Biggest-Ever UK Ferrari Gathering Planned
15.5.01

The largest gathering of Ferrari cars ever assembled in the UK is expected at Brands Hatch this summer when the race circuit hosts a spectacular weekend of racing to celebrate the famous Italian marque.

Hundreds of Ferrari owners from the UK and the Continent are expected to drive to the Kent circuit on July 21 and 22 for a unique festival of racing and displays, dedicated to the current F1 world champions.

Nicknamed "Big Red" by the organisers, the Ferrari Festival includes the only UK rounds of the highly-competitive Ferrari 360 Challenge, plus demonstration laps by former Ferrari Formula One race cars to mark the 50th anniversary of Ferrari's first Grand Prix victory. Over 200 Ferraris will compete in various races during the two day festival, which also marks the 75th anniversary of Brands Hatch.

Apart from two rounds of the Ferrari 360 Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, there will also be races for all three classes of the Shell Historic Ferrari/Maserati Challenge, while the Pirelli Maranello Ferrari Challenge will see a variety of Ferrari production cars in competition for the 9th and 10th rounds of their series.

The rare gathering of exotic sports cars will also include a significant presence by Maserati - now operated as a sister company to Ferrari - which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. Adding to the weekend's remarkable line-up will be a race for the FIA Cup for Thoroughbred Grand Prix cars, plus two races for FORCE Formula 5000s.

The "Big Red" theme will not be confined to the famous Italian sports cars - there will be displays by the Red Arrows aerobatic display team on the Sunday and the Red Devils parachute display team on both Saturday and Sunday.

Richard Mackay, Managing Director of Maranello Concessionaires, distributor of Ferrari and Maserati in the UK, said: "There's nothing to stir the emotions like the sight and sound of a Ferrari being driven at speed - whether it's an F1 car or a road-going model. With the UK rounds of the exciting 360 Challenge, plus the various other races, demonstration runs and displays, this weekend will be the most spectacular event ever dedicated to Ferrari in this country. The festival will clearly be a Ferrari enthusiast's dream - there will be so much to see on the track and in the paddock. Even the public car parks will contain more exotic cars than can usually be seen at a Motor Show!"

Entry prices for the Ferrari Festival, staged in association with the Whitehouse Group, the authorised Ferrari dealer for Kent, are just £10 per day or £15 for the weekend, when booked in advance from the Octagon Motorsports Call Centre (0870 60 60 611).

Tickets bought on the event days will be £15 per day. Entry is free for children under 16.

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