The 2012 season - Ferrari Corse Clienti

LA STAGIONE/THE SEASON
Inoltre la configurazione aerodinamica era meno sofisticata, altro aspetto che
permetteva di prendere più facilmente confidenza con vetture che, nonostante
un intervento sull’elettronica per limitare a quota 17.000 i giri del motore e il
cambio con i rapporti fissi per evitare sostituzioni che non porterebbero vantaggi
reali, possono raggiungere i 330 km/h sul rettilineo di Monza. Da un approccio
graduale, facilitato dal lavoro di personalizzazione pre-consegna che comprende
lo studio dell’abitacolo secondo il fisico e la definizione di un assetto di base si
arriva al debutto sulla pista di Fiorano, anche grazie ad un servizio di coaching
che consente l’avvicinamento alla guida e alle principali caratteristiche della
Formula 1 al fianco di piloti di grande esperienza.
Ferrari often remains an unrealisable dream even for Formula 1 world
champions. And yet this dream has become reality for some fortunate
gentleman drivers who, as Ferrari owners, have acquired one of the cars
that have made up Ferrari’s racing history. For these collectors of ‘dream
cars’, non-competitive events are organised which fit in to other meetings
organised every year by Maranello: Ferrari Racing Days and the Finali
Mondiali. Such events alternate with other test days dedicated to
these special owners. All activities take place on famous circuits, equipped
with all the latest safety requirements, which match the modern levels
of protection insisted on through the current F1 technical regulations.
And just like real Formula 1 drivers, all the owners have to do is turn up at the
race track and put on their helmet and overalls. All car maintenance, transport
and even the race suits are provided by the “Reparto F1 Clienti” created
in 2003 and based at the Scuderia Ferrari factory. The department looks after
the cars during the events, but its core activity is the maintenance and restoration
of Ferrari cars from 1970 to the present day. Actually, it might be more
accurate to say from the past to the day before yesterday, given that cars are
only taken on after a two-year delay following their final season of actual
competition in order to keep the Scuderia’s technological knowhow under
wraps. Thanks to an automated archive that can supply drawings for every
part of these single-seaters, the department can get their hands on any car,
be it recent or from the distant past. Taking on this task in the role of special
consultants, “conscripted again” if you will, are the same mechanics who
once attended to Lauda, Alboreto and Prost. The long run of championship
wins for Ferrari, dating back to 1999, saw a growth in the number of ownerdrivers.
They have also been helped by the fact that these cars are particularly
easy to drive, especially those from 2001 and 2002, as the rules allowed for
electronic traction control and they had an anti-stall system on the engine.
Furthermore the aerodynamic configuration was less sophisticated, which
means drivers can be more confident behind the wheel. Even though these
cars have their revs electronically limited to 17,000 rpm, and a gearbox
with set ratios to avoid changes that would bring no real advantage, they
can still hit 330 km/h going down the main straight at Monza. The process
takes a gradual approach, with personalized modifications available, including
adjusting the cockpit area to suit the size and physique of the driver, as
well as using a baseline set-up. After that comes a track debut at Fiorano,
thanks also to a coaching service in the company of very experienced drivers
that leads to advances in driving and the main requirements for Formula 1.
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