Abu Dhabi, 6 December

Gimmi Bruni and Toni Vilander were two of the stars of Ferrari’s motor sport year. The Italian and the Finn took the GTE Pro category title in the World Endurance Championship. Today, they were out on track in their 458 Italia, which they drove to give Ferrari the Constructors’ title and AF Corse the teams’ one.
Before putting on a show alongside their team-mates Davide Rigon and James Calado at the Yas Marina circuit, the champions spoke to the press about their triumphant 2014 season and their prospects for next year.
“Our aim is to continue winning like improving the car still further. We are testing next week in Sebring, because we want to improve the performance of the tyres on the 458 Italia,” said Gimmi Bruni, who also admitted that they are also out to win two classics such as the Daytona 24 Hours and the Sebring 12 Hours in 2015. “We never get bored with winning and we still love racing as much as ever and when you’re driving a Ferrari, then those feelings are even stronger,” added Toni Vilander.
The Finn went on to explain the renewed great interest in Endurance racing in recent times. “For a while, those taking part in endurance races were generally of a certain age, while now there are more and more young drivers taking part in this type of racing. Maybe at the start, this was because of the impossibility of getting into Formula 1, but then here they discover the pure spirit of competition, which isn’t always the case in some sporting arenas, although it very much is in WEC, where you can find us all playing football together two hours before going out on track or it can happen that half an hour after going at one another tooth and nail, you end up having a drink together.”
Bruni then spoke about the level of competition increasing a lot in recent years. “When I came into this discipline in 2007, it was competitive for a reasonable way down the field, but now the quality in Endurance racing has grown incredibly in the past seasons. Next year, the fight will be even tighter and so me and Toni want to continue working together to win again.”

Abu Dhabi, 6 December

Last night was a gala evening at Ferrari World, the first theme park dedicated to the Prancing Horse, where awards were made to the drivers who have held the name of the Maranello company in high esteem all over the world. The guest of honour was Kimi Raikkonen, whose achievement in reaching the total of 70 Grands Prix for Scuderia Ferrari was celebrated. The Finnish driver, who received his award from Managing Director Amedeo Felisa and Vice-President Piero Ferrari, thanked them both and declared: “I’m happy to be a part of this family. I owe Ferrari my only world championship, which I won at the end of an incredible season. Only Ferrari and its tifosi know how to show you so much affection.” There was also recognition shown to test driver Marc Gené, who recently celebrated ten years as a Ferrari driver and whose contribution as a tutor to the clients of Maranello continues to be a crucial one.
Challenge. In the evening there were then celebrations for the stars of the three series of the Challenge (Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific) in which the final races of the championship have been taking place this week at the spectacular circuit at Yas Marina – and where the world titles will be at stake today. In the European series the winning drivers were Daniele Di Amato, Ezequiel Perez Companc and Massimiliano Bianchi; Ricardo Perez and Chris Ruud dominated the North American series; Max Blancardi, Philippe Prette and David Tjiptobiantoro came out on top in the Asian championship.

GT. The GT drivers were also awarded prizes: among those coming up onto the platform to receive them were Andrea Bertolini, ELMS champion, and Giancarlo Fisichella, winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours – together with “Gimmi” Bruni and Toni Vilander with the 458 Italia of the AF Corse team. The two WEC world champions sent a video message because they are currently in Doha (Qatar) to collect their World Endurance Championship titles. But they are scheduled to be here today, when they will drive their car in the big show that will bring down the curtain on the World Finals in Abu Dhabi, the first to take place outside the borders of Europe.

Maranello 7th November 2014

Since 1993, Ferrari has been celebrating the end of its racing season with its now-legendary Finali Mondiali which are being held outside of Europe for the first time this year. Between December 3rd and 6th, the spectacular Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi, in fact, plays host to the 2014 edition. Four days of exhilarating emotion and spectacle dedicated to the Prancing Horse’s tifosi and enthusiasts who can avail of complimentary entry to the celebration simply by registering in advance.
A whole string of events are scheduled including the pivotal final races of the three Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli series, a track challenge between a record number of 458 Challenge EVOs for the World Championship title, parades of stunning classic Ferraris and exhibitions by our unique track-only XX, 599XX and FXX programme cars.
There is particular excitement building around the Formula 1 exhibition as the Scuderia Ferrari is sure to put on its usual stunning show with pit-stop demonstrations and exhilarating displays of speed on the Yas Marina circuit. There will also be plenty of Ferrari GTs, including the 458 GTE which is reigning FIA WEC World Champion and also won the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans in the capable hands of “Gimmi” Bruni, Toni Vilander and Giancarlo Fisichella.

