The first qualifying sessions for the Ferrari World Finals 2005 took place today at the International Mugello Circuit (Florence, Italy.) The event brings the Prancing Horse racing season to a close and features the Ferrari Challenge Pirelli Trophy championships and the Shell Ferrari Maserati Historic Challenge.

Highlight of the final day, Sunday 23rd October, will be the world track debut of the FXX and the F430 Challenge cars, as well as a parade of 60 Enzo Ferraris taking part in the first ever international rally for the supercar. Also on track will be two F2005 driven by Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello, with the Brazilian tackling his swansong at the wheel of a Prancing Horse single seater, during this traditional Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro demonstration.



The historic cars in the Shell Ferrari Maserati Historic Challenge had their first free practice sessions, while the Ferrari Challenge Pirelli Trophy cars tackled the qualifying session. In the Italian one-make series, the best time in the Pirelli Trophy was set by Nicola Cadei (Rossocorsa,) while in the Shell Cup for gentlemen drivers, quickest turned out to be Sandro Mucelli (Ineco.) In the European/USA category, pole for race-1 went to Irishman Paddy Shovlin (Rossocorsa.)

Tomorrow the event hots up with the first races for the Ferrari 360 Modena Challenge and with a demonstration by the historic single seaters, prepared by the F1 Clienti department of Maranello, which include a 1953 500 F2, two 1975 312T and two 1991 F1-91.