| The Pilota Ferrari driving courses offer Ferrari owners the opportunity to improve their driving skills and technique, to enable them to fully appreciate the safe potential of their car under a variety of conditions. The courses are not just about being able to drive fast, but about driving in a secure and sensible manner in accord with prevailing conditions. By honing the skills and awareness of the driver, they should effectively become safer on the road, whilst the improved driving ability can offer them increased enjoyment of their car in closed circuit conditions. The ”Pilota Mugello” course is a 2 day intensive course at the Ferrari owned Mugello circuit, sited to the north of Florence in the beautiful hilly landscape of Tuscany. |
| The courses are under the direction of former Grand Prix driver Andrea de Adamich, who heads an experienced band of professional tutors. The tuition is both theoretical and practical track based, and is undertaken in Ferrari 360 Modena and 550 Maranello models. On the first day the tutor rides in the car with the student, and on the second is in continuous radio contact from a pace car. Some of the aspects of car control covered are skid control, emergency braking, pendulum effect under heavy braking and ideal lines on the track. On the final day, those participants who have arrived in their own Ferraris have the opportunity to drive them on the track, enabling them to put their newly acquired skills into practise in their own machine. A course certifificate is issued upon completion, together with a ”Pilota Ferrari” helmet and various other specific mementoes of the occasion. We don’t want to spoil the surprise! |
| For those who want to progress to a higher level of accomplishment, there is an advanced course ”Corso Avanzato” held at the Fiorano circuit in Maranello, adjacent to the Ferrari racing department headquarters. This circuit is used extensively by the F1 team for testing purposes. This course is tailored to the individual, to further develop their skills and understanding of car control under more extreme conditions. Due to the number of participants who wanted to elevate their newly found skills to an even higher level, a third course was introduced in the year 2000. This is known as the ”Corso Evoluzione”, and is open to participants who have completed the previous two courses. It is a very tutor/student intensive 2 day course at Fiorano, in which the students end up driving 360 Challenge cars to full race specification. All course packages include high quality hotel accommodation close to the relevant circuit. Full details on enrolment, cost and availability, are obtainable through any official Ferrari dealer throughout the world. |
Keith Bluemel |