Fans celebrate with Ferrari

Around fifty thousand spectators yesterday packed the stands of the Santa Monica di Misano circuit for "Ferrari Days," the event which traditionally brings the curtain down on the Maranello marque's sporting season and decides the world championship titles in the 2002 Ferrari Challenge Pirelli Trophy. Naturally enough, the highlight of the day was the demonstration drive by the four Scuderia Ferrari drivers: world champion Michael Schumacher, runner-up Rubens Barrichello and test drivers Luca Badoer and Luciano Burti, all four at the wheel of a F2002. The darlings of the Ferrari crowd put on a thrilling show, each driver stopping in the pits to change tyres. It ended with all four examples of the world championship winning car crossing the line together.

Michael and Rubens first got to grips with the track driving a Maserati Trofeo, the car which next year will feature in its own one-make series for owners of the Trident-branded cars.

At the end of the display, the drivers, President Montezemolo and Jean Todt as well as the entire test team saluted the festive crowd in the grandstands.

Main protagonists in the sporting part of today's Ferrari Days were Luigi Moccia, winner of the Pirelli Trophy World Final and Thomas Kemenater, who took the championship title in the Shell Cup.

Racing got underway with the world final of the Pirelli Trophy: after Stefano Livio (Forza) collided with Yasutaka Hinoi (Comes,) Daniele Medici (Rossocorsa) spun, leaving the way clear for Sandro Montani (Rossocorsa) and Nicolo Gianniberti (DR/Sportequipe.) Unfortunately, the Italian reigning champion collided with Montano, went off the track and dropped to the back of the field, thus losing all hope of taking the title. This handed it to Luigi Moccia who kept the lead throughout the race. Behind him, after a close race, making it onto the podium were Nicola Cadei (Rossocorsa) who had staged a strong climb through the field and Massimiliano Mugelli (CDP) who profited from a spin for Stefano Livio (Forza.)

The final of the Shell Cup was close fought and very exciting. Italian champion Thomas Kemenater quickly dashed off into the lead and never gave his rivals any opportunity to attack. He was followed by Vincenzo Sauto (Ineco,) Peter Reichegger (Ineco) and Klaus Engelhorn, who made the most of an off-track excursion for the unlucky Salvatore Insigne and the arrival of the safety car because of a problem for Glauco Solieri (Ineco) which allowed the field to close up. When the race got underway again, Vincenzo Sauto dropped to the back after hitting Peter Reichegger, who in turn was slowed by a spin. The accidents and spins were doubtless due to the pressure of this being the world final. At the flag, Kemenater was joined on the podium by Klaus Engelhorn, driving for Concessionaria Denzel and the Motor driver, Franco Groppi.

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