By Alessandro Gerelli
Pictures copyright Alessandro Gerelli
Rene Arnoux came back to drive a Ferrari Formula One.
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October 16-19, Mugello, Italy. The 2003 World Finals of the Ferrari and Maserati trophies celebrated Ferrari’s World Championship and Constructor’s title, at Mugello, a track owned by Ferrari just few kilometres from Florence.
The program includes the world finals of the Ferrari 360 Challenge, the Ferrari Historic Challenge and the Maserati Trophy, and the exhibition of older Ferrari F1 cars. But for the Italian Ferrari fans, the most anticipated event of the weekend is the celebration of the Formula One team, fresh from the seaon’s exciting finish in Japan.
During the four days, the testing and racing sessions are performed in rapid succession. Drivers coming from all European countries and also from the Americas and Japan have the opportunity to be more confident with the Tuscany track, rich with uphill and downhill curves.
The cost of racing a Maserati Trofeo includes this stack of wheels and tires.
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The seven race Maserati Trophy was run on Italian and European tracks. The entrants appreciated the "all inclusive" formula. Paying a fixed cost, the drivers have the car ready for racing, full technical support, tires, and hospitality. All the cars are identical, with the assistance of official Maserati mechanics and are equipped with the same tires. It is up to the pilot, usually a gentleman driver, to learn the circuit and drive fast.
The 2003 Trophy has already been won by the Italian Emanuele Smurra.
Despite no last minute championship chase, the Mugello event was interesting because the professional Formula One pilots like Renè Arnoux and Ivan Capelli joined the group to increase the enthusiasm of the public.
Many races were planned for the Ferrari 360 Challenge which consisted of two groups --the Coppa Shell and the Pirelli Trophy. All the races were very hard fought and made even more difficult for the drivers due to the light rain of Saturday afternoon.
Steering wheel
from outer space -- and we thought driving with a semi-automatic would be easier.
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All the teams were present and were very satisfied with the results of this long racing season. The titles of World Champion for the two groups went to the Italian Thomas Kemenater and the Austrian Klaus Engelhorn.
About twenty "old" Formula One cars are also present with the official assistance of the Ferrari Servizio Corse Clienti. The very happy gentlemen drivers have three sessions of 45 minutes each to amuse themselves and drive their wonderful cars around Mugello.
The Formula cars in the pits were both rather old, like the 1975 312T of Lauda and Regazzoni, and very recent, such as the F2001 of Schumacher. Therefore classic cars, but also the most sophisticated, computerized and most difficult to be driven by non professionals.
Renè Arnoux back to Ferrari? Yes, he is! He drove a 2001 Formula One and also a Maserati Challenge. He looked to be very excited about the affection that all the Ferrari fans have for him.
Finally, on Sunday, the biggest celebration of the four days, with all the Ferrari managers, staff, pilots and fans (about 50,000) ready to celebrate the two world championships, won just the week before.
Schumacher, Barrichello, Badoer and Massa arrived at Mugello in several new Fiat Pandas, just to emphasize the tight relationship with the shareholder Fiat. Then, after thanking the fans for their continuous support, the drivers have a very fast race with four Ferrari 2003GAs together on the track, with pit stops to change the tires.
Luca di Montezemolo, Piero Ferrari and Jean Todt walk up and down to say thanks to everybody including the engineers and the mechanics, the real heroes of the Ferrari successes of last years.
The big truck with all the Ferrari managers and drivers, has become a tradition at Mugello.
2003GA arriving at Mugello circuit.
Lauda and Regazzoni cars again together.
View of a Challenge 360 in the pits.
Souvenir photo for three Ferrari Challenge drivers.
Formula 1 clienti ready for the first race.
Formula 1 clienti ready for the second race.
Ferrari engineers warming up a 2003GA.
Two Ferrari 2003GA waiting for their crew.
Four Ferrari 2003GA together on the track.
Montezemolo, Piero Ferrari thanking the crowd.
The four Ferrari drivers thanking the public.
