Corse Clienti: the guidelines for the new season presented
Mugello, 24th January 2006 - During the press conference
that preceded the traditional prize-giving ceremony to the
winners of Corse Clienti events, the programme for the 2006
season was announced. Also present was Ferrari's Direttore
Generale, Jean Todt, Commercial Director Andrea Bozzoli, head
of Corse Clienti activities, Antonello Coletta, and the new
head of Ferrari Classic Projects, Roberto Vaglietti. The programme,
as Bozzoli underlined, "will see clients of classic cars
in the forefront with the Historic Challenge. The new Ferrari
Classiche department will have the chance to fulfil its ambitions
thanks to a revamped technical assistance set up that is able
to satisfy the needs of the owners. The ambitious FXX project
fits into these activities and, over the next three years,
will reserve for 29 lucky owners, fourteen events held around
the world". As regards the technical details of the various
championships in which Ferrari's Clienti Sportivi will take
part, and in particular in Ferrari Challenge that is now in
its fourteenth year, the microphone was passed to Antonello
Coletta. He stated that "the Challenge rules will not
be modified next season. The fifty minute format with the
chance to make a driver change will remain, thus optimising
costs. What will be different will be the debut of the F430,
a car that will, as per tradition, be fielded in the Trofeo
Pirelli or the Coppa Shell. Those who want to race in the
360 will be able to do so in a single championship. Moving
on from Challenge to GT, we will be driving in GT2 where the
F430 will continue to battle it out with the Porsche in our
traditionally intense rivalry". In support of what Coletta
said, Todt emphasised that Ferrari, though not officially
in the GT2 class, would back up a couple of teams, probably
running Pirellis. Continuing in the GT field, the Direttore
Generale made clear that the FIA GT's top class would all
but be abandoned at a group level in order to support the
efforts of the Maserati MC12. In conclusion, Roberto Taglietti,
head of the newly created Progetto Ferrari Classiche, illustrated
to the press the guidelines that call for a certificate of
authenticity for cars over twenty years of age and the setting
up of a Classic Center, dedicated to the assistance and restoration
of damaged parts realised with reference to the original".
The press briefing ended with a tribute being paid to Gabriele
Gardel for a fantastic season in the FIA GT at the wheel of
the 550 Maranello. Michele Maceratesi, the Italian and World
Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli champion who dominated the
season, was also recognised.
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