GT Trophy: Overall & Class Victories at Oulton Park (July 1st & 2nd )

FF Corse drivers celebrate on the podium

 

FF Corse celebrated with 6 drivers on the podium at the Oulton Park GT Trophy race after the two-driver combined two-hour race. Leon Price and pro-driver Rob Barff led the celebrations with overall and class victory in the Ferrari 458 GT3 continuing their unbeaten run in the GT Trophy series. Gary Eastwood and Ian Hartley followed with Class victory in their Ferrari 430 Challenge GTC with Richard Bramham & Phil Andrews backing up the result and coming home third in the same class.

6 FF Corse drivers celebrate on the podium

Despite winning their class, Gary Eastwood and Ian Hartley did not have everything their own way as Rupert & Alex Martin qualified their similar FF Corse F430 Challenge on class pole position, just behind the overall pole position of Leon & Rob. Unfortunately for the father and son pairing an accident in the first race, whilst leading the class, meant they car were unable to start the second part of the race.

The next round of the GT Trophy is a 3-hour race at Brands Hatch on the grand prix circuit on August 21st , FF Corse members are welcome as always and passes will be available.

Dubai 24hr – FF Corse Ferrari 458 Challenge

Since the inception and the first running 7 years ago, the Dubai 24hr race has seen a huge increase in popularity and importance for teams and drivers alike. As part of the plans for 2012, FF Corse have committed to take part in their first 24hr race with a Ferrari 458 GT3 entered for Leon Price and Rob Barff. Alongside this entry, FF Corse is also offering an opportunity for drivers to race a modified Ferrari 458 Challenge.

The team of drivers are required to have an International race licence for the event and the race team package on offer will include flights and hotel accommodation, along with full race team support throughout the event.

The 2012 race meeting takes place at the Dubai Autodrome from January 12-14th and the Ferrari 458 Challenge will be modified by FF Corse to a GT Cup specification for the 24 endurance race.

For further details on participation contact Anthony Cheshire on 07768 384079, or email [email protected] .

Ferrari 458 Challenge – 2012 European Challenge Plans

FF Corse is looking set to enter a UK driver’s team in next year’s one-make European Ferrari Challenge Series. The factory organised Championship takes place over 7 race weekends, at prestigious circuit venues in Europe. This 2011 Championship has already featured a support race for the Le Mans 24hr race as well as further race meetings at Monza, Valencia, Spa and Portimao, next year is set to feature more of the same.

The team plans to run a multi-car operation and provide full technical and race support for the meetings. The European televised races feature a general format of 2 races over the weekend, combined with official-practice and qualifying sessions, providing drivers with plenty of track time and action.

The races also feature a class structure for professional and semi-professional drivers (Pirelli Trofeo) and another class for amateur drivers (Coppa Shell)

For further information on particpation in either the Dubai 24hr race and the Ferrari European Challenge, please contact Anthony Cheshire on 07768 384079, or email [email protected] .

New Track-Day Dates

FF Corse have extended their track-day programme and added a number of additional dates to the events calendar between now and the end of the season. This includes a “noisy” day at Donington on September 6th (a chance to run the Ferrari 458 Challenge cars on the un-silenced race exhausts ) and a two day visit to the fantastic Spa-Franchorchamps circuit on October 10th & 11th .

We are also taking part in a Charity Day at Brands Hatch on November 3rd . The event is in aid of armed-forces personnel injured in Iraq with drivers providing passenger rides to injured soldiers on the day. The track-fee is free and FF Corse will donate a percentage of the technical support fees to the charity. The event is organised by FF Corse member Gary Eastwood and anyone wishing to participate will be welcome.

2011 Upcoming Track-Days

August 23rd & 24th : Dijon (FRA) August 30th : Silverstone GP – NEW DATE September 6th : Donington – NEW DATE September 20th : Donington October 10th & 11th : Spa (BEL) – NEW DATE October 13th : Silverstone GP October 23rd : Silverstone GP – NEW DATE November 3rd : Brands Hatch (Indy) – NEW DATE November 14th : Silverstone GP

Silverstone (International) – August 17th

FF Corse drivers participated in their first track-day yesterday using the new Silverstone Pit Complex. The Silverstone International circuit was the host venue for the day and the event operated from the new Grand Prix pits. Five drivers took part in the day using two new Ferrari 458 Challenge cars and three F430 Challenge cars.

Despite the weather looking like it was going to be a problem it stayed dry throughout the day to enable plenty of laps.