October 4, 2014 (Braselton, GA)

Adding another motorsports milestone to it’s sports car racing history in North America, Ferrari secured the United Sportscar Championship’s North American Endurance Cup during Saturday’s Petit Le Mans.
The NAEC championship is made up of the combined 52 hours of racing at the Championship’s endurance contests at 24 at Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, Six Hours at the Glen and Petit Le Mans with points scored at intervals of each of those races. Points scored by the no. 555 AIM Autosport Ferrari 458 Italia, which was victorious at Daytona and finished second at both Sebring and Watkins Glen, as well as the no. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia, propeled Ferrari to the championship.
In the 2014 Championship, the Ferrari 458 captured five victories – two in the GT-LeMans class (Road America, Virginia International Raceway) and three in the GT-Daytona class (Daytona, Detroit, Indianapolis). The NAEC championship is the third major North American championship for the Ferrari 458 Italia after winning the 2012 and 2013 Roles Sports Car Series titles.
At Petit Le Mans, the no. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia was eliminated from the race due to contact by another car in pit lane. The car, started by Giancarlo Fisichella and taken over by Pierre Kaffer, was in contention for the lead of the class. The no. 57 Krohn Racing Ferrari 458 Italia of Tracy Krohn / Nic Jonsson / Andrea Bertolini finished in ninth position in the class.
In the GT-Daytona class, the no. 51 Spirit of Race Ferrari 458 Italia of Pasin Lathouras / Matt Griffin / Michele Rugolo was the highest-finishing Ferrari in sixth position. The no. 555 AIM Autosport Ferrari of Bill Sweedler / Townsend Bell / Conrad Grunewald, which secured the NAEC title for Ferrari by leading the race at the four-hour mark, ultimately finished in seventh position. The no. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italia of Alessandro Balzan / Jeff Westphal / Brandon Davis / Kyle Marcelli finished in ninth position.
An encore presentation of Petit Le Mans will be shown on Sunday, October 5 at 8:00 AM ET on FOX (check local listings). Fans of Ferrari can stay up to speed with the events of the weekend by following @Ferrari USA and #FerrariGTRacing on twitter and Instagram.

Alton, 24 August

A dramatic Oak Tree Grand Prix at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) that was settled on the final lap saw the no. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 Italia score its second successive victory in the United SportsCar Championship.
The victory is the 12th for the Ferrari 458 Italia in North American endurance racing, and the fifth this season following GT-Daytona victories at Daytona, Detroit, and Indianapolis and two straight victories in GT-Le Mans for Risi Competizione.
The team’s Ferrari 458 Italia also caputred pole position for the Oak Tree Grand Prix at the hands of Pierre Kaffer, who led the field to the green flag. Nearly two hours and forty-five minutes later, Giancarlo Fisichella passed a Porsche 911 RSR on the final lap to secure the victory. This win follows a second place finish at Indianapolis as well as a victory at Road America for Risi Competizione, and is the second victory in a row at VIR for the team following victory in last year’s American Le Mans Series race.
“The Ferrari 458 Italia was good and consistent from the beginning to the end, and we had good straight line speed” – said Fisichella – “I think that was key to me being able to pass the Porsche on the last lap. The end of the race was so exciting for us and I think enjoyable for everyone around the circuit and on tv! I braked on the limit and went so close to the Porsche, and it was a great fight between us”.

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Spa-Francorchamps, 27 July

After an exhausting 24 hours of racing, in front of a crowd that went wild with excitement at the thrills of the Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hours, one of the most important historical races in the world, Ferrari took a triumphant win in the Pro Am Cup category and also in the Gentlemen class.
The Pro Am Cup victory came courtesy of the AF Corse 53 car driven by Andrea Bertolini, Niek Hommerson and Louis Machiels. Second was the Ecurie Ecosse BMW. Third was the 52 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 driven by Wyatt, Rugolo, Lowndes and Piccini.
AF Corse also won the Gentlemen Trophoy with their 51 car driven by Alexander Talkanitsa, Cedric Mezard, Peter Mann and Francisco José Burnay Erera Lobo Guedes. Runner-up was the Team Parker Audi, while the third step of the podium was occupied by the crew of another AF Corse Ferrari driven by Jean-Marc Bachelier, Yannick Mallegol, da Howard Blank and Francois Perrodo.
The overall winner of the race was the number 1 Audi, with a crew made up of Markus Winkelhock, René Rast and Laurens Vanthoor.
Good news on the condition of Marcus Mahy, the Kessel Racing driver who suffered a terrible accident at the start of the fifth hour of the Spa 24 Hours. The driver is now conscious and is under observation at the CHU Hospital in Liege.
The next round of the Blancpain Endurance Series takes place from 22 to 24 August at the Slovakia Ring, in Slovakia.

