Le Mans, 13th June

This morning Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo arrived at Le Mans where at 3pm the world's most prestigous 24 Hour race will be started. Montezemolo is accompanied by Vice President Piero Ferrari, CEO Amedeo Felisa and the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro Team Principal Stefano Domenicali.

The Ferrari delegation met the President of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest Jean Claude Plassart, who remembered the numerous participations of cars from Ferrari in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This year ten 430 GT will start in the GT2 category.

"There is a historical connection between Ferrari and the 24 Hours and I am glad to be here to start one of the races of which I admire the spirit of competition you can feel here," Montezemolo said. "We have many things in common; for example the connection to the terroir: I can see the people living here and they are happy and proud to host this great event and collaborate to set it up, just like it happens at Maranello. It's true that many years have passed since the last overall win of a Ferrari in this race and I have a dream, which is also a wish, to see sooner or later an official car starting in the race."




Later on Montezemolo met the team principals of the teams starting at Le Mans with cars from Maranello, talking also to some of the drivers who wrote the history of Ferrari: Jacky Ickx and Jean Alesi.

The arrival of Montezemolo followed a success of a Ferrari on the track. A 250 LM, driven by the Brazilian Carlos Monteverde, won the Le Mans Legend, the race for historical car which once competed in this 24 Hour race. Place three went to another Ferrarista, Tony Dron, with his 246S, while the Lister Jaguar with Justin Law came in second.