rain greeted the Scuderia Ferrari team members as they landed in Japan. However, the current forecast is for better weather over the weekend, with the possible exception of Friday.
The Suzuka track is one of the classics of the Formula One Championship and exactly 30 years ago, it hosted its first Grand Prix. On that occasion, the race was won by Gerhard Berger in a Ferrari F1/87, the Austrian having started from pole position. From then on, apart from a couple of years when the race returned to Fuji, Formula One has always raced at this track in the Mie prefecture.
The track is pretty much universally liked by the drivers, even if no one can forget the 2014 tragedy that befell Jules Bianchi, a rising star for motor racing and for the Prancing Horse. Technically, it’s an “old style” circuit, narrow, with minimal run-off areas, corners with only one clear line and an interesting range of turns. The best known of these is undoubtedly the double uphill “esses” after the first corner, a place where Michael Schumacher was particularly adept at making a difference and there was almost a sense of destiny in the fact that, twice, he clinched the Drivers’ title here with Ferrari, in 2000 and 2003.
The key to Suzuka, in terms of driving, is to find a rhythm, so that getting the flow right through the turns is the key to success. With the 2017 cars and their very high aerodynamic downforce levels, a tricky corner such as the famous 130R, named after the original radius of its turn, could almost become a straight. But that won’t make the Japanese track and it’s unusual setting within an amusement park, any less of a challenge. And as for the fans, they are truly unique when it comes to their level of passion and enthusiasm.
Rally marking the 55th anniversary of the 250 GTO arrives at Maranello
Posted: 30.09.2017 / Source: Ferrari
The 250 GTO rally has arrived at Maranello. Fifty-five years down the line this venerable road and racing car is still one of the most famous and admired Ferraris of all time.
Over the last week 20 specimens of the 36 built since 1962, drove through Tuscany. Based in Florence, the 250 GTOs crossed the hills of Chianti and, in honour of a rich history of sports victories, showed off their powers at the Mugello circuit.
This exceptional rally returned “home” yesterday to parade on the Fiorano track before continuing to the Maranello plant.
| Circuit | Kuala Lumpur |
| Date | 01.10.2017 |
| Laps | 56 |
| Distance | 310,408 km / 192,919 miles |
| No | Driver | Ferrari | S/N | Team | Result |
| 5 | Sebastian Vettel | SF70-H | – |
Scuderia Ferrari | 4. |
| 7 | Kimi Raikkonen | SF70-H | – |
Scuderia Ferrari | did not start / technical problem |
Malaysian Grand Prix – Sepang, 1 October
Posted: 01.10.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Maurizio Arrivabene: “All weekend, it was clear we had a very competitive car. That could be seen from our pace in free practice, Kimi’s front row in qualifying and Seb’s amazing fight back in the race, when he went from last to fourth. However, it all added up to our hardest race of the year, as we had to confront problems that we will now analyse in depth. They prevented Sebastian from qualifying and Kimi from even taking the start. The team remained focused on its job throughout, putting in a great deal of effort working in the garage and then implementing an impeccable strategy. It’s further cause to continue to believe in ourselves: we have the car, the men, the drivers, the means and the spirit to fight all the way to the finish.”
Sebastian Vettel: “I am still optimistic, because we know that we have a quick car. Of course it was a shame for Kimi who couldn’t take the start, and for me having to begin my race from the back of the grid. We tried to fight for the podium, pushed very hard, but in the end the tires were starting to give up and we couldn’t be really there. However, it is promising to see the car is good, even if both Kimi and I hit trouble this weekend. I don’t know yet if the issue is the same on both cars, we’ll need to have a look. For sure it’s not ideal having one car out yesterday and another one today. So, there’s something we need to understand. It’s been a difficult weekend, but nevertheless the speed is there. So far we’ve had a pretty good record for this year regarding reliability. I am not that worried to be honest, but we need to get on top of the problem.”
Kimi Raikkonen: “We don’t know what happened today, it’s too early to say. The car had been working perfectly all weekend and suddenly, out of nothing, we had an issue. It’s one of those things that unfortunately can happen. Car and speed wise we have been very good, but then unfortunately Seb had problems yesterday and we had ours today. I’m pretty sure that I would have had a very good car today, but obviously you never know and it’s pointless to start guessing. We have a good package, but we have to take the most out of it. What happened today is very disappointing and hurts all of us, but there’s nothing we can change right now. The next race is a new challenge again, we’ll go there as in any race weekend, and then we’ll see where we are.”
Malaysian Grand Prix – Seb fights back, Kimi left disappointed
Posted: 01.10.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Vettel goes from last to 4th. Raikkonen unable to exploit front row start
Sepang, 1 October – Sebastian Vettel went from last on the grid to fourth at the flag. It was a performance that confirmed just how competitive was the Ferrari package today. However, Kimi Raikkonen didn’t get the chance to confirm that. He lined up on the front row of the grid, but the warning signs had been there on his lap out of the garage and a problem on his SF70H meant he was unable to take the start. Seb made a good start and fought his way up the order, passing cars all the way to fifth place. He had taken the start on the harder Soft tyres and, at half-distance, pitted to take on the Supersofts. With these, he then proceeded to put in a series of fast laps which meant he closed right up on third placed Ricciardo.
However, he lost some ground when he was slowed by a backmarker and from then on, he managed his lead over Bottas, crossing the line with 12 points in the bag; something that had seemed inconceivable at the start.
Malaysian Grand Prix – Sweet and sour in Sepang
Posted: 30.09.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Kimi P2, Seb with no lap times: “We’ve got a a chance, and a good car to recover”
Sepang, Malaysia – On a day in which Kimi showed the potential of Scuderia Ferrari by taking P2 on the grid after a hard-fought battle, Seb was unable to set a time due to a problem which prevented the compressor from feeding air to the engine properly. A new V6 engine had been fitted to his SF70 after P3 for precautionary reasons, and the engine came complete with parts which had been run before and were factory-proven. Nevertheless, the Team is determined to fight to the end.
“Straight away I understood there was something wrong” said Seb. “Today we had decided to change the engine after P3, then I went out and everything seemed to work, but during the flying lap in turn 5, I suddenly felt like I was losing power. I was lucky to limp back to the garage so that we could have a look. Unfortunately, we couldn’t fix the problem. We tried to find the issue when we took the engine cover off, but we couldn’t find anything wrong. So, we decided to fire it up and see if we could drive again. As soon as the engine was running, we could see the issue was still there. It’s a shame because the car is quick, but tomorrow we should be able to fight back. I don’t have expectations in terms of numbers, but anything can happen and that’s why we race. I want to be sure we can achieve our best. We need to know why we got the issue today and make sure it won’t happen again. This kind of thing can happen in our sport, but the race is tomorrow. We need to be positive”.
