10.03.2004 SNOW AND ICY CONDITIONS HIT THE FERRARI AND MASERATI TOUR HEADING THROUGH EUROPE TOWARDS RUSSIA

To mark the Ferrari Maserati Group's imminent entry to the Russian market, two Ferraris and two Maseratis left the Maserati headquarters in Modena on Saturday to start the 'RUSSIAN AND NORTHERN EUROPEAN TOUR' which will see them cover over 10,000 kilometres in difficult winter conditions across Northern Europe.

"The alarm clocks were set for 6.30, time enough to prepare for the 8am start of the Nuremberg-Hanover stage. The 490km route should not present any great surprises but considering that the EuroCargo is limited to 100km/h, the arrival time is pencilled in for 15.00. Then the unexpected: snow! Nuremberg is blanketed in a thick layer of snow and the low temperature (-4°C) has made the roads extremely slippery.

"The road conditions are similar to those encountered in more northern countries with an icy bottom layer covered by a snowy top. The snowfall predicted for the Sunday morning has arrived a day early in this part of Germany. We look as it as a test of our concentration at the wheel and the traction control software of the vehicles. The exam is passed with flying colours though we were careful to drive slowly. The cars did not have any problems and neither did the trucks. At 8.45, after a refuelling stop at Shell, the caravan set out for Hanover.

"The trial of hours driving in these conditions is eased somewhat with a progressive improvement in the weather on the motorway leaving Nuremberg. At 12.00 we decide to stop off for a short lunch break in Kalbach.

"Forty five minutes later the journey continues on bad, icy, but relatively clear roads. Around 100km from Hanover another Shell fuel stop meant a final arrival time of 17.00, guided all the while by the Maserati Quattroporte satellite navigation. Temperatures of 0°C and overcast skies greeted us when we unpacked our gear at the hotel.

"The start is planned for 8.00. The forecast is of cloudy skies for the whole day with the possibility of snow around Hamburg. The temperature should hover between 0°C and 2°C. The run from Hanover to Copenhagen is of around 650km, according to the programme. During the morning briefing we decide to head straight for Copenhagen cutting out the bridge at Odense. This should slice 150 kilometres from the journey but will mean taking a ferry to cross the Baltic Sea. We leave on time from our base for the night, the ex-Pelikan ink factory, now the Sheraton. We take the E47 towards Hamburg and find a slushy road surface from the night-time snowfall. In general though, the conditions are good.

"We proceeded on to Lubecca without any problems. The snow continued to come down, but only lightly. From there we took the road for the port at Puttgarden where the ferry would board at 12.45. We upped anchor at one and used our time on board to have a spot of lunch and to park up the EuroCargo for its obligatory stop. The Danish shoreline that drew ever closer differed from the snowy conditions we had grown used to. Once ashore, we found the scenery drab and monotonous, still waking from its winter slumber. The only interesting features were the Aeolian generators and the age-old windmills. We arrived in Copenhagen at 16.30 under quite clear skies and temperatures of 3°C. The Ferrari fans that had gathered there did not miss the chance to admire the vehicles."