Ferrari Bosses Rub Shoulders with the Politicians
20.1.01

Piero Ferrari has received a personal invitation from George Bush Jr. to attend his inauguration as the newly elected United States President in Washington today.

Piero Ferrari

Ferrari has also been invited to a private banquet organised by Bush's staff, to be held at a venue close to the White House.

"I certainly did not expect this, but I am honoured and very curious at the same time," said Ferrari after receiving the hand-written invitation from the White House.

As well as being vice-president and one of the chief shareholders of Ferrari, 55-year-old Piero Ferrari is also president of the Italian motorsports authority, the CSAI.

George W. Bush

Although Enzo Ferrari never actually made it across the Atlantic, Ferraris are very popular in the United States. Last year, the company sold over a thousand cars to the US, which is their biggest market, absorbing 27% of Maranello's total production.

If you want to see what they will get up to once the music starts playing go to this website and make sure you have your sound turned on!

In the meantime, Ferrari's Sporting Director Jean Todt is in Dublin for the Irish launch of the new Alfa Romeo 147. Todt, along with the Managing Director of Fiat Auto Ireland, Nicola Greco, was welcomed this morning by the Irish Taoiseach, Bertie Aherne at the Dail, the seat of government.

On display in the Dail courtyard was the Alfa Romeo 1750 which won the first Irish Grand Prix back in 1929, driven by the Russian, Boris Ivanovski. This beautiful historic car will be on public display from 22nd to 26th January at the Royal Hibernian Academy.

Bertie Aherne and Jean Todt in the 1929 GP winning 1750 Alfa

Todt was a guest on an RTE radio programme and met several journalists at a press conference held at the Berkeley Court Hotel. Asked what was his favourite car, Todt replied: "There are many cars I like. I am lucky to have a Ferrari 360 Modena, but usually I drive an Alfa Romeo 166. I also have a 156 and a 147, which I use in Paris as it is a perfect city car."

Todt also confirmed that he was in discussion with President Montezemolo about the future of the Gestione Sportiva, with a view to maintaining its current structure.

There have been three Irish Grands Prix, all held on the street circuit inside Dublin's Phoenix Park. The first took place over two days: the Saorstat Cup was run on Friday 12th July 1929 and the next day saw the running of the Eireann Cup. Ivanovski won the first race with an Alfa 1500 and the second with the 1750. With the best time of the weekend on the Saturday race, the Russian driver was the overall Grand Prix winner.

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