The senior management reshuffle at Ferrari has got underway with the announcement that Jean Todt will become CEO while Amedeo Felisa will hold the role of General Manager. The Ferrari board met yesterday in Turin under the Presidency of Luca di Montezemolo and confirmed these appointments. A brief statement further added that Amedeo Felisa has joined the Board in place of Renato Pagliaro who has resigned.

Since Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo was appointed to the position of President of the Fiat Group, Jean Todt has assumed responsibility for running of the roadcar manufacturing operation, combining this job with his position as the manager of the F1 team. The conclusion of this Grand Prix season is expected to see a significant reshuffle at Ferrari with Todt likely to relinquish his leadership role with the F1 team and a new manager either brought in or promoted from within. The management changes coincide with upheaval within the team caused by the retirement of Michael Schumacher and the signing of Finnish McLaren-Mercedes driver Kimi Raikkonen as his replacement for the 2007 season. The team's chief strategist Ross Brawn is also rumoured to be set to take a year off. The new structure of the F1 team is expected to be announced within the next few days.

Meanwhile the 2006 Ferrari World Finals event got underway yesterday at the Monza circuit near Milan. The first drivers to take to the track were those in the North American Ferrari Challenge Pirelli Trophy, who had a free practice session to themselves.
 

The traditional event that brings the Prancing Horse's racing season to a close this year sees a significant number of journalists in attendance from all over the world, including some from as far afield as Japan and China. The meeting ends on Sunday 29 October and will see the final rounds of this year's Italian, European and North American Ferrari Challenge Pirelli Trophy series, as well as the usual races to decide who are the overall champions at international level. Spectators will also be able to see the test car of the exclusive FXX Programme take to the track and the atmosphere of days gone by is provided courtesy of the cars in the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge. Completing the busy programme, the display of single-seaters prepared by the Maranello F1 Clienti department and the demonstration run from Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, which is the key moment of the final day, which will also serve as a tribute to Michael Schumacher's Formula 1 career.

A special initiative, also on Sunday, concerns the Scuderia Ferrari Club with some members taking part in the final round of the 2006 Soap Box race, for four wheeled vehicles without engines, based on the imaginative designs of these enthusiasts. Live on Sunday, giant screens opposite the main grandstands will show coverage of the final MotoGP race of the year.