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FERRARI CHALLENGE
INFINEON RACEWAY, May 2011
The F1 and the FXX cars were back and they brought the 599XX.
The 2011 Ferrari Challenge at Infineon Raceway this April 28 thru May 1 was run in the soft California sunshine, unlike past years which sometimes have run in the rain. The Ferrari Club had a good turnout on Saturday and the Club members had several laps around the 2.55 mile track. The Challenge changes its format each year and this year the F1 cars were back, as were the FXX cars. Running with the FXX cars were the new Ferrari 599XX track cars. One driver of a 599XX put on a good show by chasing down an FXX that had some distance in front of him.
My two favorite viewing and shooting positions on the Infineon track are at turn 2 and turn 9, as the cars carry some speed into these corners and give us some nice exciting lines through them as the cars over-shoot or loose grip. This weekend did not go without some experimenting by the more spirited drivers. The photos on this page will show what was happening.
This year is the first year for Ferrari's new and I must say, most beautiful 458. The Challenge Race between the drivers of the older F430 and the 588 was the run to watch. As I have said in the past, this race takes us back to the golden days of the 'Gentlemen Race Drivers', like Graham Hill, and von Trips. The racing was hard and a great show.
I had an opportunity to have an informative lunch time discussion with the owner and driver of the 1989 F-1, which was a V12 powered car.
What he shared was very interesting in the world of racing cars. Ferrari is the only manufacture that supports their ancient warriors. Older cars which are mechanical in operation are, at lease in concept, within the realm of being maintained by highly skilled mortals. The newer electronic and carbon fiber generation race cars are only truly maintainable by the godly trained mavens of the factory in which they were conceived. Ferrari engines have always been the 'Heart' of the Ferrari car and the Factory man who builds an engine is the one who maintains it. As the cars get older the same Factory man continues to maintain this car/engine.
Ferrari sells off its older F1 cars, but the Factory maintains a relationship. The new owner can house and maintain the car or the Factory will house and maintain it. The F1 owners are referred to at the Challenge as the F1 Clienti. The F1 Clienti's track time is something to behold. First the F1 cars are set in the garage with full-hands-on maintenance and prep by a full cadre of Factory, Italian speaking only, mechanics. During pit stops the Italian crew rushes in, not unlike a real F1 race stop. The cars run is monitored in the garage with its on-board telemetry to a bank of technicians.
The morning F1 run on Saturday ended with the 2001 ex-Schumacher car leaving engine parts all over the track. As it passed through Turn 2 it appeared to have a trail of white smoke and as it entered Turn 7 at the end of the long uphill straightaway all-good-things parted and a piston exited out the side of the block. The owner/driver, wanting to be on track, for the Ferrari Challenge's return to Laguna Seca in May, sent off a frantic call to Maranello for a new engine. Just like in the old days.
For images of event cars, Click Here To search under Make of Car
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GALLERY 2 -- F1 CARS
Ferrari Challenge 2011
Ferrari 458 2011
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari 599XX 2011
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari 599XX 2011
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari FXX 2011
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari FXX 2011
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari F1 1989
1989 Portuguese Grand Prix Winner driver Gerhard Berger
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari F1 1997
Ex-Schumacher Car
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari Club
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari Club
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari Club
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari Club
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari 450 2011
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari 450 2011
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari 450 2011
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari 599XX 2011
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari 599XX 2011
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari F430 & 458
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari F430 & 458
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari 430 2011
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
F430 GTC 2006
Engine;
Type
90 deg V8;
Bore/Stroke;
3.62 X 2.96 in;
Total displacement;
243.8 cu in;
Engine intake with twin dia
1.126" Restrictors in compliance with FIA-ACO regulations;
Maximum power;
335 Kw (450 cv) at 7000 rpm;
Maximum torque;
490 Nm at 5500 rpm;
Chassis;
Aluminium alloy engine block;
Brakes;
Front;
15.0 X 1.34 in;
Rear;
13.1 X 1.26 in;
Dimensions and weight:
Overall lenght;
177.6 in;
Overall width;
78.75 in;
Height;
46.26 in;
Wheelbase;
102.7 in;
Front track;
66,78 in;
Rear track;
64,57 in;
Dry weight;
2745 lb;
Source: Ferrari 2011
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Ferrari FXX
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari FXX
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari FXX
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari FXX Pilot
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari FXX
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari FXX
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari FXX
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari 599XX
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari 458
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari FXX Driver
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari FXX
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari FXX
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari F1
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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Ferrari F1
Ferrari Challenge Infineon Raceway 2011
Sonoma, California
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