News February 24 2007

Ferrari relay passes through Japan en route to Australia

With just a week to go before it arrives in Australia, the Ferrari 60th Anniversary Relay has passed through Japan, where the clouds around Mt Fuji and the notorious Tokyo traffic parted for a 180-strong Ferrari procession on the 330 km, two day drive through Japan.

The Japanese leg of the Ferrari 60th Anniversary Relay started in Tokyo at the historic Shiba Square in the centre of the city. At the Zojoji temple around 180 owners participated in the ceremony, in which the baton was handed over. The cars that were blessed in the ceremony included the Ferrari 575M Maranello, 360 Modena, F430, 612 Scaglietti and 599 GTB Fiorano as well as the Ferrari 275 Testarossa, a rare 250 GTO and the Ferrari 512 Testarossa, the F40 and F355.

The tour left Tokyo in the direction of Gotemba in the centre of Japan, where the cars arrived after driving around 100 kilometres to Mount Fuji and the Matsuda Museum, which, named after its owner, displays a unqiue collection of Ferraris. Matsuda was the first Ferrari customer in Japan carrying the symbol of 60 years Ferrari in his wonderful 250 GTO.
The following day the cars left the city of Gotemba to drive 230 kilometres to Nagoya, arriving at the new Ferrari Showroom. With the weather cold and wet, a view of Mt Fuji was not expected, but as the Ferrari parade was preparing to leave, the clouds parted and Mt Fuji was revealed.

© italiancar.net 24/2/07