Last weekend Ferrari had the Finali Mondiali (World Finals) of the Ferrari Challenge at Mugello Circuit in Italy. About 50,000 spectators came to the circuit owned by Ferrari. The event was a carnival which had races. The Ferrari Challenge world title. The winners were three drivers from the European series, probably also due to the fact that they are accustomed to racing at the Mugello circuit - the Coppa Shell went to the experienced Erich Prinoth, Matteo “Babalus” Santoponte triumphed in the Trofeo Pirelli and the Pirelli Am title went to Alessandro Vezzoni.
Aside from that there was an exhibition by Formula 1 team Scuderia Ferrari and the Ferrari exhibition which included the brand new F12tdf series which opened the exhibition hour (pic below). This car pays tribute to the famous Tour de France Automobile; it is produced in 799 units and is equipped with a V12 engines with a power of 780 HP.
PRESS RELEASEs
FERRARI PASSION TAKES TO THE TRACK AT THE MUGELLO COURSE
Overflow crowds on the event’s final day
Scarperia, 8 November – Record closing day for the Finali Mondiali [World Finals] at the Mugello circuit. On the final day, as many as 50,000 spectators crowded the installation owned by Ferrari. The most anticipated event was the exhibition of the Scuderia Ferrari and its official drivers, but much more was on display at the track.
Challenge world titles. The day opened with the races valid for the attribution of the Ferrari Challenge world title. The winners were three drivers from the European series, probably also due to the fact that they are accustomed to racing at the Mugello: the Coppa Shell went to the experienced Erich Prinoth, Matteo “Babalus” Santoponte triumphed in the Trofeo Pirelli and the Pirelli Am title went to Alessandro Vezzoni.
The exhibition. The great exhibition on the track started at 12:45 p.m. The brand new F12tdf series opened the exhibition hour. This car pays tribute to the famous Tour de France Automobile; it is produced in 799 units and is equipped with a V12 engines with a power of 780 HP. Three examples of the car went onto the track: Kimi Raikkonen and Esteban Gutierrez accompanied respectively the managing director Amedeo Felisa and the vice-president Piero Ferrari on two red cars while the president Sergio Marchionne was Sebastian Vettel’s passenger on the yellow car with which the model was launched.
GT moment. Following this, the 458 Italia GTE and GT3 competing in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and in the main national and international GT championships went on the track. Toni Vilander and Giancarlo Fisichella alternated on car number 51 while the regular drivers James Calado and Davide Rigon took turns on car number 71. Olivier Beretta drove the GT3. Then it was the turn of the 488, a car just introduced which will be racing in the GTE version during the 2016 WEC and in the GT3 version in the great majority of the GT championships. Andrea Bertolini, who looked after the tests, was at the wheel of the GT3, while “Gimmi” Bruni, who is increasingly becoming the face of Ferrari in the GT competitions, was on board the 488 GTE.
MARCHIONNE: “A GREAT SUCCESS”
“An unforgettable experience to have 50,000 fans here”
Scarperia, 8 November – “This event has been amazingly successful, attracting a crowd of 50,000 fans to Mugello. It shows just how important this marque is, not just in the world of the automobile, but also for this country.” This was what Ferrari President, Sergio Marchionne had to say about the big crowd that turned up in Mugello to watch the Finali Mondiali, which ended today with the Ferrari Challenge world titles being decided. The fans were also treated to a display from Scuderia Ferrari, featuring the race drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel. “Everyone here today can tell that we are going in the right direction. In Formula 1, Maurizio Arrivabene and the whole team are doing a good job: we have not won the 2015 title, which is a shame, but development of the 2016 car gives us cause to believe in it for next season.”
The president arrived in the morning and met the many owners and fans who packed the paddock from the early hours. He handed out the prizes to the Ferrari Challenge world champions and also did a lap of the track in the brand new F12tdf, driven by Sebastian Vettel who premiered the very latest creation from the Maranello company. Kimi Raikkonen had managing director Amedeo Felisa as a passenger, while Esteban Gutierrez had the marque’s vice president, Piero Ferrari alongside him. The day ended with the traditional “family photo” featuring all the drivers from every category, following on from the crowd-pleasing demonstration from the Scuderia’s Formula 1 drivers.
