World Finals – Valencia

FF Corse driver, Alex Martin, took his third Coppa Giovanni victory of the year in Valencia at the final round of the European Challenge and then went onto finish in the top 10 (from a starting grid position of 20th) in the World Final race.

 

The push over the last few rounds (resulting with a Coppa Giovanni victory at each of the last 3 race meetings), saw Alex finish the Championship in 2nd position in the Coppa Giovanni standings and 10th overall in the Coppa Shell Pro-class.

Rupert Martin also had a good weekend, rising 7 grid positions in the first race to finish 15th overall and the Coppa Shell driver looked set to repeat a strong finish in the World Final, before a gearbox issue forced an early retirement

Pre-season Launch: Sunday February 17th, 2013

 

The RAC Club in Pall Mall has been chosen to host the 2013 FF Corse pre-season lunch. The FF Corse members’ private dining lunch will take place in the Committee Room at the exclusive Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall on Sunday February 17th and is the launch to the 2013 FF Corse season. The RAC club was founded in 1897 by Frederick Richard Simms with the aim of encouraging the development of motoring in Britain and was seen as the perfect venue to launch the exciting 2013 season. It was awarded Royal title by King Edward VII in 1907, and is Britain’s oldest and most influential motoring organisation, the Club’s early years were focused on campaigning for the rights of the private motorist, introduction of the driving licence, along with staging the world’s first ever motor race, Today the club operates as a private members Club and offers some truly amazing facilities, along with fantastic dining and banqueting facilities. It is hoped as many FF Corse members will be able to attend and make the event a truly fabulous and social affair. Partners and guests are very welcome and the lunch is complimentary to all members and a guest, additional places may be purchased on request.

We hope to see as many of you as possible and members and guests planning to attend the lunch should contact Andy O’Dowd to reserve their places. Telephone 01327 857601, or email [email protected]

Pre-season Launch: Sunday February 17th, 2013

 

The Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall was the scene of the FF Corse pre-season lunch on Sunday February 17th and launched the start of 2013 FF Corse season.   Thirty FF Corse members and guests attended the lunch, which also saw the unveiling of the 2012 photo yearbook.   The venue was a great setting and a big thank you to everyone who attended.

Shakedown at Adria for British GT contender

Gary Eastwood put the new Ferrari 458 GT3 through it’s shakedown test at Adria circuit in Italy recently.

The test, run in conjunction between FF Corse and Michelotto (the Ferrari factory tuners) was Gary’s first experience of the car he will campaign with Rob Barff in this year’s British GT Championship.

Following the successful test, the car has been shipped to FF Corse facility at Silverstone and Gary will begin his UK test programme in the UK at Oulton Park on Tuesday.

The test at Adria was conducted with Gary and factory Italian GT driver Andrea Bertolini.

Successful test at exclusive FF Corse track event

35 FF Corse drivers, instructors, guests and team personnel attended the exclusive FF Corse pre-season test at Jerez in Southern Spain last week and despite a wet start on day one, the weather improved for the second day to allow a full days dry running.

All the drivers took the opportunity to utilise the private test opportunity on the Formula One test circuit venue to undertake a lot of running on the circuit free from traffic. Everyone’s times improved throughout the 2 days and the running proved extremely productive with everyone now ready for the 2013 season of track-days and racing..

 

Further exclusive test sessions and events are planned throughout the year, including a private track day on the Silverstone Stowe circuit on March 22nd (places available).

 

Topping the time sheets in Ferrari European Challenge Testing

FF Corse drivers Rupert & Alex Martin showed really good pace at the official Ferrari test at Monza last Thursday, with Alex topping the timesheets as the fastest time of the regular Ferrari drivers.

2012 Ferrari European and World Champion Alessandro Balzan was also on hand to help with testing and driver coaching and set a time in the car that would have put him on pole-position for last year’s race meeting.

The first race meeting takes place next week (April 5th-7th) at Monza.

