Ferrari Challenge European Series 2011 – final standings

This was the last day of the Finali Mondiali Ferrari at the Mugello circuit, the nineteenth running of the event that gives fans from around the world the chance to see competitors in all Ferrari’s racing and sporting activities together in one place. This morning at the Tuscan track, the 458s and F430s in the Italian, European, North American and Asia Pacific series of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli were fighting it out for the world title. The busy programme also featured some untimed sessions for historic Formula 1 cars, run by Maranello’s F1 Clienti Department, as well as the FXX and 599XX from the eponymous development programmes. Spectacular overtaking and action were the key ingredients of the final races of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli which saw the 2011 world champions crowned. The title among the Trofeo Pirelli runners went to Lorenzo Bontempelli to add to his International GT Open crown. Behind the Kessel Racing driver came Alexander Skryabin (Ferrari Moscow) and Philipp Baron (Baron Service) while among the gentleman drivers in the Coppa Shell, the title went to Giacomo Stratta (Forza,) who crossed the line ahead of Philippe Prette (Motor/Malucelli) and Andrii Kruglyk (Ferrari Moscow.) Having assured himself of the Italian crown, Andrea Belluzzi also took the world title for the F430 runners in his Motor/Modena car, ahead of Riccardo Ragazzi (Ineco/Ram) and Diego Romanini (Rossocorsa/Pellin.)

After the exciting racing came an equally spectacular parade of Ferraris which got underway with over fifty Ferrari owners driving past the main grandstand which was coloured white, red and green in honour of 150 years of Italian Unity. Bringing the amazing first run to a close were three 458 Spiders carrying president Luca di Montezemolo, vice-president, Piero Ferrari, the Ferrari’s CEO Amedeo Felisa and the Scuderia’s team principal Stefano Domenicali as well as the drivers Giancarlo Fisichella and Marc Gené. The crowd of around ten thousand gave an especially warm welcome to Gerhard Berger who demonstrated the 412 T2 with which he competed in the 1995 Formula 1 World Championship. Also on track the 458 GT2 and GT3 cars run by AF Corse to victory in the competitive Le Mans Series and the FIA GT3 championship. Then it was Fisichella and Gene’s turn again, this time doing a few laps as well as simulating pit stops at the wheel of an F10 and an F2008, as a final farewell to the fans from the Maranello marque. The key moment came when president Montezemolo saluted the crowd before the group photo with the 150 drivers involved in the event, brought together in another tribute to the Italian Unity anniversary.

The third day of the Finali Mondiali got underway with sessions on track for the drivers in the 599XX and FXX programmes. As for the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, the final rounds of all four series crowned more champions today. Yesterday, Stefano Gai became the Italian Trofeo Pirelli champion and Benedetto Marti was crowned in the Coppa Shell, while Max Blancardi took the European title. Today, Singaporean Ringo Chong won the Asia Pacific Trofeo Pirelli championship with Steve Wyatt winning the Coppa Shell, while the F430 category of the European series went to Gerald Grohman and the Mallegol-Bachelier pairing in the Coppa Shell. Tomorrow it’s time for the races to decide the world titles over three races taking place at 09.00 (F430) 11.05 (Coppa Shell) and 13.05 (Trofeo Pirelli).

Following on from Friday’s excitement, today’s two races were equally closely contested with plenty of overtaking. In the European Trofeo Pirelli, Max Blancardi (Motor/Malucelli) won Race 2 ahead of Alexsander Skryabin (Ferrari Moscow) and Alexander Mattschull (Scuderia Praha.) Philippe Prette (Motor/Malucelli) took the top honours among the gentleman drivers in the Coppa Shell, beating Andrii Kruglyk (Ferrari Moscow) and Dirk Adamski (Baron Service,) while in the Asia Pacific Pirelli class, Hisao Shigeta (Ferrari Japan) stood on the top step of the podium, with Steve Wyatt best of the Shell runners.

In the afternoon it was the turn of the Italian and the North American competitors: the Italian Trofeo Pirelli saw Matteo Malucelli (Motor/Malucelli) emerge victorious from Stefano Gai (Rossocorsa) and Lorenzo Bontempelli (Kessel Racing) with Benedetto Marti (Motor/Piacenza) winning the Coppa Shell ahead of Giacomo Stratta (Forza) and Mario Molteni (Rossocorsa.) Best of the North American runners was Enzo Potolicchio in the Pirelli class and Scott Tucker in the Coppa Shell for Boardwalk Ferrari.