Silverstone, 20 luglio

Nel quinto appuntamento del campionato GT Open la Ferrari festeggia a Silverstone una doppia vittoria nelle categoria Super GT e nella divisione cadetta GTS. In gara-2 Daniel Zampieri e Roman Mavlanov, coppia di punta del team Russian Bears, con la vettura numero 60 hanno portato al successo la Ferrari conquistando la vittoria assoluta nella categoria Super GT. A completare il podio l’equipaggio dell’Aston Martin composto da Jody Fannin e Darren Turner e quello della Chevrolet Corvette condotta da Archie Hamilton ed Isaac Tutumlu, rispettivamente alfieri di TF Sport e Selleslagh Racing Team. Quarta la vettura n.1 degli italiani Andrea Montermini e Niccolò Schirò della Scuderia Villorba Corse. Nella categoria GTS la Ferrari 458 Italia dell’equipaggio formato da Joan Vinyes e José Manuel Perez Aicart è giunta al traguardo davanti alla Porsche di Matteo Beretta e Joël Camathias del team Autorlando Sport e all’Audi condotta dall’equipaggio formato da César Campaniço e Aditya Patel del team Novadriver.
Il prossimo appuntamento sarà in Belgio dal 5 al 7 settembre sul tracciato di Spa-Francorchamps.

Mogyoród, 6 July

The fourth round of the International GT Open series held at the Hungaroring, produced a fantastic sweep of the podium in Race 2 of the GTS category for the Maranello marque. First was car 61, driven by the Russian Viacheslav Maleev and the Spaniard José M. Pérez Aicart driving for SMP Racing-Russian Bears. Second were the Spaniards Albaro Barba and Alan Sicart, for Ombra Racing, who had won Race 1. Third was the AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia driven by Duncan Cameron and Matt Griffin. Things went less well for the Scuderia Villorba Corsa number 1 car of Italy’s Andrea Montermini and Niccolo Schiro, who finished third in the main category, the Super GT. The overall winner was the V8 Racing Team Corvette of Miguel Ramos and Nicky Pastorelli.
The next round takes place at Silverstone circuit, England from 18 to 20 July.

Le Vigeant, 6 July

The fourth round of the French GT championship ended today at the Val de Vienne circuit with a splendid victory for Team Duqueine’s Philippe Colancon and Gilles Duqueine in the Coupe de France. “I want to thank the whole team for the great job they did this weekend,” said Colancon after the second race of the weekend. “It’s my first season in GT championship and I am very happy to have already brought home six wins with this great team.”
The overall winner was the Team Ultra Saintéloc Racing Audi. Second and third places went to the two Team Sofrev-ASP Ferrari 458 Italias driven by Philippe Giauque and Morgan Moullin Traffort , and Eric Debard and Olivier Panis.
The two races for round 5 take place at Magny-Cours on 6 and 7 September.

Monza, 21 May

The first of this year’s European test sessions for the XX and F1 Clienti programmes has just been held at the high speed Monza circuit in Italy. Over two days of free practice, the drivers of the extreme 559XX and FXX sports cars and F1 cars, capable of speeds of up to 330 km/h down the straights, were able to significantly improve their driving skills thanks to advice from special tutor Marc Gene.
There were eight 599XXs, three FXXs and no less than nine F1 cars, from the 1995 412 T2 driven by Gerhard Berger to two 2008 cars that were used by Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa.
The XX and F1 Clienti drivers were able to count on expert support from engineers and mechanics from Maranello as well as Scuderia test drivers, who helped the drivers analyse all the telemetric data, in order to improve their on-track performance as well as fine tuning the set-up of the cars.
The next event will take place from 27 to 29 June at the Mont Tremblant Circuit in Canada, as part of the Ferrari Racing Days event, when spectators will also be able to enjoy the racing in the Ferrari Challenge North America.