15.08.2003  RENE ARNOUX COMES THIRD IN MASERATI TROFEO RACE AT MONZA AS EMANUELE SMURRA CLINCHES TITLE

Giving out the prizes on the podium was Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro test driver, Felipe Massa. Receiving the trophy for third place was Rene Arnoux, who raced in F1 in Prancing Horse colours in the Eighties. The Frenchman was a guest driver, at the wheel of the VIP car, sharing the drive with former rally man, Enzo Panacci.

“It was a great feeling being back on track here at the temple of motor racing,” commented Arnoux. “I immediately had a good feeling with the Maserati Trofeo car, based on the road-going Coupe Cambiocorsa.”

Thanks to finishing in seventh place, Emanuele Smurra cannot be beaten for the championship title, having won four previous events this season.

The final round of this first year of the one-make series will take place over the weekend of 19th October, when the Mugello circuit will host the Ferrari Maserati World Finals. In this occasion, Luc Besson could take part, driving in the Trofeo. The French film director is a great car fan and declared his intention to race when he visited the Trident marque paddock in Monza, along with Managing Director of the Ferrari Maserati Gestione Sportiva, Jean Todt. 

Qualifying

Tomorrow, Sunday 14th September, the Monza circuit will host the sixth round of the Trofeo Vodafone Maserati. The mini-endurance race with compulsory pit stop gets underway at 09h10, prior to the Italian Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Starting from pole will be the Swiss crew of La Vecchia/Cattori who set the fastest time in qualifying ahead of the Italian duo of Gay/Alessi.

The fact that this round is being held alongside the grand prix means there have been a variety of special guests in the paddock for the one make championship, which is being run for the first time this year. Antonello Perricone, the Managing Director of the Trident marque welcomed Giuseppe Morchio, the Fiat MD, along with President of the Ferrari Maserati Group, Luca di Montezemolo.

“I am happy that this big crowd has been able to admire our beautiful Maserati Coupe Cambiocorsa which are used for the series in action,” said Montezemolo. Megan Gale, the figurehead of the main sponsor met Rene Arnoux, former Ferrari F1 driver in the Eighties in the pits, as he is a guest driver at the wheel of a VIP car.

The French film director Luc Besson, who turned up with Managing Director of Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, Jean Todt, declared his intention of competing as a driver in the Trofeo in the Ferrari Maserati World Finals for 2003 which take place at the Mugello circuit on 19th October.