Tomorrow is the last day of the event and apart from the races to decide the actual Finali Mondiali, there will be demonstration runs featuring Formula 1 cars and those entered in the exlusive FXX and 599XX programmes. Adding to what is already an amazing day, Scuderia Ferrari drivers, Giancarlo Fisichella and Marc Gené will take to the track at the wheel of an F10 and an F2008.

The second day of the Finali Mondiali Ferrari featured competitors in all four of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli series tackling the second qualifying session and the first races of the weekend. The races confirmed the high standard of racing in the one-make series, with the first titles only decided at this the final rund of a very closely contested season.

In the Italian Trofeo Pirelli, Lorenzo Bontempelli (Kessel Racing) was fastest over all, while for the North Americans, the best time was set by Enzo Potolicchio of Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale. Fastest of the gentleman drivers was Benedetto Marti while Riccardo Ragazzi (Ineco/Ram) and Scott Tucker (Boardwalk) set the best times of those using the F430 in the respective championships. In qualifying for the European division, pole position for Race 2 went to Alexsander Skryabin (Ferrari Moscow) in the Trofeo Pirelli and Fons Scheltema (Kessel Racing) in the Coppa Shell. In the Asia Pacific championship, a performance worthy of note from Hisao Shigeta, who following on from a strong showing yesterday, beat the Singaporean Ringo Chong and the HKG’s Eric Kwong, while in the Coppa Shell, quickest time went to Australia’s Steve Wyatt.

The excitement level ramped up in the afternoon, when the first races took place, for the most part on a wet track. In the Italian Trofeo Pirelli category, Matteo Malucelli took the win in Race 1, with Stefano Gai and Dario Caso (CDP) in the remaining podium places, which was enough for Gai to secure enough points to take the Italian title for the second consecutive year, with one race in hand. The Coppa Shell also produced a thrilling race for the top places, with Benedetto Marti taking the victory and the title among the gentleman drivers. The Motor/Piacenza driver crossed the line ahead of Marco Zanuttini (Ineco/MP) and Raffaele Giannoni (Motor/Piacenza.) In the North American Trofeo Pirelli, highest placed was the reigning champion Enzo Potolicchio, second overall behind Malucelli, while the honours among the F430 runners went to Andrea Belluzzi for the Italians and Juan Hinestrosa for the North Americans.

In the European series, Max Blancardi (Motor/Malucelli) took the title in the Pirelli category, thanks to a sixth place in the first race, which was won by Philipp Baron ahead of two Ferrari Moscow drivers, Grossmann and Skryabin.

In the Coppa Shell, Kruglyk (Scuderia GT) dominated the first race which had plenty of overtaking moves, to cross the line ahead of Dirk Adamski (Baron Service) and Yannick Mallegol (Motor/Piacenza.)

Hong Kong’s Eric Kwong was victorious beating two Japanese drivers, Motoaki Ishikawa and Shigeru Terashima. In the Asia Pacific Coppa Shell, the win went to Steve Wyatt, with Gregory Teo and Onda Francis Hideki second and third.

On a busy day, the historic Formula 1 cars, run by the F1 Clienti department of Maranello also did a few untimed sessions. No less than xxx jewels of yesteryear were present including a 1987 ex Alboreto/Berger F1-87/88, six cars driven by Michael Schumacher in 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2005 and the F2007 which Kimi Raikkonen took to the world title. Among the non-racing activities, there were track sessions for xxx FXX cars and xxx 599XX entered in the eponymous programmes.

Tomorrow sees the second round of races that group together the Italian and North American competitors and the European with the Asia Pacific. The Ferrari one-make series will be broadcast in over sixty countries around the world.

The Finali Mondiali Ferrari, the event which has traditionally brought the race season to a close, got underway today at Mugello, which plays host for the first time since 2008, after it was held for the last two years at the Valencia circuit. The Mugello track was completely resurfaced, while at the same time significant work was carried out on the infrastructure, with a new central grandstand and a tribute to 150 years of Italian Unity, with the kerbs painted white, red and green, the colours of the Italian flag. There is a busy four day programme, featuring competitors from all four of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli series; Italy, Europe, North America and Asia Pacific fighting for the title of world champion. Also on track, demonstration runs from Ferrari private owner teams competing in international GT series. Even more spectacle is on the cards with Formula 1 cars from the past that have played their part in the history of Scuderia Ferrari, laboratory cars from the exclusive FXX Programme as well as the 599XX extreme sports car designed for track use and therefore free of any need to meet homologation rules.

