A memorable day has been held at Fiorano (MO) for the leading protagonists of the Italian Formula 3 Championship, the prestigious Italian series powered this year by Fiat Powertrain Technologies Racing (FPT Racing). Thanks to the event organised by Scuderia Ferrari and the National Federation ACI-CSAI, the first three drivers of 2008 classification, Mirko Bortolotti, Edoardo Piscopo and Salvatore Cicatelli, alternated behind the wheel of the F2008 Ferrari in a testing day followed by Race Team technicians led by the team manager Luca Baldisseri.

From 10 am to 4.30 pm the mostly wanted single seater by any racing driver has been available for the three young talents of Italian motor-racing under the look of the usual Ferrari fans, always ready to crowd next to barriers of the testing track at every scream of the Maranello's 8 cylinders.

A real working day then for the three drivers that wanted to honour the prestigious appointment, and the did that indeed by astonishing Ferrari's technicians thanks their professional approach and lap times much more than rookies'. In fact, Mirko Bortolotti, the Italian reigning champion, at the end of 40 laps set the new track record stopping chronos at 59"111.

"This has been a unique experience" - commented Bortolotti - "This morning it was really tricky experiencing a Formula 1 car on a humid track. A dream came true for me. I felt at ease since the beginning because the car gives you confidence. It is not comparable to any other car and the most difficult part was to get the most out of brakes. At the end of the day I obtained the record and, honestly, things couldn't go better, but I have to say that I would have been happy anyway even if I hadn't scored it."

Obviously his two colleagues were thrilled too. "It's a very challenging car that prompts you to push hard because it is very well balanced - explained the Roman Edoardo Piscopo, author of 29 laps, with best time of 1'00"336. It's a big Formula 3, the structuring is the same even if everything is enhanced starting from the aerodynamic load to brakes, acceleration and speed. It has been great, a dream that came alive and I hope that one day I will have again the chance to prove my talent driving a Formula 1. Better if it's a Ferrari."

"At first I have been impressed a lot by the power" - commented Salvatore Cicatelli that completed 33 laps with a best laptime of 1'01.243 - "afterwards I started getting confidence. I never drove a car this powerful. It has been difficult at the beginning to get used to the braking power but lap after lap everything was getting easier. Before getting into the car I was really worked up, but then everything stopped and I just thought to drive well without committing any mistakes." The maturity and the speed of the three Italian youngsters surprised Baldisseri too.

"We are grateful to CSAI" - declared Scuderia Ferrari's team manager - "for creating a championship like Formula 3, that allowed to have with us these three boys. They have been amazing, they did not commit any mistakes despite humid track conditions in the morning. We used the simulator first and our tester Andrea Bertolini acted as their tutor, but they learned very quickly. They have all great potential. Today has been a unique experience for us, unprecedented even in the case of '95 when we tested some drivers that had other experiences in their careers.

The day finished at 5pm with the press conference held in the presence of Ferrari's Vice President Piero Ferrari and Luigi Macaluso ACI-CSAI's president. "Formula 3 and Formula Azzurra" - declared CSAI's president - are our investment for young drivers and today we celebrate them with an extraordinary initiative. Having here our boys today is absolutely fantastic. One of them is 20 years old, the other two just 18 and Cicatelli does not even have the driving licence. They drove a Formula 1 Ferrari today and they have been awarded a dream."