Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo arrived at Le Mans yesterday, where at 3pm, he was the official starter of the world's most prestigious 24 Hour race. Montezemolo was accompanied by Vice President Piero Ferrari, CEO Amedeo Felisa and the Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal Stefano Domenicali.

The Ferrari delegation met the President of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest Jean Claude Plassart, who remembered the numerous participations of cars from Ferrari in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This year ten 430 GTs started in the GT2 category.

"There is a historical connection between Ferrari and the 24 Hours and I am glad to be here to start one of the races of which I admire the spirit of competition you can feel here," Montezemolo said. "We have many things in common; for example the connection to the territory: I can see the people living here and they are happy and proud to host this great event and collaborate to set it up, just like it happens at Maranello. It's true that many years have passed since the last overall win of a Ferrari in this race and I have a dream, which is also a wish, to see sooner or later an official car starting in the race." Montezemolo then met the team principals of the teams starting at Le Mans with cars from Maranello, as well as talking to some of the drivers who wrote the history of Ferrari: Jacky Ickx and Jean Alesi.

The arrival of Montezemolo followed a success of a Ferrari on the track. A 250 LM, driven by the Brazilian Carlos Monteverde, won the Le Mans Legend, the race for historical car which once competed in this 24 Hour race. Place three went to another Ferrarista, Tony Dron, with his 246S, while the Lister Jaguar with Justin Law came in second.

"It's great to see so many people here for a car race, it's a fantastic atmosphere." he said on meeting the press after a lap on the track in a Ferrari California with Jean Alesi behind the wheel, and Luca di Montezemolo didn't hide his satisfaction about the packed grandstands at Le Mans: "Thinking about all these enthusiastic people and about the empty grandstands at Istanbul last week I think that there's something wrong. But today I don't want to sadden myself by talking about Formula 1," he said. "You all know our position, we've told you more than once: we want stability, certain rules, a clear and transparent governance system and the possibility to let the teams work the way they already showed they can work on a reduction of the costs. I really hope that we can find a solution: I'm convinced that there are responsible people at the FIA, who know about the situation."

Montezemolo as a flagman at the 24 Hours raised many questions as far as a probable return of the manufacturer from Maranello in the future to such a competition is concerned. "A Ferrari at Le Mans? Why not?," Montezemolo said. "If we should not race in Formula 1 anymore this would be an option: obviously not with a car with a diesel engine, but maybe with a hybrid, who knows. In this race you can really see the values of competition in the areas of sports and technology, but I have to say again that the life, the heart and the soul of Ferrari are with Formula 1. This year, also because of the rules we can call "grey", it doesn't go too well, but we will never give up. Where we will be in 2011? For sure this situation will be resolved somehow: we will race in a Formula 1 with characteristics we want to keep or there will be some sort of alternative."

Then the 77th edition of the oldest and most prestigious endurance race was started yesterday afternoon at 3:00 PM by Montezemolo, invited by the ACO to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first overall victory by a car from Maranello, the one gained with the 166 MM with Luigi Chinetti and Lord Selsdon in 1949. Together with Montezemolo the French Prime Minister François Fillon and ACO President Jean Claude Plassart started the race.

"I'm extremely honoured by the possibility to start this fantastic race, representing the essence of the spirit of competition we love so much at Ferrari," Montezemolo said before leaving the Le Mans circuit yesterday. "It was a great feeling here and I will always remember it with pleasure, with this flag I received on this wonderful day." Montezemolo received the French flag with Saturday's date, a tradition for all the flagmen at Le Mans.