A very clean garage for the four Formula cars before the start of the events.
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Every year Scuderia Ferrari closes its racing season with a big event that takes place in Italy at famous racing circuit such as Mugello, Misano, Vallelunga, Pergusa, or, as it was this year, at Monza.
This is the opportunity to celebrate with the “tifosi” the results of the Formula 1 championship and to run the final races of the different challenges that Ferrari organizes for its customers.
Two of the many FXX cars which appeared for the Monza Finals.
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This is also the opportunity for the lucky owners of special cars like the Fxx and the Formula 1 Clienti, to run their cars under the supervision of the Ferrari staff.
Unfortunately this year there was no world champion or constructor’s championship to celebrate, but the opportunity to say “thank you” to Michael Schumacher, Ross Brawn and Paolo Martinelli for what they have done…and won…for Ferrari over the last few years.
The number of the “tifosi” that joined the event the last day when Schumacher was present, was very high, about 45000, that is probably a record for this event.
Yellow is the 'in' color this year.
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Entries
Ferrari’s organization was perfect during the four days and the 250 cars which entered the event were able to run along the circuit for test and racing sessions in a very fast sequence. To give you some idea of the overall and exceptional field, here are a few figures: 75 historic cars, about 120 the Challenge 360 and 430 for their world finals, 13 (out of the 29 produced) Fxx, 32 Formula 1 clienti and 4 F333 SP race cars.
In the car parking, I counted more than 200 Ferraris, mostly modern, coming from Italy. Switzerland, Germany, France.
Among the historic, I found a few pleasant surprises, because this year for logistic reasons, I could not attend the other races around Europe. The first such surprise was the fabulous Breadvan of Max Werner: this berlinetta of Scuderia Serenissima is an icon of racing cars of year 60s, like the GTO.
I then spotted the wonderful Dino 246S of 1960 driven by Leventis, one of the last Ferrari sport cars with front engine.
Could this be the ex-Merritt 246 Dino? We certainly think so, now owned by Leventis.
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Races
Remarkably, in the grid A for single-seaters, no Ferraris were present. The grid was filled with many Maserati 250Fs and 6CMs as well as a couple of Alfas, but all cars well prepared and very fast.
An accident happened during Saturday race to Baulino, who, after loosing the control of his Maserati 250 F, hit against the guardrail and was tossed out of the car on the track. Luckily there was no injury to the pilot and few damages to the car that was racing again the following day.
In this race was a remarkable performance of the German Thomas Bscher driving a Maserati 250 F with disc brakes, who has won both races, preceding Max Werner and Stefan Schollwoeck with their Maseratis 250 F and 6 CM.
The two races of grid B (sport cars with drum brakes) were very interesting: the first one was won by Max Werner (Maserati 300S) with Bscher second (Maserati 450S) and Monteverde third (Ferrari 750), while in the second race Bscher war first and Werner second. Thomas Bscher has got exceptional results winning three out of the four races he entered.
The grid C (sport cars with disc brakes) was mainly Ferrari with only two Maseratis, a Birdcage and a 3500 Touring.
Vogele's Tipo 61, one of the two Maseratis in the Ferrari dominated Grid C race.
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Patrick Stieger won both races with his Ferrari 512 preceding the 512 bbLM of Knapfield. Third was Christoph Stieger with a Ferrari 312 in Saturday race and Peter Hardman with a stunning 412 P on Sunday.
The finals of the 360-430 Challenge, the Coppa Shell, were won by the Italian Sernagiotto, preceding Campari and Prette. In the Pirelli trophy… the world final… was won by Belluzzi (San Marino republic), ahead of the Italians Postiglione and Blancardi. Unluckily the USA drivers had difficulties in getting acquainted with the fantastic Monza track and were been classified below 20th position.
To close the event, the Ferrari Formula 1 team with Schumacher, Massa and the test drivers Badoer and Gene have entertained the public with a short grand prix with pit stops and a lot of applauses.
Then a good-bye to Michael, with many tears in the eyes of Montezemolo, Todt (new CEO of Ferrari) and Michael himself. Schumacher’s final gift was the last Ferrari he has driven for his private collection.
I hope to have been able to transfer you via my pictures and my story, the pleasure I had in spending four days in a full immersion in the Ferrari world.
Grid A entries
Green 250F Maserati, driven by Klaus Edel.
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Tuning carbs is easy! on the V12 Maserati 250F of Max Werner.
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Tommaso Gelmini's Maserati 6CM leaves the pits.
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The engine of another 6CM Maserati, this one owned by Stefan Schollwock.
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Fink's Alfa Romeo Tipo B.
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Grid B entries
Michael Willms' 340 Ferrari with a rather unusual body.
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Steven Dudley's Ferrari 195S, adding another event to its long list of credits all over the world.
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Max Werner's 300s gets approval after the Grid B event.
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A little damage to the Maserati 450S did not stop Bscher from having a great weekend.
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Ferrari 500, owned by Jan Biekens.
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Grid C entries
The famous Ferrari Breadvan is now in the hands of Werner.
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Peter Hardman's Ferrari 412P.
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Ferrari 365 GTB4 as driven by Boulet. Coachbuilder, anyone?
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Hope of the Ferrari 308 contingent, the GTB in Gulf colors, owned by Dudley.
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Pappalardo's 250GT Calfornia.
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