The top three drivers in this year’s Italian Formula Three championship tested a Ferrari F2008 at the Piero Taruffi circuit in Vallelunga today.
Cesar Ramos (Brazil), Stephane Richelmi (Monaco) and Andrea Caldarelli (Italy) had their first run in the car which won the 2008 constructors’ championship.
Ramos won the championship with 165 points ahead of Richelmi (153) and Caldarelli (148). Ferrari have given tests to the top three in the Italian championship since 2008 as part of their Ferrari driver academy.
Here’s what the trio had to say after their runs in the car:
Taking to the track in a Ferrari Formula 1 car was an incredible experience, better than anything I expected. I tried to enjoy it as much as possible, because it really was a dream come true.
During the session I was guided by a group of professionals who made me feel perfectly at ease and that contributed to making it an unforgettable experience.
Cesar Ramos
I realised that driving a Formula One car is hard work, which requires a lot of training and careful preparation and I am proud to have been given this opportunity.
Stephane Richelmi
Driving a Ferrari is the dream of every driver. I tried not to feel awestruck by the occasion so as not to waste a single moment. It has been a day I will never forget.
Andrea Caldarelli
Pictures from the Ferrari test
2011 F1 testing
Image © Ferrari spa
Icthyes (@icthyes)
2nd December 2010, 21:20
After all those beautiful Ferraris the other day we had to have this monstrosity to even the score out :)
james_mc
2nd December 2010, 21:32
Personally, I LOVE the look of the 2008-spec cars!
Victor.
2nd December 2010, 21:49
At least it looks like a proper single seater. The wings are… how they should be…
PJ
3rd December 2010, 12:45
It’s like something out of Wipeout, these cards look… mean :)
sato113 (@sato113)
2nd December 2010, 21:42
the 2008 Ferrari is the best looking car of the last decade in my opinion.
David-A (@david-a)
2nd December 2010, 22:00
I preferred the F2007, but the F2008 was the only car to make a bridge wing look good.
spectator
3rd December 2010, 1:00
me too dont know why but I always agree with you
Icthyes
3rd December 2010, 10:11
The Red Bull of 2007 was far better than either.
David-A (@david-a)
3rd December 2010, 11:33
The RB3? Great looking car wrecked by that bridge wing. I prefer the F2008’s bridge wing which joins onto the side of the nose, rather than go over it.
David-A (@david-a)
3rd December 2010, 19:53
Oh, and it’s the RB4, 2008.
Chippie
2nd December 2010, 21:45
When was the last time Ferrari had an Italian driving full time for them? Campelli in 1992? Wow, i was just born then! So with that in mind, do you think we’ll see an Italian driving for Ferrari any time soon? Discuss…
George (@george)
2nd December 2010, 22:55
No, Ferrari is just a retirement home. I wonder if they’ll still have Luca Badoer on the books by the time these guys retire?
inc0mmunicado
2nd December 2010, 23:26
notice the slick tires on the f2008!
wasiF1 (@wasif1)
3rd December 2010, 1:26
Which spec of car did they test? Surely not 2010.
OEL
3rd December 2010, 18:39
It’s an F2008.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
3rd December 2010, 20:10
From the article:
Lord Stig (@lord-stig)
3rd December 2010, 1:55
I wonder if Ferrari was running KERS on the F2008?
Tombong
3rd December 2010, 8:27
Dear God! Richelmi looks every bit like the young Gilles V
Dan Thorn (@dan-thorn)
3rd December 2010, 10:51
Ugh, Those spec cars really were disgustingly ugly. The F2008 was one of the best of a bad bunch, but it’s still horrid.
Don Mateo
3rd December 2010, 12:34
Now that I’m used to seeing the post-2009 spec cars, the old ones look really weird. All the aerodynamic appendages were getting a bit silly by the end.
matt88 (@matt88)
3rd December 2010, 17:55
why don’t they get Mortara? He’s Italian, he’s23 and he’s the only driver who’s won Macau two times. Moreover he’s reigning F3 Euroseries champion, succeeding to ‘unrelevant’ people like Hamilton (who beat Vettel), di Resta, Grosjean, Hulkenberg and Bianchi. I’d say he deserves a seat at least in GP2 (where he won once in 2009 with Arden).