07.10.2003 FERRARI AND N-TECHNOLOGY DELIGHTED WITH THE 575GTC'S DEBUT VICTORY IN ESTORIL

The trip to Portugal, for the penultimate round of the FIA GT series ended on a high note for Ferrari. At the Estoril circuit, the new 575GTC made a successful debut, winning first time out. The car, based on the road going 575 M Maranello was produced by Ferrari Corse Clienti in collaboration with N-Technology and the first ones built were entrusted to the JMB Racing-Pirelli team especially for the Portuguese event. After a promising showing in qualifying, the crew of Fabio Babini and Philipp Peter confirmed all the 575 GTC’s potential by winning the race.

The 12 cylinder, 5997 cc engine, puts out around 600 hp and is linked to a sequential gearbox. The car has a tubular steel chassis, with double wishbone suspension and adjustable anti-dive. Compared with the road car, it is wider, has bigger brakes and lighter bodywork, thanks to the use of composite materials. The front spoiler is adjustable, the double plane rear wing has a gurney flap and along with the flat bottom with rear diffuser are the result of much aerodynamic research in the wind tunnel.
First impressions are that the 575GTC is very easy to set up and has plenty of scope for further development, proving to be ideally matched to the tyres from Pirelli, an important partner in this project.

In Portugal, the Ferrari 550 Maranello cars run by BMS-Scuderia Italia and driven by Cappellari/Gollin and Biagi/Bobbi completed an all Prancing Horse podium. The team from Brescia had already taken the 2003 team prize, while thanks to third place in Estoril, Thomas Biagi and Matteo Bobbi are now guaranteed the drivers’ championship ahead of schedule.

Before flying off to Suzuka for the Japanese Formula 1 Grand Prix, Ferrari Gestione Sportiva Managing Director Jean Todt said: “I am particularly happy that the 575GTC has won on its debut and I also congratulate Biagi, Bobbi and the entire BMS-Scuderia Italia crew for the titles they have won with the 550 Maranello.”

The Portuguese weekend also saw a Ferrari victory in the N-GT class. The 360 Modena driven by Andrea Bertolini and Fabrizio De Simone won for the second consecutive time, the third this season, having taken pole position and set the race fastest lap. The recent adoption of the sequential gearchange and the updating of the Magneti Marelli electronics, at the same time as Pirelli came up with new tyre compounds, all bore fruit.

In second place in the category came another Ferrari 360 Modena, run by the English Maranello Concessionaires team. The Davies/Turner crew crossed the line ahead of Sugden/Collard, third in a Porsche. The Estoril result has closed up the distance in the team classification between Freisinger Motorsport, Porsche, in the lead and Maranello Concessionaires, Ferrari. This has also revived the hopes of Davies and De Simone of taking the N-GT drivers’ crown, with the chance of catching current leaders, Ortelli/Lieb, Porsche, in the final round at Monza.