Kimi had this to say about his qualifying: “Our car has been handling well all weekend. Today in qualifying we got close, but we would have needed a fractionally faster lap time. I think that the car had it, but you can always lose a little bit here and there. It’s disappointing not to be first, but tomorrow is going to be a long race for both cars and tires. I have the feeling that we have a good car and a very good chance for the race. If it’s going to be dry we are probably more confident, but our car has been good in both conditions and with all fuel loads. What happened to Seb is disappointing, very unfortunate for him and for the team. The guys did an excellent job to change all the parts getting the car back in one piece and ready to go, but then unfortunately he had to stop. Tomorrow is another day, he will have good speed and I’m sure that he can recover well”.
Malaysian Grand Prix – One Ferrari on the front row, one on the back
Posted: 30.09.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Problems for Vettel in qualifying
Sepang, 30 September –Today’s qualifying at the Sepang International Circuit produced a very split result for Scuderia Ferrari. Kimi Raikkonen, who lapped in 1’30”121, will start from the front row of the grid for the Malaysian Grand Prix, but Sebastian Vettel was unable to complete a lap in Q1 because of a turbo problem which could not be fixed in time.
Malaysian Grand Prix – Final free practice in Sepang
Posted: 30.09.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Ferrari first and second, Seb’s car gets precautionary engine change
Sepang, 30 September –The third and final free practice session for the Malaysian Grand Prix with Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel claiming the top two slots on the time sheet. Kimi took his Ferrari round in a time of 1’31’”880, while Sebastian’s best lap was a 1’32”042. Both Scuderia Ferrari men used the Supersoft tyres. Towards the end of the session, there was an electronic malfunction on Seb’s car and the engineers decided to change the internal combustion engine on his car as a precaution. Qualifying gets underway at 17h00 local time (11h00 CET.)
Malaysian Grand Prix – “We could have improved further”
Posted: 29.09.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Seb and Kimi: “The car felt good, now it’s up to us to make it work in all conditions”
Sepang, Malaysia, September 29th – The clouds cleared enough for the rain to stop and the second Free Practice session was blessed with fair, if overcast, weather. Scuderia Ferrari drivers, Seb and Kimi, focused on their programme and topped the time sheet at the end of a session which was cut short by the red flag with about ten minutes to go, when Romain Grosjean drove over a dislodged drain cover which cut through his right rear tyre, causing a heavy collision with the barriers: seconds earlier, Kimi had brushed across the same spot. “This morning we had a bit of mixed conditions and there was not so much running,” commented Seb. “This afternoon it was better and the cars seemed to be quite ok right from the beginning of the session. Then we tried something new, but unfortunately we couldn’t complete our programme as we had wished to, because of the red flag. We’ll see what we can do tomorrow. It’s only Friday, usually the day when you spend time trying various things on the car. We would have liked to drive a little bit more, but overall it was a decent afternoon. We have a good car and it’s up to us to make it work in all conditions”. “Today’s been ok and everything ran smoothly,” said Kimi. “In the morning we had wet conditions and only managed a few laps, and in the afternoon the session was cut short because of the issue with the track. It’s a pity that we couldn’t use the whole session and do more timed laps, because for sure we could have further improved. But the car was feeling good: I made some mistakes on a new set of tires but apart from that it was a pretty straightforward day. Lap times don’t mean much today, as obviously we don’t know what everybody else was doing”.
Malaysian Grand Prix – Both Ferraris in front in Practice 2
Posted: 29.09.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Seb ahead of Kimi in dry session
Sepang, 29 September –The Ferrari duo topped the time sheet come the end of the second free practice session at the Sepang Circuit, setting their best times on the Supersoft compound. Sebastian Vettel was fastest with a lap in 1.31.261, which is a new record for this track, while Kimi Raikkonen was second in 1.31.865. They also ran the Soft tyres will working on an aero and long run programme. The track was dry throughout the session but was red flagged with around 10 minutes remaining, when Romain Grosjean had a big crash, after his car caught a loose drain cover at the side of the track at turn 13. FP3 starts tomorrow’s F1 action, at 14h00 local time, 08h00 CET.
Malaysian Grand Prix – Wet FP1 in Sepang
Posted: 29.09.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Kimi fourth, Seb fifth
Sepang – Heavy rain delayed the start of the first free practice session for the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang. Then, after half an hour, the Scuderia Ferrari drivers went out to assess track conditions, first of all on Full Wets and then with the Intermediate tyres. At the chequered flag, Kimi Raikkonen’s best lap was a 1’50”734, good enough for fourth fastest, while Sebastian Vettel was right behind in fifth, with a 1’51”009. The forecast for FP2, which starts at 15h00 local time, (09h00 CET) is still uncertain.
Malaysian Grand Prix – “Team reaction has been good”
Posted: 28.09.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Kimi and Seb look ahead to Sepang’s hot challenge: “We should be OK here”
Sepang, September 28 – Another track, another race weekend. For the two Scuderia Ferrari drivers, Kimi and Seb, the last edition of the Malaysian Grand Prix is all they’re focused on. “It’s a new race weekend” says Kimi “and our approach is always the same; we’ll do our best trying to be one and two at the end. I have good memories from Sepang, as this is where I won my first race in 2003 ,it was a great day. And I won again for Scuderia Ferrari in 2008, so it’s more good memories. The circuit is nice to drive; conditions can be quite extreme in many ways and the track is demanding for both the car and the driver. It can be very hot and then suddenly rain may come, and when it’s raining here there’s so much water that you cannot drive anymore because of the aquaplaning. It’s hard to know what will happen this weekend, but from tomorrow we will understand more. I have the feeling that we should be ok, but who knows. We’ll start smoothly and hopefully we can have a good weekend”. Like his team-mate, Seb has turned the page on the bitterness of the last Grand Prix. “We talked about what happened in Singapore and we moved on. The reaction of the team has been good and we were all enthusiastic about coming here. We know we have a strong package, so now let’s see what we can do. I want to win the next races and I don’t need to think about anything else. I think we can still win and count on ourselves. It’s up to us to make good use of our package. We have shown in most of the races that we are competitive and we still want to improve. I am looking forward to racing here, and then we still have a lot of races ahead and a lot of things may happen”.
