News January 30 2007

Ferrari’s Fiorano Test Track Open For Public Inspection (until next week)

You’ll have to be very quick – as quick as a Ferrari perhaps – to take advantage of Ferrari’s current offer - a visit to the normally top secret Fiorano test track where the company tests its F1 and roadgoing cars.

To kick off a year of celebrations to mark Ferrari’s 60th anniversary, visitors to the Galleria Ferrari, the official Ferrari museum in its home town of Maranello, is offering guided tours of the Fiorano test track, but only until the end of this month (January).

The test track was designed to combine all the most demanding parts of Formula One race tracks around the world, giving Ferrari a real edge in development. Equally it provides Ferrari with a safe and secure environment to develop its road cars and its importance to Ferrari is clearly indicated by the fact that its latest model is named after the track, the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano.

The Galleria Ferrari is also kicking off the 2007 exhibition programme with a special display of pictures dedicated to the Panamerican 20,000 - the tour that led two Ferrari 599 GTB Fioranos across the American continents. The exhibition shows a selection of fascinating images and objects collected along the way, a previously unseen film, which tells the journey, and obviously the two 599 GTB Fioranos themselves. The display even has an Australian and New Zealand contribution, with pictures and mementos of and from the Australian and Kiwi journalists that took part in the epic journey.

The Panamerican 20,000 - which ended after 84 days and more than 30,000 kilometres through 16 countries, from Brazil to Canada, on 17th November in New York - can now be relived thanks to the images taken by Gabriela Noris, the photographer, who immortalized the performances of the two 599 GTB Fioranos on their voyage through difficult and desperate terrain.

Galleria Ferrari the will play a big part in this 60th anniversary year with a series of special initiatives and another exhibition, demonstrating the close connection between the Galleria and the company and its challenges.

The Galleria Ferrari, in the heart of Maranello, is open every day from 9.30 to 18.00h including holidays. You never know Ferrari might extend the Fiorano tours a little longer. But somehow, we doubt it.

© italiancar.net 30/1/07