FERRARI CHALLENGE APAC – WYATT WINS THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Scarperia, 7 November – Steve Wyatt (Barbagallo Perth) won the Trofeo Pirelli race on Saturday securing the championship, beating Indonesia’s Renaldi Hutasoit (Viro Water Ferrari Jakarta) to go back to the top of the standings. The Australian had lost the race and his championship lead on Friday. Third place went to another Indonesian driver, David Tjiptobiantoro (Jakarta Ferrari).
Pirelli Am. Lebanon’s Ziad Ghandour (Scuderia Lebanon) triumphed in the Trofeo Pirelli Am, after a fierce battle with overall leader, China’s Wei Xu (CTF Group), and Korea’s Jung Hoon Youn (FMK).
Coppa Shell. Chinese standard bearer Xin Jin (Elite Group) strengthened his lead in the Coppa Shell with his win on Saturday. Japan’s Ken Seto (Rosso Scuderia KK) came second, followed by China’s Bo Song (CTF Group).
FINALI MONDIALI – F1 CLIENTI AND XX PROGRAMMES LIGHT UP MUGELLO
Scarperia, 7 November - A unique sound, extraordinary power, and many exceptional cars: In a nutshell this is what two of Ferrari’s most exclusive programmes, F1 Clienti and XX Programmes (pic above), are offering.
F1 Clienti cars doing some laps
Nearly 15 years of victories. The cars that have written the history of Formula 1, from the F300 of 1998 to the F150° Italia of 2011 are taking to the track at the World Finals in Mugello, thrilling fans with the characteristic sound of their eight and ten-cylinder aspirated engines. Customers who have a chance to drive them at the World Finals will have the assistance of some very special tutors such as Marc Gene, James Calado and Giancarlo Fisichella. The F1 Clienti will be key players on Sunday, when an expected record number of spectators will certainly appreciate the roar of the engines of some of the most successful cars in Formula 1 history.
Extraordinary power. The XX Programmes cars will join the F1 Clienti on track at the Finali Mondiali. These unique and extraordinary cars are something that only Ferrari could have come up with. The cars of the XX Programmes can only be driven on track, but they are not approved for any championship. The first of the line was the FXX of 2005, built on the basis of the Enzo, which was followed by the 599XX and then, starting this year, the FXX K, a car as beautiful as it is powerful, with 1050 horsepower and equipped with extraordinary technology that also takes advantage of the experience gained in Formula 1 with hybrid technology.
FINALI MONDIALI – OFF WE GO!
Four days packed with events from Thursday to Sunday
Scarperia, 5 November – The Finali Mondiali at Mugello has kicked off with the first Ferrari Challenge practice sessions. The Finali Mondiali, from Thursday to Sunday, will offer enthusiasts and fans all the passion, excitement and technology that only the Prancing Horse can provide.
Three series of the Challenge. The menu is full of interesting activities, starting with the track events. Indeed, Mugello will host the final two rounds of the three series of the world’s most famous brand: the Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific series. Then on Sunday all the drivers will be on track for the two world championship finals, the Trofeo Pirelli (divided into Pirelli and Pirelli Am) and the Coppa Shell.
F1 Clienti and XX Programmes. Then there will then be the F1 Clienti and the cars of the XX Programmes. The F1 Clienti will offer a glimpse of the Ferraris that competed in Formula 1 from 1998 to 2011, while the FXX K will do the lion’s share of the work for the XX Programmes. The car, derived from the special limited LaFerrari series, was presented for the first time at last year’s Finali Mondiali and in this edition will make its debut in the hands of customers.
The Scuderia and the rest. But the Finali Mondiali is not just about what happens on track. There will be a lot to see in the paddock, starting with the current Ferrari range, including the new special limited F12tdf series. Then there will be the classic Ferrari GTs, with cars ranging from the 1950s to the 458 Italia which ends its competitive career this year in the GTE-Pro series of the World Endurance Championship (WEC). And with this in mind, Mugello will also see the new 488 GTE and GT3, a car whose two versions will compete in next year’s WEC and the main GT championships.