Points Finish at Oulton Park British GT

FF Corse drivers Gary Eastwood and Rob Barff finished both races at Outlon Park, earning a well fought points scoring position in race 2.

In the second race of the day in the British GT Championship, the Ferrari 458 GT3 finished a very respectable 8th place position, which could easily have been a fifth place position. The Ferrari pairing, taking part in the first race for the 2013 specification Ferrari, also finished race one just outside the top ten in 12th position overall and the fastest Ferrari.

 

“We came here with the objective to learn the car and finish both races, which we have achieved. We are both now looking forward to Rockingham.” – said Rob Barff. Gary Eastwood added “we are pleased to have some points and it is an excellent start to the Championship”

 

The next round of the Championship is at Rockingham on May 6th. For further information contact Anthony Cheshire at FF Corse on 01327 857601.

Round 1: Monza – Race Report

FF Corse driver Rupert Martin achieved his best ever result in Race 1 of the European Ferrari Challenge at The Monza “Temple of Speed” Autodrome , with a 15th place overall finish from 27 starters. In the second race Rupert went one better again and after coming out on top of a superb 3 car battle, he finished in 14th position, recording his fastest lap of the weekend with a 107mph average and a 174 mph top speed through the speed trap.

Alex Martin endured a tougher weekend but eventually scored points in both races. The weekend started well with a 5th place best in Qualifying 1 (setting two fastest sector times), before a crash in 2nd qualifying forced him to start at the back of the grid for both races. In race one he suffered gearbox issues with 4 laps to go and managed to nurse the car home to 10th position. Following a gearbox change overnight, he started race two with slick tyres on a damp, but drying, track. The gamble almost worked and Alex set the second fastest lap of the race, but the race was 5 minutes too short and he could only make his way up to 9th position before the chequered flag fell.

 

The next round of the European Ferrari Championship is at Brno (Czech Republic) on May 17-19. For further information contact Anthony Cheshire at FF Corse on 01327 857601 or email [email protected].

Round 1 & 2: Snetterton – Race Report

Shamus Jennings, Peter Jennings and Christian Andersson took part in the first two rounds of the Ferrari Open Series at Snetterton this weekend. The three FF Corse drivers qualified line-astern for the first race on then “300” circuit, with Peter qualifying ahead and in fifth position overall. In the race Shamus Jennings seized the initiative by passing Christian at the start and Peter around the outside at Coram curve to lead the trio on lap one. Peter took the position back a couple of laps later before Shamus and Christian settled into a race long battle, with Peter topping the group at the chequered flag in 5th position.

The second race, held on Sunday, took place on the shorter “200” circuit. Qualifying took place in tricky conditions with the fastest laps set on slick tyres right at the end of the session. Peter again qualified the best of the FF Corse trio, with father Shamus alongside. At the start of the race Shamus took over sixth place (after Peter was forced to retire with an engine fault) and meanwhile and Christian was charging up through the field after a difficult qualifying session. By lap 4 he was on Shamus’ tail and battling, a position he would hold to the flag, with Shamus coming home a strong 5th.

 

The next round of the Ferrari Open Series is at Donington on May 19. For further information contact Anthony Cheshire at FF Corse on 01327 857601 or email [email protected].

Silverstone & Brands Hatch Track Days

FF Corse ran 15 cars over 2 consecutive days last week on the Silverstone & Brands Hatch GP circuits.

Both events were held in great weather conditions, with a good amount of track-time. The first day on the Monday was the annual Ferrari Owners Club event and featured around 70 Ferraris in total. The second day was organised by the Brands Hatch’s track-day arm MSVT and was a rare opportunity for drivers to drive on the noise afflicted GP Circuit.

For further updates and for details of the latest track-day calendar visit www.ffcorse.com/driving-events.php

 

For further information contact Andy O’Dowd at FF Corse on 01327 857601 or email [email protected].