Media & Events

Stolen opportunities see Maranello take third in Adelaide

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 18:47:00 GMT

The opening weekend in the Australian GT Championship has surely thrown some of the best and worst at the Maranello Motorsport team, blitzing lap records and seeing golden opportunities slip away as the action on the streets of Adelaide came alive.

After qualifying the Il Bello Rosso entry fifth for race one, Edwards took to the drivers' seat for the start, getting a good launch on the green, fending off the charge of Taplin and holding position for the move through the chicane. Going wide through turn five, Morris slipped through, Edwards then keeping consistent lap times coming to hold in sixth.

Having set his own fastest time of a 1:24.52, Edwards was lapping just a second off the pace of the leaders, a highly impressive effort against the likes of the full time and highly experienced racers up ahead. As the rain began to fall and the street circuit surface became an even greater challenge, Edwards headed to the pit lane from fourth on lap 21 to hand the reigns to co-pilot Simonsen who waited for the compulsory time penalty to tick away before reentering the race in 11th.

Simonsen was immediately on a charge looking to accelerate the Il Bello Rosso machine back to the lead pack in the fashion he is known for, speed and divine race craft. When the safety car was called on lap 26 with 26 minutes left to run in the opening race, the timed stops and strategy started to take effect. Being held up behind the safety car dropped Simonsen from the lead group, and a long break in the traffic ahead on the restart saw the Dane with a greater gap to claw back in the remaining laps as the rain continued to fall.

The track was green once more and Simonsen charged the Maranello Motorsport entry through the traffic, under Wilson through turn six, before taking Briggs on the run to the turn eight sweeper as he moved into fourth. A move on Brock put the #8 Ferrari 458 GT3 into third, and the fight was on to regain the eight seconds to the lead cars.

In just two laps, Simonsen halved the gap and was in sight of the leaders. By lap 34, the Il Bello Rosso Ferrari was merely two seconds from the lead, and the gap was continuing to decrease with a fastest first and second sector bringing Simonsen onto the back of the Quinn Porsche. Now it was on.

Going under Quinn through the final turn to take second, Simonsen went on to set a new lap record of 1:22.63, taking more than a second from his own record that has stood since his efforts of 2008. With three minutes remaining, the battle was hot between Hackett and Simonsen, the pair in defensive and assertive modes as they looked to the maiden win of the season.

In the final minutes, Simonsen was robbed of his chance to win when race traffic completely changed the gameplay, Eddy and Hackett coming together, leaving Simonsen with nowhere to go but up the turn four escape road. Spinning the car to reenter the circuit, Simonsen battled on once again to set the Il Bello Rosso Ferrari into third, another impressive effort to secure the first podium place of the year for the Melbourne based team.

Coming into the half hour that would be race two, Simonsen would make the start, a good launch past Ormsby set the Il Bello Rosso Ferrari 458 GT3 in good place to challenge at the helm, all over the rear of the Quinn Porsche before moving around and shutting the door on the run into turn four to take an early lead.

Immediately on the pace and looking to pull out the lead before handing to his co-driver, Simonsen went on to set the fastest sectors as he undercut his record from just 18 hours before. By lap five, the Ferrari 458 GT3 led the field by more than five seconds, and the Dane wasn't slowing, again undercutting his own record with a 1:21.2917.

Streaking away out in front as the times tumbled, Simonsen was soon more than nine seconds up the road from Quinn in second. Clearly looking to hand over the hot seat with a significant buffer, Simonsen was charging on to go faster again, setting another lap record of 1:21.2202, a record that would stand when on lap ten, the safety car was called, diminishing Simonsen's lead.

Caught behind the #15 Porsche, the Il Bello Rosso Ferrari 458 GT3 headed for the pits with 16 minutes remaining, the reigns now handed to Edwards as the time penalty was served in the lane. As the safety car returned to the pits, Edwards sat first on the road, looking to hold the lead through the final minutes.