For further information, please contact Anthony Cheshire or Andy O’Dowd on 01327 857601, or email [email protected] .

Victory at final GT Trophy race

The FF Corse driver pairing of Rob Barff and Leon Price snatched victory at Brands Hatch last weekend to remain undefeated the whole year in the GT Trophy series. The duo shared the Leon’s Ferrari 458 GT3 to record their fourth victory from four starts, maintaining their 100% record this season.

The race was made all the more dramatic when the #88 car dropped off the lead lap with two unscheduled pit stops; first for a leaking fuel valve and the second for a puncture. The fight back by Rob Barf enabled the car to regain the lead position with 40 minutes remaining and maintain the lead until the chequered flag.

The father and son combination of Rupert & Alex Martin also recorded another successful result to finish second in class in the 3-hour endurance race in their Ferrari F430 Challenge GTC. Mark McAllister teamed up with professional driver Charlie Hollings, although unfortunately the pairing was delayed with a gearbox issue which required a lengthy pit stop and forced them to drop away from their initial early lead in class.

Cliff Fox/Paul McNeilly/Jamie Stanley were due to become the first FF Corse driver’s to start a race for the team with a Ferrari 458 Challenge. However and despite setting a succession of quick laps in testing on Friday the trio were forced to withdraw after an incident at Surtees resulted in damage to the rear crash structure of the car.

The next races coming up are as follows:-

August 29th : Castle Combe (Ferrari Open)

September 10th & 11th : Snetterton (Ferrari Open)

September 17th & 18th : Silverstone (Ferrari Open)

October 1st & 2nd : Spa (GT Cup)

October 15th & 16th : Snetterton (GT Cup)

For further information, please contact Anthony Cheshire on 01327 857601, or email [email protected] .

FF Corse Team Hospitality: Ferrari Open – Silverstone (Sunday 18th September).

FF Corse are providing race-team hospitality at Silverstone for the final Ferrari race meeting of the year. The race meeting takes place next weekend with hospitality being on Sunday18th . Complimentary tickets and hospitality are available to FF Corse members, guests and friends.

FF Corse will be fielding four of the Ferrari F430 Challenge and a Ferrari 458 Challenge for Gary Eastwood, Toby Tarrant-Willis, Jacques Duyver, Ian Hartley and Rupert Martin

To arrange complimentary entry and hospitality please contact Andy O’Dowd on [email protected] or telephone 0845 6535798 to pre-order tickets.

Race Report: Ferrari Open (Snetterton)- September 10th & 11th , 2011

With four cars racing at Snetterton in the Ferrari Open Series last weekend, it has been a busy few weeks for the FF Corse team.

Having narrowly missed out on overall race victory in both races, Gary Eastwood finished second overall and recorded class wins in both races.

Leon Price also recorded a good result in race one, finishing 3rd overall and 2nd in the Ferrari F430 Challenge class behind Gary.

Rupert Martin was making his debut in the Ferrari open with his newly acquired Ferrari 458 Challenge. Having taken it steady in his new car during testing, Rupert settled in to take a pair of class podium finishes in the races.

Mark McAllister was perhaps the most improved driver of the weekend having improved his lap time to be within 0.7 seconds of the race winning 458 Challenge at the end of race 2 and record a 5th overall and 2nd in class.

Perhaps the most interesting development to come out of the weekend was Gary and Mark acquiring Ferrari 458 Challenge race cars (to replace their F430 Challenge cars) – both of whom will be out racing in their new steeds at this weekend’s Ferrari Open finale.

Images from the Snetterton Ferrari Open race are available for viewing and purchase on http://www.amateursportsstars.com/gallery_447494.html

FF Corse Team Hospitality: Ferrari Open – Silverstone (Sunday 18 th September).

The final two races of the Ferrari Open Series are being held at Silverstone this weekend with the final round taking place on Sunday.

The drivers best lap in the 20 minute morning qualifying sessions will determine their grid positions for the afternoon races. The races are 30 minute races with rolling starts and open to a variety of Ferrari GT race cars. The race is split into different classes with FF Corse fielding 6 cars in the race : three drivers in the new 2011 specification Ferrari 458 Challenge cars and three in Ferrari F430 Challenge GTC cars.

Corporate Hospitality with FF Corse will be provided by Stones Events throughout the day on Sunday.

The hospitality is free all day to members, guests and associates. FF Corse members requiring complimentary tickets should please email Andy O’Dowd on [email protected] , alternatively call Anthony Cheshire on 07768 384079 on the day.

