Budapest, 30th August 2008

The first day of qualifying and races took place today at the Ferrari Racing Days event, taking place at the Hungaroring circuit. On track were the F430 entered in the fifth round of the Italian and European series of the Ferrari Challenge Pirelli Trophy, as well as those cars competing in the third round of the European Historic Challenge

Taking top honours in Race 1 of the European Pirelli Trophy was Frenchman Ange Barde (Modena Motors), followed home by Germany's Bjorn Grossmann (Autohaus Gohm) and France's Nicolas Misslin (Stradale Automobile). In the Shell Cup, at the end of an unpredictable race, came a surprise win for Gianluca Carboni (Kessel) ahead of Michael Cantillon (Ferrari GB Dealer Team) and Walter Forer ( Rossocorsa/Pellin).

In the four qualifying sessions held today for the Italian Pirelli Trophy, quickest in the first was Andrea Gilardi (Warm Up) and in the second Niki Cadei (Rossocorsa). Among the gentlemen drivers in the Shell Cup, the fastest times were set by Sergio Rota (Rossocorsa / Rota) and Riccardo Ragazzi (Team Ineco/MP Racing).
Topping the time sheets in the European rounds of the Pirelli Trophy and Shell Cup were German driver Bjorn Grossman (Autohaus Gohm) and the Bulgarian driver Plamen Kralev (Kessel.)




The pole positions:

Italian Pirelli Trophy - Race 1: Andrea Gilardi (Warm Up) 1'52"561
Italian Shell Cup - Race 1 1: Sergio Rota (Rossocorsa / Rota) 1'54''023
Italian Pirelli Trophy - Race 2: Niki Cadei (Rossocorsa) 1'52"525
Italian Shell Cup - Race 2: Riccardo Ragazzi (Team Ineco/ MP Racing) 1'54''013
European Pirelli Trophy - Race 2: Bjorn Grossmann (Autohaus Gohm) 1'53"472
European Shell Cup - Race 2: Plamen Kralev (Kessel) 1'53"904

In the European series of the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge in Grid A + B, for single seaters with drum brakes, victory went to Daniel Maier, at the wheel of a 1955 Maserati 300S, followed byGigi Baulino in an 1954 250F and Irvine Laidlaw in his 1957 Maserati 250S.

In Grid C, for disc braked cars, Irvine Laidlaw was first past the flag, at the wheel of a 1972 Ferrari 312 PB: behind him came Jean Guittard in a 1981 Ferrari 512 BB LM and Peter Hardman driving a 1966 Ferrari 412 P.

Tomorrow, Sunday 31st August sees not only the final races, but also another session of free laps for the single-seaters prepared by the F1 Clienti department of Maranello, giving the crowd the chance to admire, amongst others, seven cars raced by Michael Schumacher.

The two races in the Italian Ferrari Challenge Pirelli Trophy will be broadcast live on Sky Sport 2 at 9.15 (Race 1) and at 15.15 (Race 2.) Both races will be repeated, still on Sunday, at 22.15 on Sky Sport 2. This channel will also repeat Race 1 on 1st September at 9.30 and 17.00 and on 2nd September at 20.00. Race 2 will be shown again on 2nd September at 9.30 and 17.00.