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[EwanM]

Di Montezemolo to start Le Mans race

By Steven English Wednesday, April 29th 2009, 15:26 GMT


Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo will serve as the starter for this year's 77th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours in June.

Di Montezemolo was invited by president of Le Mans organiser ACO, Jean-Claude Plassart, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first of Ferrari's nine victories in the 24 Hours.

"I am delighted to be given the opportunity to start a race that has made motor racing history and has such strong links with Ferrari," said di Montezemolo. "Our Scuderia has delivered some unforgettable achievements on this circuit."

"The Le Mans 24-hour race is synonymous with technologically-advanced sporting competition and has always been a focus of great attention on our part."

As well as the nine outright victories at Le Mans, Ferrari has also taken numerous class victories in the event - the most recent being Risi Competizione's GT2 class win in 2008.

Ferrari F1 team principal Stefano Domenicali will also be present at Le Mans in June.

Random.

[Gaz]

Well there's a chance Ferrari could win there.

a small one..

[Gilles 27]

They haven't won the race outright since those fat cats at Ford payed Lola to win it for them

[cap-dude]

Meh, last year the race was started from space or whatever. This years start actually makes more sense.

[Rivelution]

That is pretty random, but I cant wait for 24 this year. The grid is loaded.

[bud]

there could be more to it

Not since Ferrari built but never raced an IndyCar in the 1980s has the Italian marque's relationship with the FIA been at such a low point.

The 637 was the team's tangible threat to the governing body that its stance over V12 engines could realistically result in withdrawal from Formula One.

This time, the threat is Le Mans, with Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali to attend and President Luca di Montezemolo to give the official start signal at the prestigious 24 hour sports car race in June.

"Le Mans is synonymous with technologically-advanced sporting competition and has always been a focus of great attention on our part," he said.

Ferrari's anger, now revealed with a spate of letters between Montezemolo and Max Mosley this week, is about the£ 40m voluntary budget cap for 2010.



Montezemolo's opposition to the plan is well known, but in one letter he referred to ‘Ferrari's guaranteed rights’ not being adhered to.

It is believed he is referring to a power of veto granted to Ferrari when it committed to Formula One over a breakaway championship four years ago.

In a letter of reply, Mosley hit back: "I do not accept that these regulations compromise any commitment that has been given to Ferrari, unless Ferrari would somehow argue that they are entitled to prevent new competitors from emerging at a time when the sport itself is in danger and new competitors are so badly needed."

[Rivelution]

I would love to see Ferrari run prototypes, but not in place of their F1 program.

[f1ea]

there could be more to it

yeah possibly, there always is... but i dont think enough to 'question' their involvement in F1.

I would love to see Ferrari run prototypes, but not in place of their F1 program.

Me too. i think it would offer a competitive twist to what is already a nice series.
By the way... looks like Ferrari's F1 invovlement is not as cloudy as some of the disruptive media wishes to portray:

Ferrari committed to Formula One
Italian champions dismiss possible exit rumours

It had been previously reported that Ferrari were examining their options following the World Motor Sport Council announcement that from next season, new and existing teams would have an option to sign up to a cost restrained formula.

Following a statement from team yesterday in which they announced they did not wish to comment on the matter, today the Italian champions re-affirmed its commitment to the series. Ferrari is however clearly unhappy with the cost capping rules being pushed forward by the FIA.

“Ferrari strongly believes that this sport should maintain its principles of being at the cutting edge in terms of research, with the teams thus taking part in a sporting and technical contest,” a statement from the team began.

“Ferrari, along with all the other teams in FOTA, has, for some time now, felt the urgent need for a significant reduction in costs as from this year, and believes that the future of this sport requires stability of the regulations and the gradual achievement over the next two to three years of a cost-profit balance which would allow current teams to remain in the sport while at the same time encouraging the arrival of new ones.

“This is the position Ferrari wants to underline today, in the interests of the sport without looking to cause pointless controversy which would be harmful to all those involved in this sport.”

Ferrari is the only surviving to team to have competed since the inception of the world championship in 1950.

Earl ALEXANDER
© CAPSIS International

[Rivelution]

Good news on the F1 part. I still hope they're consider making a prototype...

[scotty]

I still hope they're consider making a prototype...

Yeah, they can use some of their newfound excess budget on it! It'd make up for the very average 333 chassis... and they'd have to run it themselves this time.

[Rivelution]

I still hope they're consider making a prototype...

Yeah, they can use some of their newfound excess budget on it! It'd make up for the very average 333 chassis... and they'd have to run it themselves this time.

Well they ran it... sort of. It was made mostly to race in America, no?

[Gaz]

I still hope they're consider making a prototype...

Yeah, they can use some of their newfound excess budget on it! It'd make up for the very average 333 chassis... and they'd have to run it themselves this time.

Yeh would be cool to see more teams (like Mclaren) do the same.

[Rivelution]

I just read a rumor in a Road and Track mag that Porsche is looking at returning next year to the ALMS, and 24 with an LMP1 gasoline/hybrid prototype.

[EwanM]

Speaking of Le Mans the petrol LMP1 teams are still annoyed with the ACO for not slowing down the Diesels enough.