Malaysian Grand Prix – Goodbye Sepang
Posted: 27.09.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Heading for the final running of a tough but fascinating Grand Prix
Goodbye Malaysia: this weekend’s Grand Prix in South East Asia is the 19th and last to be held here. When it made its debut back in 1999, the Sepang circuit was at the cutting edge of a new generation of facilities, all from the pen of Hermann Tilke. The track features a combination of high speed turns, long straights and hairpins and these are laid out in an elegant setting, the highlights of which are the design of the grandstands and the lighting in the paddock. It is a window on a country which is undergoing extensive socio-economic development, with its citizens coming from three distinct ethnic backgrounds – Malaysian, Chinese and Indian – all living in harmony.
The first edition featured the return to racing of Michael Schumacher, after he had broken his leg at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. It was a memorable weekend for Scuderia Ferrari, with Schumi starting from pole and working to help Eddie Irvine’s chances of winning the world title. One year later in Sepang, with the Drivers’ title already in the bag, the Prancing Horse team also secured the Constructors’ crown. Malaysia was also the setting for Sebastian Vettel’s first win in red back in 2015.
The track is very technical, with corners that put the tyres under a lot of stress, thanks to the lateral acceleration loads, the abrasive track surface and the intense heat. This year, having assessed the behaviour of their tyres, Pirelli has opted to leave the Hard compound at home, bringing instead the Mediums, Softs and Supersofts. It’s always possible that the rain tyres will also see some action, given the forecast for the weekend doesn’t rule out the chance of storms, which are usually very heavy.
The weather is another challenge with suffocating heat and humidity. All weekend, the drivers work especially carefully on keeping hydrated, so as not to suffer too much in the race, when they might get a slight chance to pause for breath down the two straights (the longest of which is 900 metres) prior to and after turn 15. A difficult Grand Prix for man and machine, which despite this, or maybe because of it, has always had a charm all of its own.
A crowd of 18,000 flocks to the Ferrari Family Day
Posted: 17.09.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Record visitor numbers in Maranello for the employee open day
Maranello, 23 September 2017 – What better way to celebrate Ferrari’s 70th Anniversary than with a record turnout for the now-traditional Family Day for the company’s employees and their families. In all around, 18,000 people thronged the Maranello factory complex and the Scaglietti premises in Modena for the event which was also attended by Chairman and CEO Sergio Marchionne and Vice-Chairman Piero Ferrari. Some of the company’s most exclusive areas were opened to the visitors especially for the occasion, not least the new car test-benches and Ferrari Classiche department in the Production Car area as well as the ultramodern GES Racing Division building where the Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 team is headquartered. The latter, of course, was hugely popular. Family Day also provided a close look at the single-seaters past and present as well as other racing cars. Also on display, of course, was the current GT range, most notably, the newly-arrived Ferrari Portofino.
Ferrari Racing Days – Over 25,000 people at Silverstone for the Prancing Horse
Posted: 24.09.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Silverstone, 24 September 2017 – Two beautiful sunny days made for an unforgettable Ferrari Racing Days at Silverstone from Friday to Sunday. The main European event of the 2017 Corse Clienti season drew over 80 Ferraris including 488 Challenges, 458 Challenge EVOs, and the cars of the XX Programmes and F1 Clienti, including the F60 driven by Marc Gené during the F1 Show, to the venue of the British Formula 1 Grand Prix. Besides the track activities, the over 25,000 fans could go the store to buy official merchandise, or admire the stand with the history of the one-make series cars from the first one, the 348 Challenge, or see all the cars on the market in the current range.
Show. Scuderia Ferrari with Marc Gené put on the most hotly anticipated show. The Spanish driver, at the wheel of an F60, captivated the public with a series of fast laps, classic donuts on the main straight and three simulated pit stops helped by the Prancing Horse mechanics. At the end of the exhibition, Marc and the Ferrari mechanics met with thunderous applause from the public to which they responded by clapping and basking in all the affection.
Programmi XX. Along with Gené, once more on the final day of the event the eyes, ears and hearts of fans were drawn by the Ferrari FXX K, making its debut at Silverstone in a Ferrari event, and the other cars of the XX Programmes. The extraordinary power of the FXX K, with its 1050 hp, 860 of them from the V12 thermal engine and 190 from the hybrid system derived from Formula 1, the roar of its engine and its spectacular lines made it the undisputed queen of this edition of the Ferrari Racing Days.
F1 Clienti. In terms of sound, the cars of the F1 Clienti programme also had their say at Silverstone, with the very special drivers enjoying a taste of the V8 and V10 aspirated engines that wrote some memorable pages of the sport’s history. Marc Gené and Olivier Beretta, very special tutors for equally special customers, helped them fully exploit the potential of the car.
Paddock. In the paddock, the entire Ferrari range attracted the attention of the public although, in particular, many wanted to take a picture of the LaFerrari Aperta, the iconic car of Ferrari’s 70th anniversary whose ongoing celebrations recently culminated with the Fiorano event in early September. However, Britain too has been a venue for big celebrations that continued at Silverstone with an extraordinary parade of cars on Saturday.
Challenge. On Saturday and Sunday the Ferrari Challenge Europe added that soupcon of glamour that only races can provide. The one-make series saw victories for Daniele Di Amato, Philipp Baron, Chris Froggatt and Henry Hassid. The three championship leaders remain Daniele Di Amato in the Trofeo Pirelli, Jens Liebhauser in the Pirelli AM and Johnny Laursen in the Coppa Shell. The next meeting is from 6 to 8 October at Imola.
Challenge Europe – Wins at Silverstone for Baron, Froggatt and Hassid
Posted: 24.09.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Silverstone, 24 September 2017 – The second day of the Ferrari Challenge Europe at Silverstone was packed with drama and entertainment, featuring exciting races, a new winner and some encores by Saturday’s victors. Philipp Baron triumphed in the Trofeo Pirelli, Chris Froggatt won again in the Trofeo Pirelli AM while Henry Hassid once again seized the spoils in the Coppa Shell.