A quick Quinn went under through the back of the circuit to place Edwards second, with Brock all over the rear of the Ferrari, lights ablaze, but it Edwards was holding his own, protecting his deserved place on the tarmac and looking to take the flag for his Maranello Motorsport team.

With the chequered flag in sight, a nudge from Brock sent Edwards into a spin and out of contention, dropping to 14th on the road, but keeping the #8 off the concrete, going on to salvage a 13th place.

Having completed 56 laps on the streets of Adelaide, Edwards and Simonsen had come so close to glory, a third on the podium still an achievement for the team that seemingly had no luck this time around, but have more than shown the speed and performance will soon return the Maranello Motorsport entry to the top of the podium, not just the timesheets.

Allan Simonsen
"The series has taken on a new era with the European GT rules, and by doing that all the cars are faster this year, so every race you'll go to this year you will see records being broken and it's good to start that all rolling.

"It's not just because I drive the car, it's because we have a professional crew and Peter (Edwards) is showing more and more the skill he brings to the outfit.

"I'm here to support Peter and Nick (O'Halloran) as much as I can. I've won this championship before and now it's their turn to have the glory and I'll do anything I can to make sure they have the best.

"In races like this weekend, I'm quite confident that we could have won the round, but it was just one of those weekends and didn't play out. We know we have the right package so things will turn to our advantage and make it is great season for the team."

Peter Edwards
"It's a great result I'm really happy with it, even if unfortunately in the races it was a little bit dicey but things happen and it could have been cleaner, or it could have meant damage so we've got the record, a third and it's only the start of the year.

"The team have done an amazing job - the car performed really well, this place has a great atmosphere, I'm racing with great friends and obviously this combination got us into the position to be third.

"We've got some changes that can be made to the car, and it will be a function of this year to learn each of the circuits, and learn the right setups for the circuits - it's a process to do it right and keep getting faster to make the results come."

Maranello Motorsport is proudly supported by Il Bello Rosso - Baby Roma Tomatoes, IVECO, General Pants Co, BioMax, iPatrol and GPI Corporate.

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Maranello bring pace and confidence to Australian GT season opener

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:16:00 GMT

Coming into round one of the Australian GT season, Maranello Motorsport were on a high after a positive weekend of car speed and outstanding team efforts at last weekend's Bathurst 12 hour endurance race at Mount Panorama.

Having taken delivery of the Il Bello Rosso Ferrari 458 Italia in November, the crew have worked with the Italian developers of the supercar, Michelotto, to engineer a race package that debuted to set records, and went on to blow away the times of the strong international field during the 12 Hour event.

The Adelaide Parklands circuit is a place where Simonsen has seen great success over the years with the Melbourne based team, and Edwards is quickly mastering what it takes to overcome the challenges of the tight concrete canyon.

Having experienced the highs and lows of the season last year, Edwards and Simonsen have paired up in what has proven to be an incredibly fast entry, with their driving styles complimenting the team performance and commitment to take Maranello Motorsport to the top.

Practice saw Edwards and Simonsen share the hot seat, Edwards placing well in the times against the more experienced drivers, while Simonsen hit the track to take the Il Bello Rosso 458 to the top of the timesheets in both sessions.

Heading the field in the first session, the 458's debut on the streets of Adelaide had the Maranello Motorsport machine looking dialed in as Simonsen went out to set a 1:22.55 on the fifth lap, some two seconds quicker than the practice times of the GT field last season. A 20 minute practice two had the Dane back behind the wheel, blitzing his own time by another second to post a 1:21.48 on lap 11 after Edwards commenced the stint in the mid 1:25's.

With the afternoon came the first qualifying session of the new year, and it was Edwards who would impress, maneuvering through the traffic to secure fifth place and ensuring the Il Bello Rosso Ferrari would be in a good position to start tomorrow's 60 minute race one. There's no doubt Edwards was pleased with the weekend so far, saying,

"The team made sure we kept the speed from Bathurst, then looking at the data last night, and working with Allan to see where time could be made up, I identified an extra two seconds in just doing some things slightly different so we tried some changes and ultimately they all came off, so it was a confident two seconds up on the practice time.

