Over the weekend, at the German Hockenheim circuit, the European Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge, the series for historic Maranello marque cars, got underway. The cars, which are authorised with a "Technical Entry Sheet," issued by Ferrari Classiche to validate their originality, are divided into categories. These are based on type and date of construction and they compete in different grids. In 1999 the series was also opened to Maseratis and it is characterised by an overwhelming period feel, thanks to the special atmosphere which reigns over the paddock and track. The 2006 season is being run over five rounds for the European series and the same number in North America. From the inaugural event in 1996 to date over 200 collectors-drivers have taken part.

The series is run by the Ferrari Corse Clienti Department, based at the Fiorano Track. It also looks after the Ferrari Challenge Pirelli Trophy-Shell Cup at international level and supports Prancing Horse customers taking part in the GT championships, as well as managing the F1 Clienti department and the new and exclusive FXX Programme. Of the new elements in the 2006 Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge, it is worth highlighting the eligibility of the 308 GTB Gr.4-Gr.B, which will be accommodated in category 8, reserved for 6 and 8 cylinder cars based on series production models.

In the interests of equalling out performance and ensuring on-track spectacle, other classes have also been redrawn, first and foremost with the creation of a specific one, the 7, for road-going GT cars. 9 will now include competition machines based on series cars with engine capacity over 4000 cc. Sport and prototype mid-engined cars are now subdivided according to year of manufacture, into categories 10 and 11 (the latter including the 512 BB LM which has thus been repositioned.)
 

As for the technical regulations, the basic principle is still centred on the design specification. However, it is now permissible to fit a different engine in order to preserve the original, as long as it is based on a Ferrari construction and that its other elements conform to those of the original. With this in mind, the support from the Ferrari Classiche department in the form of parts supplies to Clients which correspond to the design specification, is continually increasing. Also worth noting that the "Technical Entry Sheet" for the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge is considered the first step to the release of the car's final certification of authenticity, again from the Ferrari Classiche department.

After getting underway on Saturday the Jim Clark Revival meeting came to a close at the Hockenheim circuit yesterday. Testing themselves against the German track were drivers in the European Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge. The event also featured a display of 10 Ferrari single-seaters from the past, which was coordinated by Maranello's F1 Clienti department. This was the season curtain-raiser for the continental series and it saw wins in grids A+B (single-seaters, sports-prototypes and GT cars fitted with drum brakes) for local driver Max Werner in race-1 in his 1955 Maserati 300 S and for another 300 S (1954,) out on track in the hands of British driver, David Franklin, in the second race. As for group C (cars with disc brakes,) wins in the two races were split between the 1981 Ferrari 512 BB LM of Dutchman, John Bosch and the 1970 Ferrari 512 M of France's Michel Fertè.

The European series of the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge will be back on track over the weekend of 4th June in Valencia, Spain.