Trofeo Pirelli. The Trofeo Pirelli again opened the day’s proceedings. Philipp Baron (Rossocorsa) started best from pole while Daniele Di Amato was off the pace at the wheel of the 488 Challenge of CDP, to the point that Sam Smeeth (Strastone Ferrari), looking to recover after mechanical problems on Saturday, overtook him and moved into second place. Di Amato was immediately on the tail of the British driver and passed him before setting off after Baron. However, his run was stymied by the race officials who adjudged his overtaking of Smeeth illegal and made him relinquish the position. Di Amato still managed to reclaim second place while Grossmann closed in on Smeeth. The British driver was looking like he would hold off the German when he was involved in an accident with Denmark’s Palle Kjaersgaard who spun in front of him touching his car. Smeeth had to retire in what was a racing weekend to forget for him. Baron recorded his first win of the season ahead of Di Amato, who still tops the championship standings, and Bjorn Grossmann. They were followed in fourth by Alessandro Vezzoni (Rossocorsa Pellin-Racing).
Pirelli AM. The Trofeo Pirelli AM saw another winning performance by Chris Froggatt, absolutely unbeatable on his home track. The driver of the 488 Challenge of HR Owen dominated from qualifying, to the point of even annoying the drivers of the higher class. Behind him Josh Cartu and Martin Nelson put on the best show, with a long fight for third place behind championship leader Jens Liebhauser (Formula Racing). Shortly after mid-race Cartu and Nelson came into contact: the Swede lost many positions and his title chances now appears compromised. The final step of the podium went to Christian Overgaard (Baron Service) while Holger Harmsen (Lueg Sportivo) was the best of the 458 Challenge EVO drivers, overtaking Galip Atar (Octane 126) in the championship standings.
Coppa Shell. The day again concluded with the Coppa Shell, which offered its usual thrills right from the off. Henry Hassid (Charles Pozzi) started slowly, allowing Erich Prinoth (Ineco MP-Racing) to attempt to pull up alongside him on the first corner. In the end the Italian had to drop back but still went into the first turn with a bad trajectory that brought him into contact with Johnny Laursen (Formula Racing) who was forced to go wide and ended up behind Fons Scheltema. The Danish championship leader rapidly overtook the Dutchman of Kessel Racing and went off in pursuit of Prinoth while further back Eric Cheung (Formula Racing) collided with Manuela Gostner (Ineco MP-Racing) putting an end to his race. Hassid continued to gain seconds to record his fifth win in six outings while Prinoth and Laursen fought a wheel-to-wheel duel until a problem forced the Dane to retire. The fight for third place then shifted to the battle between Christophe Hurni and Tadakazu Kojima (Formula Racing) who despite a fast finish failed to pass the Swiss of Team Zenith Sion-Lausanne. Manuela Gostner was once again very aggressive and despite the initial spin managed to overtake Tina Kok to win first prize in the Ladies’ Cup. The next meeting is from 6 to 8 October at Imola.
Corse Clienti 2018 Calendars revealed – Entertainment and excitement on 20 tracks
Posted: 23.09.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Silverstone, 23 September 2017 – The Corse Clienti 2018 calendars are packed with great classics, firsts and welcome returns. The Challenge North America and Asia-Pacific schedules were unveiled in recent days and then during a gala evening at Silverstone came the turn of the Challenge Europe, the XX Programmes and F1 Clienti. Ferrari activities will take place on 20 tracks.
Challenge Europe. The 2018 season of the European championship of the world’s most famous one-make series will return to its traditional start in Monza on the weekend of 23 to 25 March. Then in late April the championship goes to Silverstone in the UK. This will be followed from 11 to 13 May by Spa-Francorchamps and the Ferrari Racing Days, the main event of the European season which expects a record number of F1 Clienti and XX Programmes cars. In early summer one of the season’s big innovation, the night races that will be held at Misano from 8 to 10 June. From 20 to 22 July the 488 Challenge drivers will go to Brno for the time since 2014, while after the summer break the competition will move on the Barcelona track after twenty years, a stage bound to attract competitors and the public.
Challenge North America. The 2018 season will kick off with the North American series, which after a year’s break will again be the support race for the prestigious 24 Hours of Daytona, one of the most important races on the endurance scene. From 8 to 11 March the championship will be in Austin for the North American Ferrari Racing Days, while from 3 to 6 May it will be at Laguna Seca.June will see the inevitable coincidence with the Canadian Formula 1 Grand Prix, while before the summer break the series will race at the legendary Watkins Glen, one of the continent’s most glamorous tracks. Before the Finali Mondiali, whose venue is yet to be announced, comes a welcome return to Road Atlanta with its thrilling climbs and descents.
Challenge APAC. The Challenge Asia-Pacific also has an exciting calendar, opening together with the Formula 1 world championship at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne, Australia, from 22 to 25 March. Two weeks later the Ferrari Challenge will make its first appearance in New Zealand, at Hampton Downs, while the classic Ferrari Racing Days in Shanghai will take place from 24 to 27 May. A Ferrari Racing Days will be also held at Fuji (from 29 June to 1 July), with the 488 Challenges battling it out in the shadow of Japan’s sacred mountain. In late August, the fifth round will be back in the Land of the Rising Sun, but at Suzuka, the world’s most famous “figure eight” layout track. Before the Finali Mondiali, the final round of the season will again be held alongside Formula 1, on the occasion of the Singapore Grand Prix (14-16 September).
F1 Clienti and XX Programmes. The XX Programmes and F1 Clienti calendar is also exciting and spectacular, with nine events plus the Finali Mondiali. It opens in Austin with the Ferrari Racing Days from 9 to 11 March. The following week sees two days of tests (15 to 16 March) on the legendary Road Atlanta track. In April, the scene shifts back to Italy for a special event at Imola from 20 to 22, while May will of course include the Ferrari Racing Days in Shanghai. Late June sees a return to Asia for the Ferrari Racing Days at Fuji from 29 June to 1 July, while before the summer break customers can compete on the demanding turns at Brno for a two-day event that promises to be very interesting. The season’s finale comes when the cars of the XX Programmes and F1 Clienti go to Barcelona (18 to 19 September) and the Paul Ricard (2 to 3 October).
Ferrari Challenge Europe – Di Amato, Froggatt and Hassid win Race-1 at Silverstone
Posted: 23.09.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Silverstone, 23 September 2017 – Daniele Di Amato, Chris Froggatt and Henry Hassid won the first races of the fifth round of the Ferrari Challenge Europe at Silverstone. The races took place during the Ferrari Racing Days, the main event of the European Corse Clienti season featuring appearances from the cars of F1 Clienti and the XX Programmes alongside the 488 Challenges.