"The lap felt very fast, in fact, on following lap, I got a little confused with braking marker changes but I'm sure that will come through time and improving the race craft .

"I think it'll be fun to go from the start - I don't get too worried about traffic, just need to keep the pace to keep us in a good position for Allan to jump in and improve our position."

Allan Simonsen
"Coming off Bathurst with a good car and good speed is obviously easier than coming green into it, and for Peter (Edwards) and myself, we both know the car quite well now so it makes things easier when you go into a track where it hasn't got any rubber down.

"I've got the GT lap record here so know the track very well, meaning we tried to concentrate the practice sessions on giving Peter as much time as we could as he's still new-ish to this track and he's done a phenomenal job.

"Being fastest in both sessions, with times faster than where the field qualified, it tells us that we've got a good shot in the race. What Peter has just done now is the best I've ever seen - to do a time like he did is very good, but what makes it incredibly good is that he's only 1.4 seconds off pole which is amazing.

"If he can continue like this it's not going to be long before he's challenging for top three positions. Also, now it gets to the point where he's driving so fast for a new driver that he's getting close to the edge so we don't want to push him too hard, we want to keep him going fast but now to get the consistency and race craft as the time he produced was already well over expectations."

Maranello Motorsport is proudly supported by Il Bello Rosso - Baby Roma Tomatoes, IVECO, General Pants Co, BioMax, iPatrol and GPI Corporate.

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Maranello Motorsport retires from Bathurst 12 Hour but leaves on high

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 14:30:00 GMT

Mount Panorama has a way of throwing the best and worst at every driver who attempts to tame its challenging tarmac. This is certainly the story for the Maranello Motorsport Il Bello Rosso Ferrari 458 GT3 this weekend.

The Australian team knew there were literally mountains to climb, but were confident in team preparations, car and their stunning driver line-up with the best of international and Australian GT competitors.

Through the practice sessions, Maranello remained in the top times. There were no surprises when Danish endurance star Allan Simonsen posted a record breaking 2:08.2824 to secure the fastest lap of the day, while both Bowe and Farnbacher posted individual times in the top four. Edwards, a relatively new face to professional racing, completed a personal best to cap off the impressive driver performances.

Day two would see a 90 minute morning qualifier where Simonsen would again star in the Il Bello Rosso machine, going faster again with a 2:08.2244 as his teammates all showed they had the performance to set the Maranello machine as a real contender for the win. A long break post Q1 before the teams hit the track to close the day and their chances to take pole with a half hour flyer which saw Simonsen and Bowe pilot the 458 to take second place on the grid (aggregate times considered). Importantly, the Australian entry was on the front row and well within striking distance.

In the darkness of Sunday morning, the 25 strong field lined up, lights ablaze. Minor dramas started early for the Il Bello Rosso entry as Simonsen realised he didn't have high beam, but that wouldn't stop a charge from the first corner. Fighting hard, Simonsen took the lead on just lap three and charged on to blitz the field, setting yet another record in the process with a 2:06.3311. The luck soon changed as the team were stunned to see the 458 limping across the mountain. Returning to pit lane, the Il Bello Rosso 458 stopped just 10 metres short of the pit bay after an incorrect fuel reading saw the Maranello entry simply run out. Pitting again soon after to complete a tyre change and reset the computer, it seemed the Maranello Motorsport Ferrari was on its way once more. Making up time, the Danish star was close to regaining the two lost laps when handing the reigns to Bowe.

Bowe took on the challenge, driving hard to bring the local crew back towards the lead group, but a pit infringement soon caused the next setback, Bowe serving a drive through penalty before continuing to show the strength of the team as they once again worked to claw back the deficit.