Today, the European and Asia Pacific competitors tackled the first round of qualifying to decide the grid for Race 1 which takes place tomorrow at 14.55. The first European Trofeo Pirelli pole went to Bjorn Grossmann (Ferrari Moscow), who finished ahead of Philipp Baron (Baron Service) and Max Blancardi (Motor/Malucelli). Of those running in the Coppa Shell, Andrii Kruglyk (Ferrari Moscow) set the fastest time, followed by Yannick Mallegol (Motor/Piacenza) and Philippe Prette (Motor/Malucelli). In Asia Pacific series the fastest was the Japanese driver Hisao Shigeta, while in Coppa Shell, the Australian Steve Wyatt set the fastest session lap. The starting grid for the first race of the Italian and North American series of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli finds Matteo Malucelli (Motor/Malucelli) on the number one slot on the grid, followed by Lorenzo Bontempelli (Kessel Racing) and Stefano Gai (Rossocorsa). Best of the gentleman drivers in the Coppa Shell in this first session was Benedetto Marti (Motor/Piacenza), who outpaced Alessandro Vezzoni (Rossocorsa/Pellin) and Raffaele Giannoni (Motor/Piacenza), while in North American series Enzo Potolicchio (Ferrari of FT. Lauderdale) set the fastest time. This will be the final appearance of a long racing career for the F430 Challenge, prior to definitively passing the baton to the 458: quickest of those using the F430 were Alexei Basov (Ferrari Moscow) of the European runners and Riccardo Ragazzi (Ineco Ram) in the Italian series.

Tomorrow sees the second qualifying session and the first races that group together the Italian and North American competitors and the European with the Asia Pacific. The Ferrari one-make series will be broadcast in over sixty countries around the world.

The Italian Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli tackles its penultimate round this weekend at the Mugello circuit, in the run up to the Ferrari World Finals which take place at the same venue from 2 to 6 November. That event also brings the curtain down on the Corse Clienti’s racing season, with competitors in the Italian, European and North American Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli joined for the first time by the newly established Asia Pacific championship, as they all battle it out for the title of world champion. Thirty seven cars took to the track today for two qualifying sessions to determine the grid for tomorrow’s two races. Matteo Malucelli will start from pole position in both races. Quickest of those in the Coppa Shell were Alexandr Skryabin in the first session and Andrii Kruglyk in the second.

In the Trofeo Pirelli, Matteo Malucelli driving for the Motor/Malucelli team, set a fastest time of 1.54.931 in first qualifying, outpacing Bjorn Grossmann and Stefano Gai, both of them running for Rossocorsa. Of the gentleman drivers in the Coppa Shell, Andrii Kruglyk (Rossocorsa) beat the rest to take pole (1.56.449), ahead of his teammate Mario Molteni and Daniele Di Amato (CDP), while of those running the F430 Challenge, fastest was Giovanni Cappelletti (Rossocorsa/Pellin) in a time of 2.00.843, ahead of Bruno Bollini (Motor/Modena) and Sergio Rota (Motor/Piacenza).

Pole in the second session for the main category went again to Malucelli, followed by Lorenzo Bontempelli (Kessel Racing) and Bjorn Grossmann (Rossocorsa). In the Coppa Shell second session, Andrii Kruglyk was fastest in 1.55.887, ahead of Philippe Prette (Motor/Malucelli) and Mario Molteni (Rossocorsa). The quickest lap for the F430 drivers went to Andrea Belluzzi (Motor/Modena), with Riccardo Ragazzi (Ineco/Ram) and Sergio Rota (Motor/Piacenza), second and third respectively.

The last day of the Ferrari Racing Days at Spielberg featured two races in the European and Italian Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli series and free practice runs for five Ferrari FXX, twelve 599XX and eleven historic Formula 1 cars, run by Maranello’s F1 Clienti department. Main attraction was Scuderia Ferrari driver, Marc Gené as he did a few laps of the track at the wheel of an F60, much to the delight of the many Ferrari fans. There was also some non-competitive activity, as many Ferrari owners were able to try their hand on track at the wheel of their own cars, as part of the “Excitement on track” initiative.

In the Italian series, Lorenzo Bontempelli (Kessel Racing) took the win in Race 2, crossing the line ahead of Dario Caso (CDP) and Stefano Gai (Rossocorsa), thus picking up valuable points in the championship battle. Of the gentleman drivers in the Coppa Shell, victory went to Renato Di Amato (CDP), followed home by Giacomo Stratta (Forza) and Benedetto Marti (Motor/Piacenza). On the top step of the podium for those racing the F430 was Andrea Belluzzi (Motor/Modena), getting the better of Diego Romanini (Rossocorsa/Pellin) and Sossio Del Prete (CDP).

