Enzo on Track
A sea of red washes over Donington...
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One of the world’s largest gatherings of exotic Ferrari and Maserati cars will take place over the weekend of 24-25 May, when the 2003 ‘Ferrari and Maserati Festival’ is staged at the Donington Park.
More than 200 Ferraris will star on-track, with five races and two displays on Saturday, followed by seven races and three displays on Sunday.
Hundreds of Ferrari and Maserati owners from across the UK and Europe are expected to drive their cars to the Derbyshire circuit. It will be the first time the Festival has been celebrated in the Midlands and it is expected to attract over 25,000 spectators.
Racing
While all the racing is sure to create a stunning mix of sounds, colours, drama, technology and nostalgia, the two races for the Ferrari 360 Challenge Trofeo Pirelli are certain to generate the most spectacularly hard-fought action. The Donington race will be the second round of the pan-European Challenge series which features 44 cars, as 22 teams from 10 countries battle for glory in identical cars with close-matched performance.
Ferrari ensures that each of the Challenge cars offers a similar level of performance. The completely standard 400 bhp V8 engines are sealed by the factory, but have stiffer engine mountings and a larger capacity oil cooler.
The Trofeo Pirelli races which star on both Saturday and Sunday, will be supported by races for the Coppa Shell, Pirelli Maranello Ferrari Challenge, Ferrari Formula Classic, Force Classic Prix, Force Formula 5000, Thorogood GTA Challenge and Top Hat Historic Touring Car Series.
The Coppa Shell event is for 360 Challenge cars driven by ‘gentlemen’ drivers whose passion for Ferrari and desire to win is just as strong as the professionals contesting the Trofeo Pirelli events in similar cars. Established in 1986, the Pirelli Maranello Ferrari Challenge is open to members of the Ferrari Owners’ Club piloting standard road-going Ferraris. In response to Club members’ requests, Ferrari Formula Classic has been created in 2003 to allow pre-1990 cars to be raced, up to and including the tipo 328, but excluding turbo-charged cars like the 288 GTO and F40.
Saturday’s programme includes events for Formula 1 and 2 single-seater racing cars from the 1960s and 70s, and for fast, noisy American V8-powered Formula 5000 single-seater cars that used to lap many circuits faster than the F1 cars of that era. Sunday will see extra races for both these classes of charismatic single-seaters plus races for the Thorogood GTA series (for 60s and 70s Alfa Romeos) and the Top Hat series – for a huge variety of 1950s touring cars, including Jaguars, Zodiacs, Sunbeam Rapiers and even little Austin A35s.!
Demos
Both Festival days will feature demonstration runs by the 1999 ex-Michael Schumacher Ferrari F399 F1 car, a Supercar Run by Ferrari 288 GTO, F40, F50 cars and the sensational new, V12-powered, 217 mph Enzo – making its very first UK track appearance.
Tickets
Entry prices for the Ferrari Maserati Festival are £10.00 per day, or £16.00 for the weekend (when booked in advanced), with free admission for accompanied children aged under 16 years. Parking and admission to the Paddock and Grandstands are free.
To book tickets in advance call 01332 819 527.
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