This weekend (28, 29, 30 July) the South of France will be the venue for the fifth round of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli as Ferrari Dealer Team GB sets off for the Paul Ricard circuit and this time there will be a new car and new driver on the grid.

The beautiful Le Castellet circuit will be the backdrop for the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli debut of Peter Bamford driving his F430 Challenge (Car 108). This weekend fellow Ferrari Dealer Team GB drivers Ross Kaiser (Car 27) will look to get back on to the podium in the French sunshine. Borislav Maletić (Car 89) and Geoff Farmer (Car 103) compete in the European Coppa Shell and will be giving a warm welcome to Peter Bamford.

The Paul Ricard circuit was built in 1970 by the head of the famous Pastis manufacturing company. The circuit is widely regarded as the most advanced track facility in the world. Unique high-friction run-off areas replace the more conventional gravel traps. The circuit held 14 Formula 1 Grands Prix between 1970 - 1990 and is the venue for this weekend’s racing action.

Ferrari Challenge racing is the ultimate expression of luxury lifestyle racing, bringing together the race proven technology of the Ferrari F430 Challenge car, the best hospitality, competitive racing and entertainment for Ferrari clients on and off the track. In France this weekend spectators will see two races in the European Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli and two in the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge.
 

Massimo Fedeli said: ‘Ferrari GB provides the opportunity for clients to drive on the European Grand Prix circuits in our Fiorano Ferrari programme and Peter Bamford is one of the most active members within Fiorano Ferrari. It is a natural progression for him to join our racing team and compete in the Ferrari Challenge and I am sure that he is the first of many to take this route.  At Paul Ricard we will also entertain Ferrari clients from the UK who will see first-hand this unique luxury lifestyle racing series.’

In a four-car team this weekend, the Ferrari Challenge Dealer Team GB will look to get on the podium again with the backing of three of the UK’s Ferrari dealers; Graypaul of Nottingham, HR Owen in London and Maranello Sales Ltd in Egham, Surrey. The Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli is the world’s most exclusive single-make racing series created as the perfect outlet for Ferrari owners who want to race. The 2006 season includes races in the UK, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, climaxing at the World Finals in Italy all delivered in the style and luxury associated with any Ferrari occasion. The Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli was created and is organised by Corse Clienti, the division within Ferrari S.p.A. dedicated to racing activities for Ferrari clients.