Max Blancardi (Motor/Malucelli) coming out on top on the final lap, after a spectacular race, which was dominated for a long time by Alexandr Skryabin (Ferrari Moscow,) has shot ahead in the European championship, finishing ahead of Alexey Vasiliev (Ferrari Moscow) and Adam Christodoulou (Scuderia GT). Philippe Prette (Motor/Malucelli) won the Coppa Shell, crossing the line ahead of Dennis Andersen (Fornula Automobile) and Andriil Kruglyk (Ferrari Moscow), while his team mate Bjorn Grossmann emerged victorious among those running the F430, with Holger Harmsen (Lueg Sportivo) second and Christian Overgaard (Formula Automobile) third.

The two European series races will be shown live and then repeated by 13 European broadcasters in over 60 countries, while Italy will benefit from the coverage of Sky Italia, with repeats of the two races shown during the coming week.

The next round of the Italian series of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli takes place at the Mugello circuit, over the weekend of 25 September, while the European series of the one-make championship will be back in action from 3 to 5 November, again at Mugello, as part of the Ferrari World Finals.

The second day of the Ferrari Racing Days saw the 458 and F430 cars competing in the European and Italian Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli championships tackle the second qualifying sessions and the first of two races planned for the weekend. Also on track for some untimed laps, eleven historic Formula 1 cars run by the F1 Clienti department, five Ferrari FXX and no less than twelve 599XX. On Sunday, Scuderia Ferrari driver Marc Gené will be a special guest at Spielberg to thrill Prancing Horse fans at the wheel of an F60, as well as tutoring drivers in the F1 Clienti programme.

In the second qualifying session for the Italian series, Lorenzo Bontempelli (Kessel Racing) set the fastest lap time (1.33.433), beating Dario Caso (CDP) and Stefano Gai (Rossocorsa), while among the gentleman drivers in the Coppa Shell, quickest was Renato Di Amato (CDP), who outpaced Benedetto Marti e Emilio Rossi, both of them running for Motor/Piacenza. Of the drivers with the F430, the best time was set by Riccardo Ragazzi (Ineco/Ram), followed by Andrea Belluzzi (Motor/Modena) and Diego Romanini (Rossocorsa/Pellin).

In the European series, Alexandr Skryabin (Ferrari Moscow) will start from pole position in Race 2 tomorrow, having been quickest 1.33.407, with the Austrian drive Philipp Baron (Baron Service) and Adam Christodoulou (Scuderia GT) lining up second and third. Philippe Prette (Motor/Malucelli) was the fastest of the Coppa Shell drivers, ahead of Dennis Andersen (Formula Automobile) and Andriil Kruglyk (Ferrari Moscow). The order among those running the F430 saw Bjorn Grossmann (Ferrari Moscow) quickest ahead of Gerald Grohmann (Warm Up) and Holger Harmsen (Lueg Sportivo).

The first races were held in the early afternoon, starting with the Italian series, which was dominated by Stefano Gai, who took the Race 1 win ahead of Dario Caso and Lorenzo Bontempelli. Of the Coppa Shell runners, Mario Molteni (Rossocorsa) ended on the top step of the podium, followed home by Giacomo Stratta (Forza) and the novice in the series Eric Cheung (Motor/Piacenza), who was also on track for some untimed laps with the non-competitive programmes run by Maranello’s Corse Clienti department. Winner in the group of those running the F430 was Andrea Belluzzi (Motor/Modena), who took the flag ahead of Diego Romanini (Rossocorsa/Pellin) and Roberto Ragazzi (Ineco/Ram).

An exciting Race 1 of the European series, as the result is not yet final, because of an investigation into a move by Philipp Baron on Max Blancardi in the opening part of the race, was won by the Austrian driver who got the better of Alexandr Skryabin and Alexey Vasiliev (Ferrari Moscow). In the Coppa Shell, Dirk Adamski (Baron Service) emerged victorious, sharing the podium with Dennis Andersen (Formula Automobile) and Fons Scheltema (Kessel Racing), second and third respectively. Bjorn Grossmann won in the group of F430 ahead of Gerald Grohmann (Warm Up) and Holger Harmsen (Lueg Sportivo).

Tomorrow features the final races, starting at 12.15 and 15.10. The European series races will be shown live and repeated by 13 European broadcasters in over 60 countries, while Italian viewers can enjoy Sky Italia’s coverage with repeats of the two races shown over the coming week.

