During a press
conference that preceded the traditional prize-giving
ceremony to the winners of Corse Clienti events at Mugello
on Tuesday, the programme for the 2006 season was announced.
Present were Ferrari's Direttore Generale, Jean Todt,
Commercial Director Andrea Bozzoli, head of Corse Clienti
activities, Antonello Coletta, and the new head of Ferrari
Classic Projects, Roberto Vaglietti. The programme, as
Bozzoli underlined, "will see clients of classic cars in the
forefront with the Historic Challenge. The new Ferrari
Classiche department will have the chance to fulfil its
ambitions thanks to a revamped technical assistance set up
that is able to satisfy the needs of the owners. The
ambitious FXX project fits into these activities and, over
the next three years, will reserve for 29 lucky owners,
fourteen events held around the world."
As regards the technical details of the various
championships in which Ferrari's Clienti Sportivi will take
part, and in particular in Ferrari Challenge that is now in
its fourteenth year, the microphone was passed to Antonello
Coletta. He stated that "the Challenge rules will not be
modified next season. The fifty minute format with the
chance to make a driver change will remain, thus optimising
costs. What will be different will be the debut of the F430,
a car that will, as per tradition, be fielded in the Trofeo
Pirelli or the Coppa Shell. Those who want to race in the
360 will be able to do so in a single championship. Moving
on from Challenge to GT, we will be driving in GT2 where the
F430 will continue to battle it out with the Porsche in our
traditionally intense rivalry."
In support of what Coletta said, Todt emphasised that
Ferrari, though not officially in the GT2 class, would
though back
up a couple of teams, probably running Pirelli tyres. Continuing
in the GT field, the Direttore Generale made clear that the
FIA GT's top class would all but be abandoned by Ferrari at a group
level in order to support the efforts of the Maserati MC12.
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Ferrari F1 test driver
Luca Badoer with the FXX at the Bologna Motor Show
last month. Corse Clienti will arrange 14 events
over the next three years for these awesome, Enzo-derived
track machines. |
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"The Challenge rules will not be modified next
season. The fifty minute format with the chance to
make a driver change will remain, thus optimising
costs. What will be different will be the debut of
the F430 (above), a car that will, as per
tradition, be fielded in the Trofeo Pirelli or the
Coppa Shell," said Anonello Coletta. |
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Jean Todt emphasised yesterday that Ferrari, though
not officially in the GT2 class, would back up a
couple of teams, probably running Pirelli tyres. |
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In conclusion, Roberto Taglietti, head of the newly created
Progetto Ferrari Classiche, illustrated to the press the
guidelines that call for a certificate of authenticity for
cars over twenty years of age and the setting up of a
Classic Center, dedicated to the assistance and restoration
of damaged parts realised with reference to the original."
The press briefing ended with a tribute being paid to
Gabriele Gardel for a fantastic season in the FIA GT at the
wheel of the 550 Maranello. Michele Maceratesi, the Italian
and World Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli champion who
dominated the season, was also recognised.
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