17.11.09

The Ferrari racing year concluded last weekend at Ricardo Tormo di Cheste circuit in Valencia with the usual heady mix of showmanship and racing. This concluded a real Ferrari festival in Spain following other gala events in the beautiful city of Valencia itself.

Saturday on the track saw the final rounds of the Italian, European and North American series of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli and the Shell Historic Challenge. On Sunday the 430s went onto the track to fight for the world title, while the historical cars from the Shell Historic Challenge raced for the very last time as the series is being discontinued in its present form. Lorenzo Casé was crowned Trofeo Pirelli champion, whilst for the gentlemen drivers in the Coppa Shell it was Vincenzo Sauto. In the Shell Historic Challenge Mexican Nicolas Zapata was the champion in his 1956 Ferrari 625 TR.

After the racing it was showtime as Gimmi Bruni, Toni Vilander, Niki Cadei and Alvaro Barba Lopez took turns behind the wheels of two F430 GT2 from AF Corse, the team which won the constructors’ and teams’ titles in the FIA GT Championship, next to the Ferrari which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, driven by the Risi Competizione team drivers Jaime Melo and Pierre Kaffer.

The 17,000+ spectators gave Felipe Massa an enthusiastic welcome: the Brazilian driver, accompanied by Giancarlo Fisichella, Marc Gené and Luca Badoer, performed behind the wheel of a F60 at the traditional Scuderia Ferrari show. Making his first public appearance for Ferrari was local hero and future Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso. He was released by Renault to take part, but was in "civvies" for contractual reasons. Despite his being retained as a consultant, of Schuey there was no sign - wonder why?

Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo took Alonso and Massa round in a California, only to get stuck in a gravel trap whilst trying to get closer to the fans!

Apart from the racing the spectators also enjoyed demonstations of the historic cars maintained by the F1 Clienti department and the Ferrari FXX programme.