Hospitality Programme

10h30 Espresso Bar Opens 10h30 – 12h30 Breakfast Pastries 13h30 – 15h00 Bowl Food

Ferrari Open Racing

10h05 – 10h25: Qualifying (20 mins) 14h55 – 15h25: Race 2 (30 mins)

FF Corse will be fielding four of the Ferrari F430 Challenge and a Ferrari 458 Challenge for Gary Eastwood, Toby Tarrant-Willis, Jacques Duyver, Ian Hartley and Rupert Martin

To arrange complimentary entry and hospitality please contact Andy O’Dowd on [email protected] or telephone 0845 6535798 to pre-order tickets.

Ferrari 458 Challenge GTC Aero Kit

FF Corse chose the final Ferrari Open race of 2011 at Silverstone last weekend to launch the new Ferrari 458 Challenge carbon-fibre GTC aero pack.

The car was well received and drew a lot of attention all weekend. The team will begin testing the FF Corse updates in the next few weeks and kits will be available before the end of the year. The modified car includes a replacement carbon-fibre front bumper and height-adjustable full length splitter. The rear wing is also carbon fibre with a chassis mounted swan-neck support pillars.

Race Report: Silverstone – 17 th & 18 th September (Ferrari Open)

FF Corse fielded 6 drivers at Silverstone in the final round of the 2011 Ferrari Open and scored 6 overall and class podiums in the 2 races.

Gary Eastwood (#24) was debuting in his new Ferrari 458 Challenge and was immediately on the pace and recorded second overall in both races.

Toby Tarrant-Willis (#38) also finished on the podium in both races with third overall, winning the F430 Challenge class on both occasions.

Rupert Martin (#49) headed a fantastic 5-way battle in the first race which saw him finish 0.3 seconds clear of FF Corse team-mate Ian Hartley (#17), who himself finished 2nd in the F430 Challenge class. Jacques Duyver (#21) was making a stunning race debut in his Ferrari F430 Challenge and finished amongst the battle in 4th position in Class, only 1.4 second behind Ian Hartley.

Jacques debut race weekend was to improve further with an incredible 4th overall in second qualifying, setting up an excellent race which saw him record a podium finish with 2nd in Class. Mark McAllister (#47) was also making his Ferrari F458 Challenge debut and steadily improved throughout the weekend to record his best result in race two of 5th in class, narrowly losing out in an excellent scrap with Rupert Martin.

Roll on the 2012 Ferrari Open….

Photo Credits:

– www.pistonpics.com/group15632.html Images are available for viewing and purchase. – Nicole Roscoe

For further information, please contact Anthony Cheshire or Andy O’Dowd on 01327 857601, or email [email protected] .

FF Corse driver Rupert Martin secures 3rd place in GT Cup Championship

Following a string of successful race results at Spa-Francorchamps and Snetterton this month, FF Corse driver Rupert Martin finished an excellent 3rd in Group 1 of the GT Cup Championship.

The result left Rupert overjoyed at a podium Championship position, in what is only his second full season of racing. Rupert plans to move up with FF Corse next year and enter a Dextra Lighting liveried, Ferrari 458 into the one-make Ferrari European Challenge……more information to follow shortly.

2012 Pre-season overseas dates (March 8th & 9th , 2012)

FF Corse have 2 days held at Jerez (Spain) for a semi-exclusive event on March 8th & 9th, 2012. The track will be open for approximately 15 cars and packages can include full FF Corse support, flights, transfers and accommodation at the 5 star, Montecastillo Hotel (located next to the circuit).

Injured soldiers Brands Hatch charity event (Nov 3rd) & GP track-day (Nov 2nd)

Brands Hatch will provide the back-drop to a double event at the beginning of November with a track-day on the GP circuit on November 2nd and the Charity event for injured soldiers, organised by Gary Eastwood, on November 3rd

Places are available on both days and on November 3rd the track fee is free, with drivers providing rides throughout the day for the soldiers and raising money for the Not Forgotten Association and the The Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity.

For further information and bookings, please contact Anthony Cheshire or Andy O’Dowd on 01327 857601, or email [email protected] .

Amalgam models have delivered the first of their commissioned FF Corse spec Ferrari F430 Challenge cars. The cars have been well received by theFF Corse drivers and the level of detail of each model has been exceptional.

For further information and bookings, please contact Anthony Cheshire or Andy O’Dowd on 01327 857601, or email [email protected] .