"Moving your 485HP Maranello around the track is not very difficult. This flagship of Ferrari's current product range is equipped with the best in mechanics and electronics one can imagine. To do this a safe way, or in the fastest way, requires some more knowledge and skill. Basically, it's all about always maintaining maximum directionality. But remember, we are here to increase the enjoyment of your Ferrari in a safe way, the Scuderia is not looking for a new F1-testdriver".

These words were chosen by former F1-driver Andrea de Adamich to start the "Pilota Ferrari" course at the Italian Mugello circuit. For the ninth year in a row, Ferrari SpA organized this driving course for their customers and no less than 9 different nationalities attended the November 2001 session, including a big Japanese group.

Although the handful of theory sessions were very informative and entertaining, this is not what we came for. Outside on the Mugello track, six 360 Modena's, four 550 Maranello's, and two Alfa Romeo SZ's were waiting to be punished by the Ferrari owners in attendance of the course.

Exercises in taking corners, understeer, power-oversteer and emergency braking, with and without the help of the electronic ABS or ASR systems, provide the attendants with more driving skills and technique. By keeping the groups small, there is a good amount of time for each attendant to practice each and every exercise and analyse the videos from the onboard cameras.

For those owners that still want more; Ferrari SpA offers two extended courses. The "Corso Avanzato" is held at the Fiorano circuit in Maranello and takes the exercises to more extreme circumstances with even more individual attention. The final third step in the "Pilota Ferrari" program, the so-called "Corso Evoluzione", will prepare the attendants for driving a full blown 360 Challenge car.

Good quality hotel accommodation, wonderful Italian dinners at night and perfect catering at the Mugello circuit make it an experience not easy to forget. Special "Pilota Ferrari" gifts and memorabilia for the attendants, live translation during the exercises, daily newspapers in the correct languages, up onto our national flags on top of the pitboxes; course leader Andrea de Adamich and his very skilled team of hostesses and instructors, including Ferrari 333 SP driver Maurizio Baldi, complete this exciting package.