Le Castellet, 31 May 2008

It was a day of qualifying and the first races at Ferrari Racing Days, the event taking place at the French Paul Ricard HTTT circuit, featuring the third round of the Italian and European Ferrari Challenge Pirelli Trophy, with the F430 car, as well as the second round of the European Historic Challenge.

The first race in the European series of the Pirelli Trophy saw victory go to Ange Barde, the Frenchman driving for the Modena Motors team, who crossed the line ahead of Max Blancardi (Motor/Malucelli) and Germany's Bjorn Grossmann (Autohaus Gohm.) In the Shell Cup the winner was France's Jean-Marc Bachelier (Ferrari GB Dealer Team) with Switzerland's Eric La Marca (Kessel) second and Wido Roessler (Tamsen) third.




In today's four qualifying sessions for the Italian series of the Pirelli Trophy, quickest in both runs was Niki Cadei (Rossocorsa.) As for the gentlemen drivers in the Shell Cup, the best times were set by Riccardo Ragazzi (Team Ineco - MP Racing) and Stefano Gai (Team Rossocorsa.) Starting from the front in Race 2 for competitors in the European Pirelli Trophy and Shell Cup will be Germany's Bjorn Grossman (Autohaus Gohm) and the Bulgarian Plamen Kralev (Kessel.)

pole positions:
Italian Pirelli Trophy - Race 1: Niki Cadei (Rossocorsa) 2'14"093
Italian Shell Cup - Race 1: Riccardo Ragazzi (Ineco - MP Racing) 2'16''621
Italian Pirelli Trophy - Race 2: Niki Cadei (Rossocorsa) 2'14"405
Italian Shell Cup -Race 2: Stefano Gai (Rossocorsa) 2'16''822
European Pirelli Trophy - Race 2: Bjorn Grossmann (Autohaus Gohm) 2'15"394
European Shell Cup -Race 2: Plamen Kralev (Kessel) 2'15"514

As for the European Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge, the top slot in Race One for Grids "A" and "B" went to Daniel Maier, at the wheel of a Maserati 300S, followed home by Marc Devis in a 250 SI and a Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa driven by Carlos Monteverde. Race 1 in Grid "C" was dominated by the Ferrari 512 BB LM of Christian Traber, who finished ahead of Paul Knapfield and Massimo Sordi.

Tomorrow, Sunday 1st June, apart from a further round of races, there will be an exhibition of single-seaters prepared by the Ferrari F1 Clienti department, including eight cars actually raced by Michael Schumacher.

SKY Italian will show both of the Italian Ferrari Challenge Pirelli Trophy races: live at 9.45 (race 1) and at 14.30 (race 2,) with repeats at 19.00. Replays will be broadcast on Monday 2nd June, at 17.00 and 23.30 on Sky Sport 2 and at 20.30 on Sky Sport 3 and at 01.00 on Sky Sport Extra.