Ferrari Finali Mondiali Saturday report

Finali Mondiali Ferrari: racing for champions

Valencia, 26 November -- The second day of the Finali Mondiali Ferrari saw competitors in the first ever Ferrari Historic Race -- Trofeo Shell in action at Cheste's Ricardo Tormo circuit. The event is open to former participants in the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge and to all owners of Ferrari historic cars. At the end of the first qualifying session, to decide the grid for Race 1, fastest was Nathan Kinch in a Ferrari F40, in a time of 1.38.789. The British driver outpaced "Mister John of B" in a Ferrari 512 BB LM (1.53.416) and the 308 GTB of Pierangelo Masselli (1.56.429.) Competitors in this amazing event will now tackle the second qualifying session tomorrow at 09.00, with the first race starting at 13.00.

Next up on a busy card was the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Europe and North America, for a second qualifying session and the first races. Of those in the European Trofeo Pirelli, the best time went to Philipp Baron (Baron Service) in 1.41.404 ahead of Autohaus Gohm's driver Bjorn Grossman in 1.41.454 and Max Blancardi of Motor/Malucelli (1.41.716.) In the North American section, the best time went to Enzo Potolicchio of The Collection (1.41.532,) ahead of Boardwalk Ferrari's Scott Tucker (1.42.545) and The Collection's Francesco Piovanetti (1.44.591.) The Italian division also tackled qualifying, with pole for Race 2 going to Dario Caso of CDP in 1.40.481, followed by Rossocorsa's Stefano Gai (1.40.860) and Lorenzo Case for Motor/Piacenza (1.40.862.) When it came to the Coppa Shell Europe, it was Ferrari Moscow's Aleksandr Skryabin who was fastest in 1.41.505 ahead of Baron Service driver Wido Roessler (1.42.689) and Marco Galassi for Motor/Malucelli (1.42.813). Of the Italians, it was Giuseppe Fascicolo of Rossocorsa Pellin who was quickest in 1.41.543, beating the Motor/Piacenza duo of Andrea Rizzoli (1.41.870) and Sergio Rota (1.42.007) into second and third.

It was a case of racing worthy of champions this afternoon in the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, full of action and spectacular passing moves. In the race which combined the European and North American competitors, the newly crowned European champion Philipp Baron (Baron Service) took top honours in Race 1 ahead of Bjorn Grossman (Autohaus Gohm) and Max Blancardi (Motor/Malucelli). Meanwhile in the Coppa Shell, where the title is still up for grabs, Aleksandr Skryabin (Ferrari Moscow) got the better of fellow gentleman drivers Giovanni Zonzini (Motor/Malucelli) and Fons Scheltema (Kessel Racing). In the North American Trofeo Pirelli, the top spot went to the 2010 champion, Enzo Potolicchio (The Collection) followed by Scott Tucker (Boardwalk Ferrari) and Francesco Piovanetti (The Collection.)

The Italian title race is also still to be decided and Stefano Gai increased his lead in the Trofeo Pirelli, thanks to a win today in Race 1. The Rossocorsa driver dominated this first race and crossed the line leaving Lorenzo Case (Motor/Piacenza) and Giorgio Sernagiotto (Motor/Piacenza) trailing in his wake. In the Coppa Shell, victory went to Andrew Rizzoli (Motor/Piacenza) ahead of Giuseppe Fascicolo (Rossocorsa/Pellin) and Tommaso Rocca (Rossocorsa.)

Adding to the action today were the historic Formula 1 cars run by Maranello's F1 Clienti department, as they tackled some free practice sessions. No less than fifteen jewels of the past too part, including a 1987 F1-87/88 C, as driven by Alboreto and Berger, six cars driven by Michael Schumacher in 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2005 and the championship winning F2007 as driven by Kimi Raikkonen. Among the other non-racing activities, there were track sessions for seven FXX and eighteen 599XX cars entered in the XX Programme.

The day comes to an end this evening with a unique parade through the streets of the city, made up of some of the keenest owners of the Marque, who are here in Valencia to take part in these busy four days here in Spain. No less than 50 road going cars started off from the Calle de Menorca to take part in a night time tour of the most picturesque parts of the city.

Race 1 of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Europa and North America will be repeated today at 17.00 on Sky Sport Extra, with the first race in the Italian Ferrari Challenge goes out again on Sky Sport Extra at 18.00. Tomorrow, Race 2 of the Italian series will be shown live on Sky Sport 3 at 10.45 and again on Sunday 28 at 8.45 on Sky Sport 2. The second race of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Europe + North America will be repeated on Saturday 27 at 17.00 on Sky Sport 3.

Ferrari Historic Race action gets underway in Valencia

Valencia, 26 November 2010 -- As part of the Finali Mondiali Ferrari at Valencia, the fantastic cars taking part in the Ferrari Historic Race -- Trofeo Shell have taken to the track for the first time this morning for a free practice session, during which the drivers got to grips with the Spanish track. Then, in the early afternoon came the first qualifying session, with Nathan Kinch setting the best time in a Ferrari F40, almost two seconds under the time set in free practice. Behind him, over fourteen seconds down was the Ferrari 512BB LM of "Mister John of B," followed by Pierangelo Masselli in a 308 GTB. Fourth fastest was Canada's Lorne Leibel in a Ferrari 365 GTB4, while fifth went to another 308 GTB in the hands of "Cafissi." Sixth was Larry Kinch in a 275 GTB, followed by the seemingly indestructible Plinio Haas, who was a long time competitor in these races at the wheel of his long wheelbase Ferrari 250 Berlinetta. The historic Prancing Horse cars will be back on track tomorrow for the second qualifying session and the first race of the weekend.

-source: ferrari