Soon the rain would fall and it was German rising star Farnbacher taking to the cockpit for yet another new experience at Mount Panorama, sliding his way across the mountain before settling into a rhythm in the wet and looking to keep it clean and ensure the 458 could challenge all the way. It wasn't to be, with an exhaust manifold oxygen sensor fault causing the fire extinguisher to detonate, and seeing Farnbacher park to the side of Mountain Straight.

Returning to pit lane, the Maranello Motorsport crew worked hard to locate and overcome the issue, but the team have now confirmed their retirement from the 2012 Bathurst 12 Hour and are looking ahead to next weekend's Clipsal 500.

Leaving with some disappointment from the small mechanical issue that stopped them going all the way in the hunt for the silverware. The team will leave full of pride, knowing they put in maximum effort, achieved a new lap record and took the challenge all the way to the top against the strong international contingent.

Dominik Farnbacher
"For the first couple of laps it was ok, but we struggled overall with grip. I couldn't really keep the car under control or slow down easily and I didn't want to lose control so I just drove.

"About halfway through my stint there was a safety car and there was an alarm going off and after I passed the start finish line a lap later it just shut down the whole engine. I rolled onto Mountain Straight and tried to restart but then the fire extinguisher went off and I parked it.

"It's a little bit disappointing - the car was running great in the dry but in the rain it wasn't as competitive. It's sad for the guys who've worked very hard, but this is racing, life goes on and it's definitely a cool ride around here.

"The Ferrari is still quite a new race car and so there are little things to work through which is normal, but this car was outstandingly quick. We did a 2:06.3 and that's almost three seconds faster than the best lap last year.

"Everyone should raise their heads as we all put in such a big effort and we should praise the performance of the Marenello Motorsport team - they are a great crew who gave me a great life time experience."

John Bowe
"We had made up some time because the guys did a good job with the strategy and we got back on the lead lap so that itself was a big effort.

"Dominik (Farnbacher) is probably the most impressive young driver I've seen, ever - for a guy that's never been here before he's incredibly quick.

"Things had been going really well and that's a credit to the team, but the car had the technical drama with a mixture reading and it's too risky to run it."

Peter Edwards
"It's very disappointing but these small parts can cause problems. We've got unbelievable drivers, this is an unbelievable track, and then there's the crazy weather.

"I think everyone was doing what they needed to do, but it's a small fault that stopped the race for us this time.

"I was happy with my progress over the weekend. I picked up a couple of seconds on my personal best and have been doing that every time I come here. I know there is more to be had but not today.

"I'm really excited for next weekend at Clipsal, I think we'll do really well and I think ultimately as a driver line-up, we've shown good form here so we'll look forward to the rest of this season and next year at the 12 Hour."

Allan Simonsen
"Obviously right now everyone is disappointed. I'm particularly disappointed for Pete (Edwards). He's put this whole team together in such a big effort. We clearly have the speed to do something about winning this race and something like this happens which is out of everyone's hands, but that's racing and we should be happy with what we did achieve.

"We came back with a new lap record officially, so it's a good thing.

"I've always known that the car is strong so this is a setback but we've achieved a lot and now we have got to take it as it comes and look at the positives and on to Clipsal."

Maranello Motorsport Managing Director, Mark Coffey
"We had an unfortunate start, and yes it's disappointing to see the team leave with a DNF after the incredible efforts they've all put in, and with more than credible performances all weekend by each and every driver, but we can walk away knowing that the team can take it to the top and that the cause of an early finish wasn't in any way a reflection on the team's preparation or the commitment and skill of our drivers . This is simply the nature of this place."

Maranello Motorsport's Bathurst 12 Hour campaign is proudly supported by Il Bello Rosso - Baby Roma Tomatoes, General Pants Co, BioMax, iPatrol and GPI Corporate.

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Dramatic Bathurst 12 Hour start for Maranello 458

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 08:23:00 GMT

Dane endurance specialist Simonsen had started strongly in the #17 Il Bello Rosso Ferrari 458 GT3 during the opening hour of the 2012 Bathurst 12 Hour at Mount Panorama, but it's been action aplenty as the laps and hours tick over.