Trofeo Pirelli. Racing on Saturday opened with the Trofeo Pirelli. Championship leader Daniele Di Amato, having secured a seventh consecutive pole, set off best beating back early attacks from Philipp Baron (Rossocorsa) and then extending his lead with some fast laps. Behind the first two, Sam Smeeth (Stratstone Ferrari) passed the AM class driver Chris Froggatt, before setting off in pursuit of the leaders. However, the local driver and winner at Silverstone in 2014 soon suffered a technical problem that forced him to retire. Third place thus passed to Alessandro Vezzoni who in turn had to surrender to an attack by Bjorn Grossmann in the 488 Challenge of Octane 126.
Pirelli Am. Chris Froggatt won in the Trofeo Pirelli Am. He had been very strong since qualifying on his home track at the wheel of the 488 Challenge of HR Owen, when he secured a sensational pole position. This season’s stars Jens Liebhauser and Martin Nelson battled it out behind the local driver. The German of Formula Racing eventually prevailed to stretch his lead in the standings to 21 points over his Scuderia Autoropa rival. Christian Overgaard (Baron Service) took fourth, finishing behind his rival despite a total spinout while fighting for fourth place with Josh Cartu (Ferrari Budapest), Tommaso Rocca (Rossocorsa) and Bonamy Grimes (Stratstone Ferrari). Kriton Lendoudis (Formula Racing) was the best of the 458 Challenge EVO drivers.
Coppa Shell. In mid-afternoon, the Coppa Shell offered its usual excitement with many drivers involved in a tooth and nail fight on the British track. Henry Hassid (Charles Pozzi) secured his fourth victory of the season but championship leader Johnny Laursen (Formula Racing) limited the damage by finishing second. An extraordinary James Weiland came third, his best result in the European Championship. Near the finish the Rossocorsa repelled attacks from Switzerland’s Christophe Hurni, driving for Team Zenith Sion-Lausanne. Hassid also won the Gentlemen’s Cup while the Ladies’ Cup went to an on-fire Manuela Gostner who, starting in fifth, triumphed despite suffering a drive-through penalty after contact with Claudio Schiavoni. On Sunday the races start at 2:15 pm and 4 pm local time.
Ferrari Racing Days – Eighty cars on track at Silverstone
Posted: 22.09.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Silverstone, 22 September 2017 – Ferrari Racing Days at Silverstone, the main European Corse Clienti event of 2017, kicked off with the first tests in the Challenge and the opening of the F1 Clienti and XX Programmes sessions. The legendary Northamptonshire track, for years the home of the British Formula 1 Grand Prix, will host 80 cars taking part in three activities: the Ferrari Challenge, XX Programmes and F1 Clienti. Along with the sporting side, there will be the Passione Ferrari activities and a paddock full of attractions as part of the company’s 70th anniversary celebrations.
Ferrari Challenge. Silverstone will be hosting the fifth round of the 2017 season of the Ferrari Challenge Europe. No one has yet sealed a title, and while there are clear favourites in some standings, in others the fight is still wide open. In the Trofeo Pirelli Philipp Baron (Rossocorsa) and local hero Sam Smeeth (Stratstone Ferrari) will attempt to give chase to Daniele Di Amato (CDP), who after missing the Valencia debut has proved invincible with five wins in a row. In the Trofeo Pirelli AM the battle is wide open between Jens Liebhauser and Martin Nelson, with the man from Formula Racing overtaking his Scuderia Autoropa rival in the last race at Le Castellet. The balance of power is also clear in the Coppa Shell, with Johnny Laursen well out in front ahead of Eric Cheung in an affair played out entirely within Formula Racing team. Everything is still up in the air in the Trofeo Pirelli 458 class, exclusively for the 458 Challenge EVO, between Galip Atar (Octane 126) and Holger Harmesn (Lueg Sportivo).
XX Programmes.The cars of the XX Programmes are also eagerly anticipated. This is the Silverstone debut of the FXX K, the most recent car of this exclusive Corse Clienti activity, which packs 1050 hp, 860 from the heat engine and 190 from the HY-KERS system derived from Formula 1. Thirteen FXX Ks will line up alongside eleven 599XXs and 599XX EVOs, and three FXXs, the first car of this type of programme that can call on exclusive tutors such as Olivier Beretta and Marc Gené.
F1 Clienti. The Spaniard will be the reference point of the special customers of F1 Clienti, the Ferrari programme that provides the Formula 1 cars of the most successful scuderia in the world to an exclusive group of owners. Cars on track to note include the F2002, the record making single-seater with which Michael Schumacher became world champion in July of that year, after the French Grand Prix; The F2003-GA, also world Drivers’ and Constructors’ champion with the German ace, and an F2008 belonging to current Scuderia Ferrari driver, Kimi Raikkonen. Aside from his role as a tutor Marc Gené will also feature on track in the F1 show on Sunday.
In the paddock. The Ferrari Racing Days at Silverstone promises to be a memorable event not only for its track activities. The new paddock of the famous British circuit will host a display of all the Challenge cars of the past, in celebration of the arrival of the 488 Challenge, the new car of the most famous single-make series in the world. Unveiled at the 2016 Finali Mondiali at Daytona the car made its debut at the start of the 2017 championships. Fans can also see the entire range on display, including the 812 Superfast, an extraordinary 12-cylinder car. The LaFerrari Aperta, iconic car of Ferrari’s 70th anniversary celebrations, will also put on a good show, while visitors can treat themselves to a gift from the official Ferrari store.
Ferrari Challenge APAC – Double victories for Chong, Ghandour and Zang and First win for Berry in Singapore
Posted: 17.09.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Singapore, 17 September 2017 – The 2017 Ferrari Challenge Asia-Pacific sixth round Race-2 came to a close over the weekend in Singapore in support of the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix. It must have been a huge blessing when the storm came after the race ended and the 29 drivers didn’t have to use their wet tires.
Trofeo Pirelli
Ringo Chong of Singapore did his home fans proud once again by starting in pole position and leading all the way to the end. He kept his leadership from the start despite a valiant attack from Zen Low of Malaysia who tried to catch up with him but couldn’t find the extra gear to do so. The competition was heated between the third and fourth drivers Huilin Han of China and Philippe Prette of Italy as they fought for the last step on the podium. During the last laps, Prette was too close in his attempt to overtake Han and made contact. This took Han out of the competition and Angelo Negro of Italy seized the chance to race ahead and came in third. Despite not winning, Prette still tops the Standings.
