In the glorious April sunshine 60 significant Ferrari sportscars gathered in St James Park, London on Saturday morning before blasting off down Pall Mall escorted by a special 'Police' liveried 612 Scaglietti. The even was the high point of the UK leg of the Ferrari 60 Relay, a worldwide event which is celebrating the Maranello sportscar maker's 60th anniversary in fine style.

The British leg was a four day adventure which saw a fleet of V12 Ferraris visiting official Ferrari dealers across the UK. It got underway last Wednesday morning in Belfast, before culminating at the Silverstone circuit on Saturday afternoon. Ferrari owners' from Northern Ireland, Scotland and the North of England joined the Tour at various stages along the route, with dealerships taking the opportunity to reward loyal and prospective clients with the chance to drive a 599 GTB Fiorano, a 612 Scaglietti, or one of their own Ferrari Approved V12s from recent memory, such as the classic 575M or the stylish 456.

The UK leg of the Tour started last Wednesday morning with a drive from Charles Hurst Belfast, crossing to Stranraer, and then on to Graypaul Edinburgh. After a driver change-over, the tour then continued down the East Coast before arriving for a welcome reception at JCT 600 Leeds. Ferrari GB provided four of Ferrari’s flagship V12 models, two 599 GTB Fiorano and two 612 Scaglietti, for motoring journalists to drive between Ferrari’s Official Dealers. Ferrari also provided a dedicated 612 Scaglietti HGTS liveried in police colours, which was driven by police officers at the front of the tour throughout the 1,500 miles from Belfast to London. All of the police officers driving the 612 were volunteers from five forces across the UK, and were driving in their free time (not as part of their normal duty) to support the tour.

Thursday saw the Ferrari 60 Relay making another early start, departing from Manchester, from where it visited Graypaul Nottingham and Stratstone Little Aston before ending the day at another evening reception hosted by Dick Lovett Cardiff, Ferrari’s only Official Ferrari Dealer serving Wales.
 

The Tour continued throughout Friday before the cars gathered at St James Square in London on Saturday morning. The weather was perfect and the line-up of Ferraris through the ages was mouth watering, with Londoners examining the cars all morning as the Tour prepared for its post-lunchtime departure. While the new 599 GTB Fiorano and the 'Police' liveried 612 Scaglietti HGTS were at the centre of onlookers attention, Ferrari UK did well to assemble an excellent representation of the Italian sportscars through the firm's six decades, highlights including the 246GTS, 365 GTB/4, 275 GTB/4, 250 SWB, 250 Lusso, 250 GTE, 250 SWB GT, 365 GTC4, 250 GT Zagato, 250 GTE, 330 GTC, 275 GTB, 330 GTC, Superfast 500, 246 GTS, 365 GTC, Testarossa, Challenge Stradale, F40, F50, Superamerica, F430 Coupé, F430 Spider and Enzo.

The Ferrari 60 Relay in fact started in Abu Dhabi on 29 January before travelling throughout the Middle East, China, Japan, Australia, South Africa, and America. London was the latest stop on the Europe-wide leg  which is set to end in Maranello on 23 June. The participants in the Tour have been received at the various Italian embassies in the countries they have passed through en route to Maranello.

On 16 June, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will host a special display of gifts donated by each country through which the baton passes at the Palazzo della Farnesina in Rome. On 23 June there will be a charity auction by Ferrari, with gifts being donated by each country through which the baton travels, the proceeds of which will be donated to charity. A unique Vertu phone, designed and handcrafted at the company’s headquarters in England has been created from the Ascent collection to commemorate the British leg of the tour and this phone – number 1 of 1 – was the gift presented for auction to the Italian Ambassador in London.