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| Christmas Duties at Ferrari |
The Christmas week proved a busy one for the Scuderia!
Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello and Luca Badoer started off with the Gestione Sportiva’s traditional Christmas lunch where other guests included Luca di Montezemolo, and the company’s two General Directors, Jean Todt and Amedeo Felisa. The lunch-time appointment was the occasion for the drivers to present awards to Ferrari’s sponsors and suppliers.
Later that evening, there was a special concert for Ferrari and Maserati employees and their families at the Palamalaguti stadium in Bologna to celebrate the team’s 2001 titles. Again Luca di Montezemolo, Todt and the drivers were present. With the ever-popular Italian showman, Gerry Scotti, as anchorman the concert saw performances by leading Italian pop singers Biagio Antonacci and Edoardo Bennato.
At the end of the show di Montezemolo, accompanied by Todt, the drivers and Piero Ferrari, wished everyone not just a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, but also a 2002 full of further success to continue the year that is about to end. The final surprise came when Montezemolo announced a last special guest, Gianni Morandi, who closed the show with a selection of some of his most popular songs.
Next day saw Schumacher, Barrichello and Badoer take part in the traditional ‘Children’s Christmas’ at Ferrari where, dressed as Father Christmases, they gave out presents to the children of the staff of Ferrari and Maserati, and joined in with their fun and games by playing with a slot-car track. At the end of the day, Schumacher commented on this busy and varied weekend: “These pre-Christmas celebrations have become a really great tradition. It’s great to be here to relive such an exciting season together. It was good to see so many of the team who worked so hard during the season looking relaxed and refreshed.It’s been a wonderful weekend and what I really enjoyed most was being able to give presents to all the kids.”
And then it was the turn of the muttering rotters, the motoring writers, which is how around seventy journalists were invited to yet another Christmas dinner by the Maranello marque.
They found themselves offered an unexpected Christmas gift as top ranking Ferrari directors were transformed into tour guides and took the press on a trip around the road and racing factories. First they were shown the factory by Technology Director, Angelo Castelli and Production Director, Nillo Zagni and then they were allowed into Maranello's sancta santorum, the Gestione Sportiva. While this might be regarded as a Christmas miracle, the Maranello staff had wisely covered up much on view with thick red, Christmas red, sheets. Thus, while the doors had been thrown open, the mystery which always surrounds the birth of the new Cavallino cars remained intact. If anything, this visit probably fuelled curiosity even more as the guests tried to steal a glimpse through half closed doors.
Rory Byrne provided the expert explanation of the vehicle assembly area, while Ross Brawn explained the engine assembly process. Paolo Martinelli and Gilles Simon answered questions relating to the engine test bed area.
The dinner took place in the new Ferrari mechanical department where in the near future 14,000 engines a year will see the light of day (both Ferrari and Maserati.) The building itself is an avant-garde pavilion covering fourteen thousand square metres, including grassed areas and trees, located outside the Renzo Piano designed wind tunnel. Pride of place on the night went to the car which won this year's Formula 1 world championships.
Obviously the question on everyone's lips was the new F1 car which will be launched early next year. As to its relative merits, no one would say a word. After all, not even Christmas can open all the doors.
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