Trofeo Pirelli AM
It was a straight forward race in the Trofeo Pirelli AM class as the drivers kept their positions from pole to finish. Ziad Ghandour from Lebanon once again took the win followed by Ken Seto of Japan and Yanbin Xing of China rounding off the podium. Seto’s 2nd position is sufficient to propel him to the top of the table standings.
Coppa Shell
There was no stopping Eric Zang of China in the Coppa Shell class as he held off his challengers and raced ahead in his class. Makoto Fujiwara of Japan switched positions with Charles Chan of Hong Kong today where Fujiwara managed to hold off Chan to come in second. Zang’s double win over the weekend was not sufficient for him to topple the leader of the standings, Fujiwara, in his class. David Dicker of New Zealand was the winner of the Gentlemen Cup while Kanthicha Chimsiri from Thailand took the Ladies’ Cup.
Pirelli 458. After yesterday’s penalty which cost him his podium win, Martin Berry of Australia was determined to take the win in Race 2. He started at the back of his class but managed to race through the pack and succeeded with his first win in Singapore. Sam Lok of Hong Kong took the second position while Sky Chen of China took third. Berry was already crowned the winner of the 2017 APAC class champion coming into the Singapore Weekend.
Now for Finali Mondiali. The Ferrari Challenge APAC will be back on track from 28 – 29 October for the final round of the season. It will take place at Mugello, where the winners of the different classes Trofeo Pirelli, Pirelli AM, Coppa Shell and 458 Pirelli of this series will also compete with the Europeans and Americans for the world champion titles. It will also serve as a traditional end-of-season celebration for all drivers.
Ferrari Challenge APAC 2017 – Race 1 Chong, Ghandour, Zang and Kondo take wins on Singapore’s Street Circuit
Posted: 16.09.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Singapore, 16 September 2017 – The 2017 Ferrari Challenge Asia-Pacific sixth round Race-1 opened the weekend in support of the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix. 29 drivers took to the Marina Bay street circuit yesterday for their practice and qualifying sessions under very wet conditions. Fortunately, today’s weather was a great improvement under glorious and sunny skies.
Trofeo Pirelli. It was a rolling start for all the cars on the grid. The race saw lots of action on the very challenging track. Ringo Chong of Singapore did his home fans proud by starting in pole position and leading all the way until the safety car was activated to leave time to the marshalls to extricate the car of Kent Chen of Chinese Taipei after he lost control and hit the wall. The 488 Challenge proved to be very resistant as Chen could walk out safely. The safety car stayed on track for 4 laps and eventually the race restarted with 7 minutes left to go. Chong managed to keep his leadership at the restart while Huilin Han of China launched a massive challenge against Zen Low of Malaysia during the last minutes of the race but found it impossible to overtake him. He came in third while Low took second position.
Trofeo Pirelli AM. Ziad Ghandour from Lebanon took class pole in his first-ever Challenge race in Singapore, followed closely by Yanbin Xing of China and Ken Seto of Japan. The top four positions were incredibly tight in qualifying. In the race, Ghandour maintained his advantage, taking class victory with Seto overtaking Xing for second place.
Coppa Shell. Eric Zang of China triumphed in the Coppa Shell class after starting fastest from pole and managed to hold off Charles Chan of Hong Kong. Zang crossed the line first ahead of Chan, while Makoto Fujiwara of Japan was placed third. Hideo Honda of Japan was the winner of the Gentlemen Cup while Kanthicha Chimsiri from Thailand took the Ladies’ Cup.
Pirelli 458. Martin Berry of Australia took class pole in his first Challenge race in Singapore in his 458 Challenge EVO car and was leading his class from start to finish. Unfortunately, a 25-second penalty was imposed on him due to an overtaking infringement which cost him his podium win. The win eventually went to Tamotsu Kondo of Japan, followed closely by Sam Lok of Hong Kong and Min Xiao of China.
Schedule. Track action will continue for Race 2 at 3.15PM local time tomorrow.
The new Ferrari Portofino – the Italian GT par excellence on the stand at Frankfurt
Posted: 12.09.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Tailor Made Area also showcases a 70th Anniversary Livery
Frankfurt, 12 September 2017 – Ferrari is delighted to announce a second world premiere in the year of its 70th Anniversary celebrations. The Ferrari Portofino is the new V8 GT set to dominate its segment thanks to a perfect combination of sportiness, elegance and on-board comfort.
Powered by the Ferrari V8 turbo, a member of the engine family that won the overall International Engine of the Year Award in both 2016 and 2017, the new car punches out 600 cv and sprints from 0-200 km/h in just 10.8 seconds. The Ferrari Portofino is, in fact, the most powerful convertible to simultaneously offer a retractable hard top, roomy boot and generous occupant space that also includes two rear seats for short trips.
The new car takes its name from one of the most charming towns on the Ligurian Riviera, Portofino, which has, over the years, has become an international icon of elegance and exclusivity. The new model is also the most versatile model in the range – a Ferrari designed to be driven every day that also effortlessly converts from an authentic ‘berlinetta’ coupé to a drop-top in just 14 seconds, even when on the move at low speeds. A brilliant marriage of design, technological content and performance, it is the perfect car for any occasion.
Two examples are being shown on the Ferrari stand at Frankfurt. The first is in the new Rosso Portofino colour inspired by the picturesque town the model pays homage to. The second has a matte Grigio Alluminio Opaco livery referencing the lightweight metal used to build the entire car. The two new Portofinos are flanked by the rest of the current Ferrari range: a GTC4Lusso in a Blu America livery, a 812 Superfast with new triple-layer grey paintwork from the Tailor Made programme, and the 488 GTB in glorious Rosso Formula 1. The 488 Spider is showcased instead in the Tailor Made area. The version on display celebrates the company’s 70th Anniversary with a livery inspired by the Pinin Farina-bodied 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial spider once owned by Dominican gentleman driver Porfirio Rubirosa.
Ferrari celebrates 70 years of history at Fiorano
Posted: 10.09.2017 / Source: Ferrari
The 1953 340 MM and the 1986 Testarossa Spider named “Best of Show” at the Concours d’Elegance
Maranello, 10 September 2017 – The Concours d’Elegance prize-giving ceremony brought Ferrari’s two days of 70 th Anniversary celebrations at the Fiorano circuit to a stylish conclusion: a very special weekend that saw more than 4,000 clients and almost a thousand cars from across the globe converge on the track where every Ferrari gets its maiden outing. It was the perfect culmination too of a year that has already featured a whole programme of celebratory events spanning 60 different nations and continuing until the end of 2017.
