There were also free practice runs for five Ferrari FXX, twelve 599XX and eleven historic Formula 1 cars taking part, run by Maranello’s F1 Clienti department. There was also some non-competitive activity, as many Ferrari owners were able to try their hand on track at the wheel of their own cars, as part of the “Excitement on track” initiative.

Saturday

The 458 and F430 Challenge cars competing in the European and Italian Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli championships tackled the second qualifying sessions and the first of two races planned for the weekend. Also on track for some untimed laps, eleven historic Formula 1 cars run by the F1 Clienti department, five Ferrari FXX and no less than twelve 599XX.

In the second qualifying session for the Italian series, Lorenzo Bontempelli (Kessel Racing) set the fastest lap time (1.33.433), beating Dario Caso (CDP) and Stefano Gai (Rossocorsa), while among the gentleman drivers in the Coppa Shell, quickest was Renato Di Amato (CDP), who outpaced Benedetto Marti and Emilio Rossi, both of them running for Motor/Piacenza. Of the drivers with the F430, the best time was set by Riccardo Ragazzi (Ineco/Ram), followed by Andrea Belluzzi (Motor/Modena) and Diego Romanini (Rossocorsa/Pellin).

In the European series, Alexandr Skryabin (Ferrari Moscow) qualified pole position for Sunday's Race 2 having been quickest 1.33.407, with the Austrian drive Philipp Baron (Baron Service) and Adam Christodoulou (Scuderia GT) lining up second and third. Philippe Prette (Motor/Malucelli) was the fastest of the Coppa Shell drivers, ahead of Dennis Andersen (Formula Automobile) and Andriil Kruglyk (Ferrari Moscow). The order among those running the F430s saw Bjorn Grossmann (Ferrari Moscow) quickest ahead of Gerald Grohmann (Warm Up) and Holger Harmsen (Lueg Sportivo).

The first races were held in the early afternoon, starting with the Italian series, which was dominated by Stefano Gai, who took the Race 1 win ahead of Dario Caso and Lorenzo Bontempelli. Of the Coppa Shell runners, Mario Molteni (Rossocorsa) ended on the top step of the podium, followed home by Giacomo Stratta (Forza) and the novice in the series Eric Cheung (Motor/Piacenza), who was also on track for some untimed laps with the non-competitive programmes run by Maranello’s Corse Clienti department. Winner in the group of those running the F430 was Andrea Belluzzi (Motor/Modena), who took the flag ahead of Diego Romanini (Rossocorsa/Pellin) and Roberto Ragazzi (Ineco/Ram).

Race 1 of the European series was won by the Austrian driver who got the better of Alexandr Skryabin and Alexey Vasiliev (Ferrari Moscow). In the Coppa Shell, Dirk Adamski (Baron Service) emerged victorious, sharing the podium with Dennis Andersen (Formula Automobile) and Fons Scheltema (Kessel Racing), second and third respectively. Bjorn Grossmann won in the group of F430 ahead of Gerald Grohmann (Warm Up) and Holger Harmsen (Lueg Sportivo).

Sunday

The last day of the Ferrari Racing Days at Spielberg featured two races in the European and Italian Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli series and free practice runs for five Ferrari FXX, twelve 599XX and eleven historic Formula 1 cars, run by Maranello’s F1 Clienti department. Main attraction was Scuderia Ferrari driver, Marc Gené as he did a few laps of the track at the wheel of an F60, much to the delight of the many Ferrari fans. There was also some non-competitive activity, as many Ferrari owners were able to try their hand on track at the wheel of their own cars, as part of the “Excitement on track” initiative.

In the Italian series, Lorenzo Bontempelli (Kessel Racing) took the win in Race 2, crossing the line ahead of Dario Caso (CDP) and Stefano Gai (Rossocorsa), thus picking up valuable points in the championship battle. Of the gentleman drivers in the Coppa Shell, victory went to Renato Di Amato (CDP), followed home by Giacomo Stratta (Forza) and Benedetto Marti (Motor/Piacenza). On the top step of the podium for those racing the F430 was Andrea Belluzzi (Motor/Modena), getting the better of Diego Romanini (Rossocorsa/Pellin) and Sossio Del Prete (CDP).

Max Blancardi (Motor/Malucelli) came out on top on the final lap, after a spectacular race, which was dominated for a long time by Alexandr Skryabin (Ferrari Moscow,) has shot ahead in the European championship, finishing ahead of Alexey Vasiliev (Ferrari Moscow) and Adam Christodoulou (Scuderia GT). Philippe Prette (Motor/Malucelli) won the Coppa Shell, crossing the line ahead of Dennis Andersen (Fornula Automobile) and Andriil Kruglyk (Ferrari Moscow), while his team mate Bjorn Grossmann emerged victorious among those running the F430s, with Holger Harmsen (Lueg Sportivo) second and Christian Overgaard (Formula Automobile) third.

The next round of the Italian series of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli takes place at the Mugello circuit, over the weekend of 25 September, while the European series of the one-make championship will be back in action from 3 to 5 November, again at Mugello, as part of the Ferrari World Finals.