The Ferrari Racing Days got underway today at Austria’s Spielberg circuit. The event features the European and Italian series of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli featuring the 458 and F430 Challenge cars, which today tackled the first free practice and qualifying sessions. Also getting track time with some untimed sessions, as part of the busy programme are five Ferrari FXX and no less than twelve 599XX, driven by owners involved in the eponymous series on the spectacular Austrian track. Apart from the racing, eleven historic Formula 1 cars, run by the F1 Clienti department were also on track, with Marc Gené on hand as a coach to provide valuable advice to drivers on the programme.

This afternoon saw the first qualifying session for the European division of Trofeo Pirelli, with Max Blancardi (Motor/Malucelli) coming out on top in the battle for pole (1.34.357). Alongside him on the front row for tomorrow’s Race 1 will be Alexandr Skryabin (Ferrari Moscow), with third place on the grid going to Philipp Baron (Baron Service). Andriil Kruglyk (Ferrari Moscow) was the best of the Coppa Shell gentleman drivers finishing fourth overall, followed by Jean-Marc Bachelier (Motor/Piacenza) and Dirk Adamski (Baron Service). Best time for the F430 runners went to Bjorn Grossmann (Ferrari Moscow), beating Gerald Grohmann (Warm Up) and Holger Harmsen (Lueg Sportivo).

Qualifying in the Italian series saw Stefano Gai (Rossocorsa) in 1.34.067, immediately top the time sheet, beating Dario Caso (CDP) and Lorenzo Bontempelli (Kessel). Third time overall for Benedetto Marti (Motor/Piacenza), taking the top spot among the Coppa Shell drivers, followed by Daniele Di Amato (CDP) and Emilio Rossi (Motor/Piacenza), with the best F430 performance coming from Andrea Belluzzi (Motor/Modena), ahead of Roberto Ragazzi (Ineco/Ram) and Diego Romanini (Rossocorsa/Pellin).

Tomorrow’s programme features two qualifying sessions and two races which start at 12.15 and 15.20. Sunday comes to life with the spectacle of Formula 1 action, as Spanish driver Marc Gené takes to the track for a demonstration run in and F60, run by Maranello’s F1 Clienti department, the car with which Scuderia Ferrari contested the 2009 Formula 1 World Championship.

Fifty competitors from the European and Italian series of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli took to the Le Mans track today in what turned out to be a closely contested event.

This was the first time that the famous French track has hosted a round of the Ferrari one-make series since its inception in 1993 and seeing the cars tackle this long circuit was a fascinating spectacle and the 458 Challenge cars were very much up to the task. Emerging victorious in the European Trofeo Pirelli was Baron, while Marti was the best of the Italian Coppa Shell and Gai the leader of Italian Trofeo Pirelli competitors. The cars’ maiden outing was watched by a special guest in the shape of Ferrari CEO, Amedeo Felisa, who was in Le Mans to watch the race.

As usual in this series, the racing was close, although at the flag, the champion of 2010 European series Philipp Baron was the winner of the Trofeo Pirelli category and indeed, he led comfortably throughout the second part of race. The Baron Service driver crossed the line ahead of a fighting Max Blancardi (Motor/Malucelli) and Alexandr Skryabin (Ferrari Moscow) who finished second and third overall. The battle for the European Coppa Shell honours was certainly exciting: Philippe Prette (Motor/Malucelli) came out on top ahead of Jean-Marc Bachelier-Yannick Mallegol (Motor/Piacenza) and Klass Hummel (Scuderia GT). As for those competitors running the F430 Challenge car, Holger Harmsen (Lueg Sportivo) was the winner, fending off Howard Blank (Motor/Piacenza) and Vladimir Kirilyuk (Ferrari Moscow).

As for the Italian Trofeo Pirelli, the battle for the top step of the podium was once again fought out between Giorgio Sernagiotto (together with Giuseppe Fascicolo) and Stefano Gai, with the Rossocorsa team driver crossing the line ahead to consolidate his lead in the Italian series, beating Dario Caso (CDP) and Lorenzo Bontempelli (Kessel), second and third in the series. Benedetto Marti (Motor/Piacenza) also delivered a faultless performance to take the lead in the Coppa Shell classification and the forth overall, followed by his team mate Emilio Rossi and Mario Molteni (Rossocorsa), while among the F430 Challenge runners, the order was Andrea Belluzzi (Modena/Motor) followed by Diego Romanini (Rossocorsa/Pellin) and Sossio del Prete (CDP).