Today, however, clients’ and enthusiasts’ eyes alike were all on the 120 historic cars, some incredibly rare and valuable, competing for the title of Best of Show in the Racing Car and Road Car categories at the Concours d’Elegance. Divided into 20 different classes and displayed on the grass at Fiorano, the fleet presented judges with a very difficult task. Nonetheless, the jury finally agreed to award the two titles to the 1953 340 MM Spider Vignale and the 1986 Testarossa Spider.
The 340 MM Spider Vignale has a spectacular sporting history. This particular example competed in several races and its greatest coup was taking victory in the 1953 Mille Miglia in the hands of Giannino Marzotto and Marco Crosara. The 1986 Testarossa Spider, on the other hand, is a unique car – the only spider version of this model ever built. In fact, it was commissioned especially to celebrate Gianni Agnelli’s 20 th anniversary as Fiat chairman and he owned it until 1991.
One of the most memorable moments of the Fiorano weekend was the auction, the start of which was marked very fittingly by a flyover by the Eurofighter Typhoons of the Italian Airforce’s 4 th Wing from Grosseto, which have a deep connection to Ferrari as their fuselages too sport the Prancing Horse insignia, first used by the heroic Italian fighter ace Francesco Baracca. The auction saw collectors vying for the 38 enormously valuable Maranello cars, which included an exclusive LaFerrari Aperta sold for 8.3 million euro. That sum will be donated in its entirety to Save the Children to provide education to thousands of the most disadvantaged children across Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. In all, the cars that went under the hammer fetched a total of 63 million euro, a record figure for a single-make auction.
Another unforgettable high point of the weekend was Saturday evening’s spectacular Rosso 70 show which commenced with a welcome speech by Chairman Sergio Marchionne before brilliantly illustrating Enzo Ferrari’s unique vision and dreams and how they crystallised into everything that Ferrari represents in the world today.
An unforgettabel show
Posted: 09.09.2017 / Source: Ferrari
A spectacular trip through Ferrari’s 70 years at Fiorano
Maranello, 9 September 2017 –Enzo Ferrari’s vision and boyhood dreams revealed in a uniquely thrilling story that brilliantly encapsulated the passion, attention-to-detail and flair that produced the Maranello marque’s inimitable style. The Rosso 70 show was the high point of the first day of Ferrari’s 70th Anniversary celebrations at the Fiorano circuit, captivating the 4,000-plus guests who were completely undeterred by the wet weather.
Chairman Sergio Marchionne got the evening underway by welcoming his guests, who had come from all over the globe, before handing over to the cadets of Modena’s Military Academy for the raising of flag followed by the Italian national anthem. The audience was then whisked off on an exhilarating voyage of discovery of the life and vision of Enzo Ferrari.
The central part of the show focused on the lifestyles and changing society of the last 70 years, a story inextricably linked with that of Ferrari, an international style icon since its earliest days. Taking turns on the stage also were the first Ferrari ever built, the 125 S, the 250 California of the 1950s, the 250 GTO of 1962, celebrated as much for its track victories as its beauty, the 512 BB, the legendary Testarossa, star of American TV series and videogames alike, the F50, the Enzo and, of course, the LaFerrari Aperta, the iconic Prancing Horse 70th Anniversary car.
Passion too had its place with a monologue delivered by Irish Game of Thrones star, Liam Cunningham, providing a segue into the section of the show devoted to racing, Formula 1 and otherwise, and the homage to the Scuderia’s champions through the years. Then Kimi Räikkönen and Sebastian Vettel stepped on the stage. Last but not least was a video tribute to the great Michael Schumacher, whose long battle continues.
The show concluded with a spectacular virtual pit-stop featuring driver Marc Gené in a Ferrari Formula 1 car, and a thrilling display by dancers, acrobats and percussionists who accompanied the clients to the Jamiroquai concert that closed the evening.
The day had begun in Modena with lunch at the Military Academy for Concours d’Elegance participants and the arrival of 500 Ferraris from all over Europe. The largest single-make auction ever held also took place before dinner with 35 Prancing Horse cars going under the hammer. These included the LaFerrari Aperta that sold for 8.3 million euro. Proceeds from that particular sale will go to Save the Children, an organisation that provides education for the world’s most disadvantaged children.
The celebrations continue on Sunday with the Ferrari 70 Concours d’Elegance. A total of 120 cars, divided into 20 classes, have been entered, some of inestimable value. An astonishing and unmissable display of elegance and exclusivity.
LaFerrari Aperta sells for record 8.3 million euro
Posted: 09.09.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Proceeds go to Save the Children. 1959 California fetches 7.9 million
Maranello, 9 September 2017 – Ferrari set yet another record this evening when a LaFerrari Aperta sold for a staggering 8.3 million euro at the RM Sotheby’s auction during the Prancing Horse’s 70 th Anniversary celebrations at the Fiorano circuit. The proceeds from the sale of the car will be donated to Save the Children, an international organisation that works to improve the lives of disadvantaged children in over 120 countries worldwide. In this case, the funds raised will be used for educational projects in Asia and Africa.
The figure is a new record for a 21 st century car. The previous record of 7 million dollars was set last December at Daytona by an exclusive LaFerrari, which went under the hammer to raise funds for earthquake victims in Central Italy.
The LaFerrari auctioned today is a special extra addition to the initial 209 cars built in this limited-edition special series. It has a unique metallic Rosso Fuoco livery with double metallic Biano Italia racing stripe on its bonnet and tail.
Several other extremely valuable Ferraris also sold at Fiorano, not least a California 250 GT SWB for 7.9 million euro, a 1958 250 GT Cabriolet Series I for 4.7 million and the aluminium-bodied 365 GTB/4 rediscovered in a Japanese hayloft, which changed hands for 1.8 million euro.
Ferrari marks its 70th anniversary with a weekend of celebrations at Maranello
Posted: 07.09.2017 / Source: Ferrari
The show will be broadcast by RAI 1 on Saturday night
Maranello (Italy), 7 Sept 2017 – The celebrations of the 70th anniversary of Ferrari are due to open tomorrow at Maranello, attracting thousands of customers from around the world to celebrate their connection with the Prancing Horse.
