2013 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix : ABU DHABI: GREAT SUCCESS FOR THE FERRARI RACING DAYS IN ABU DHABI
By 100 Ferraris on the Yas Marina circuit Gené's show with the F60
Abu Dhabi-UAE: 9 March 2013 – 10 hours of action on the track for the third and final day of the first Ferrari Racing Days edition in the Middle East held at the Yas Marina circuit.
The most exciting moment came with the show by Marc Gené behind the wheel of a F60. The official Scuderia Ferrari test driver fascinated the spectators taking the same single-seater to the limit Kimi Raikkonen used on the same track at the debut Formula 1 race in Abu Dhabi in 2009.
Yas Marina was also host to the first stage in the Asian-Pacific series of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli. In the two races held today - one in blistering sunlight, the other with artificial light, just like at the Formula 1 GP - Max Blancardi crossed the lines first. The veteran driver in the single-marque's Championship of the Prancing Horse participates in a special class in the series, the International Cup, exclusively for international guest racers in the series. The first race in the Trofeo Pirelli Philippe Prette (Hongkong) was the fastest, while Pasin Lathouras (Thailand) won race two. Eric Cheung (Canada) and Tani Hanna (Lebanon) won the races in the Coppa Shell. Especially significant was Hanna's win, after he had to retire in race 1 due to an accident on the first lap. The mechanics from Maranello did some great work over three hours to repair the 458 Challenge's front, allowing the driver from the Middle East to gain his success in the Ferrari series.
The Ferrari Racing Days were an occasion to see 100 Ferraris parading on the track next to the Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the first theme park in the world dedicated to the Prancing Horse. The cars from the USE, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and even from France went for two laps on the track, underlining the growing success of Ferrari in this region. Over 2,000 spectators came to the paddock and the grandstands during the three-day event: 'A nice success for the spectators and for our clients, which confirms the good choice to bring the Ferrari Racing Days here to Abu Dhabi,' said Ferrari MEA director Giulio Zauner. 'From here we have to start and build a future for similar events for an incredibly alive market.'
The Racing Days' second event in 2013 will be held from 12 to 14 April on the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo (Brazil). Together with the North American Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli and the XX programmes (FXX and 599XX) as well as the F1 Clienti, spectators will be able to enjoy a Formula 1 show.