As part of this special weekend dedicated to Ferrari fans, international rallies have already begun in several European cities (Frankfurt, Geneva, London, Monte Carlo, Prague, Reims, Salzburg and Rome), converging tomorrow in Milan. Then on Saturday morning a single grand parade of 500 Ferraris will drive to the Fiorano circuit, the main venue of this great celebration of motoring.
Rare Ferrari collectors items will be on display on Saturday in Modena, where they will pay homage to the birthplace of Enzo Ferrari with a drive to the MEF (Museo Enzo Ferrari), before stopping at 11:30 am in front of the Palazzo Ducale, the site of the Military Academy.
Saturday from 4 pm RM – Sotheby’s is holding an auction that promises to be the most significant ever for the vehicles of a single carmaker.
In the evening, guests will be able to attend the show “Ferrari Settanta”, which recounts the company’s past and present while also taking a peek into the future. As the Fiorano circuit is not big enough to welcome all lovers of the Prancing Horse, this highly anticipated show will be broadcast later in a Rai 1 special from 11.30 pm.
On Sunday a Concours d’Elegance will conclude the celebrations in style. A jury of international experts will have the difficult task of choosing the two “Best of Show” cars in the GT and Sportscar categories from among 120 precious vintage Ferraris.
The Ferrari Portofino revealed
Posted: 23.08.2017 / Source: Ferrari
A GT that represents a unique combination of sportiness, elegance and on board comfort
Maranello, 23 August 2017 – The Ferrari Portofino is the new V8 GT set to dominate its segment thanks to a perfect combination of sportiness, elegance and on board comfort.
Ferrari has chosen a particularly evocative moniker for this exceptionally versatile drop-top car, referencing one of Italy’s most beautiful towns. Portofino is renowned for its charming tourist port and, over the years, has become internationally synonymous with elegance, sportiness and understated luxury. The launch colour of the new Ferrari has also been dedicated to this marvellous town: Rosso Portofino.
Capable of unleashing a massive 600 cv and sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.5 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 plus two rear seats suitable for short trips.
The Ferrari Portofino’s all-new chassis features a significant weight saving over the California T it replaces. Thanks to the extensive use of modern production technologies, all the chassis and body-in-white components have been redesigned with a consequent reduction in weight despite an increase in torsional rigidity.
Engine
The renowned Ferrari V8 turbo, part of the engine family that was nominated International Engine of the Year in both 2016 and 2017, now punches out 40 cv more than the California T’s power unit thanks to the adoption of new components and specific calibration of the engine management software. The characteristic Ferrari V8 soundtrack has also been further enhanced and can be fully appreciated, particularly in top-down driving.
All aspects of the 8-cylinder’s efficiency have been honed with the adoption of new pistons and con-rods, and a new intake system design. The geometries throughout the exhaust system have also been revolutionised. The new one-piece-cast exhaust header reduces losses, an important factor in ensuring Ferrari’s characteristic throttle response with zero turbo lag. These improvements, combined with the Variable Boost Management which adjusts torque delivery to suit the gear selected, enable the Ferrari Portofino to offer even higher levels of acceleration in all gears and lower fuel consumption compared to the outgoing model.
Vehicle dynamics
The Ferrari Portofino’s vehicle dynamic characteristics have been completely revised and benefit from the introduction of new technological solutions. For the first time on this type of Ferrari model, the third generation electronic rear differential (E-Diff3) has been adopted and integrated with the F1-Trac, improving both mechanical grip and the control of the car on the limit. The Ferrari Portofino is also the first GT in the range to be fitted with EPS (Electric Power Steering). This allowed the engineers to reduce the steering ratio by seven per cent for even more responsive steering without a trade-off in stability thanks to the integration with the E-Diff3. The magnetorheological damping system (SCM-E) has been uprated with dual-coil technology which helps reduce roll while simultaneously improving absorption of road surface unevenness. The result is an even more dynamic, responsive car that also delivers superior ride comfort.
Design & Aerodynamics
The Ferrari Design Centre-penned Ferrari Portofino is an aggressively-styled car with a two-box fastback configuration – unprecedented in a coupé-convertible with a retractable hard top – that adds extra sleekness to its silhouette, lending it a sportier character without impinging on its elegance and dynamism.
Close collaboration between the Aerodynamics department and Ferrari Design has ensured maximum efficiency in the development of the surface treatment. Starting with the front, the form of the large radiator grille opening, that stretches from edge to edge of the carefully contoured nose, is underscored by a new full-LED headlight assembly with a more horizontal shape. The outside edge of the headlight hides an innovative air intake which vents into the front wheelarch and exits along the flank to reduce drag.
The tail design underlines the car’s sporty stance which has been further enhanced by placing the tail lights futher apart. This elegant solution cleverly conceals the rear volume housing the all-new RHT which features a more lightweight design and can be raised or lowered at low speeds.
Comfort on board
There was also a particular focus on board comfort which is guaranteed by a slew of new features, not least an infotainment system with 10.2” touchscreen display, a new air-conditioning system that improves occupant comfort both with the top up or down, a new steering wheel, 18-way electrically adjustable seats with a new backrest design that boosts legroom for rear seat passengers, and the passenger display. All occupants will particularly appreciate the new wind deflector which, when the top is dropped, cuts air flow inside the cabin by 30% and also reduces aerodynamic noise.
The Ferrari Portofino will make its world debut at the Frankfurt International Motor Show in September.
Technical Specification Summary
Engine
Type V8 – 90°
Overall displacement 3855 cm3
Maximum power output * 441 kW (600 cv) at 7500 rpm
Maximum torque * 760 Nm from 3000 to 5250 rpm
Weight and Dimensions
Length 4586 mm
Width 1938 mm
Height 1318 mm
Weight distribution 46-54% front/rear
Performance
Maximum speed >320 km/h
0-100 km/h 3.5 sec
Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions**
Fuel consumption 10.5 l/100 km
Emissions 245g CO2/km
* In 7th gear
** Combined cycle. Under homologation. ECE+EUDC with standard HELE system.
Renewal of the agreement between Scuderia Ferrari and Kimi Raikkonen
Posted: 22.08.2017 / Source: Ferrari
Maranello (Italy), 22 August 2017 – Ferrari N.V. (NYSE/MTA: RACE) announces that Scuderia Ferrari has renewed its technical and racing agreement with Kimi Raikkonen. The Finnish driver will therefore race for the Maranello team in the 2018 Formula One World Championship.