A rolling start at 0615 saw the 25 strong field roar up the mountain, headlights ablaze, Simonsen having realised he had no high beams during his warm up lap, but showed the potential of the 458 powering off the line to tuck in behind the leading Audi, using the Phoenix entry to light the way.

Looking strong, the Dane waited until just turn two to take a look under the leader, clearly with the power as the two opened a lead of two seconds over the field in the first laps as Simonsen posted a 2:09.26 to open his account, before going side by side with the Audi to take the race lead through the chase on the following lap.

Simonsen was soon pulling out a gap, his main rival now the clock as he left a quality international field searching for answers posting a blistering 2:07.4975 on lap eight. A Ferrari specialist, he used his vast experience around Mount Panorama to continue to dominate the opening stages, opening a 3.9 second lead.

The #17 Il Bello Rosso dipped into 2:06 bracket on lap 22 with a 2:06.4582 to set a new lap race record as Simonsen led the race comfortably by 13.3 seconds at the one hour mark, the Ferrari appearing set to coast at the front as it looked to assert its dominance over the Audi of Mies, and the rest of the field. Simonsen's strong pace left the team felling confident heading into the second hour.

Just as the first 60 minutes ticked over, hearts dropped in the Maranello Motorsport garage as their leader began to coast across the top of the mountain. A slow journey back to the pits, Simonsen coasted towards the pit bay, the Ferrari stopping just ten metres short. A prompt fuel stop and the team were confident they were back on track despite dropping from the lead lap. An issue with the fuel gauge saw an incorrect read in the cockpit, one lap and another trip past the garage for a tyre change and computer reset to overcome the gauge gremlin.

The Il Bello Rosso entry was now two laps down in eighth, but set about eating into the lead of the cars in front, Simonsen using the next 20 laps to make quick work of the traffic to reduce the gap to a little over 1 lap by lap 46. The Ferrari 458 moved up into sixth position and was well and truly back on the pace, as the Dane went on to again break his own record, setting a 2:06.3311.

In a strong early performance, Simonsen was edging closer, now one lap down as he handed the Ferrari over to Australian touring car legend Bowe, just before the first safety car of the race entered the circuit. The Tasmanian will go about consolidating the ground Simonsen made up in an action packed opening two hours for the Maranello Motorsport team.

Allan Simonsen
"We hadn't done any of the sessions in the dark, and I realised on warm up that I had no high beams, so was thinking 'how am I going to see?'.

"It was a good start and was good that the Audi was quick off the start so it could light the track up so I knew where I was going, the got into the groove and the sun came up. We had good car speed and I was able to pull away.

"That changed when the fuel gauge was wrong, I was told to pit and on that lap as I was coming around, it started coughing, but the fuel gauge said there was plenty. I came in and we set going again with a full tank, then after two laps the fuel alarm came on, but we're sorted and this is what can happen.

"Anything can happen, and yes it's not nice to go a couple of laps down to begin with, but we've got a strong car and a strong driver lineup.

"I was pushing every lap, trying to do the best I possibly could to gain back what we lost, but we got one back then the safety car came a lap too late, but our luck will change. 12 hours is a long time and a lot can happen."

Maranello Motorsport's Bathurst 12 Hour campaign is proudly supported by Il Bello Rosso - Baby Roma Tomatoes, General Pants Co, BioMax, iPatrol and GPI Corporate.

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Maranello 458 to launch from front row

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 19:50:00 GMT

Maranello Motorsport's #17 Il Bello Rosso Ferrari 458 will start tomorrow's Bathurst 12 Hour from the front row after securing P2 following today's split qualifying sessions.

Opening the morning track schedule was Qualifying 1, a 90 minute chance to set benchmark times without breaking the 2:08.00 restriction.

The team confident with preparations, the drivers keen to take the 458 GT3 to the head of the grid, and it would be Simonsen to come through with the goods, setting the fastest time in the opening session with a 2:08.2244. Team mates Farnbacher and Bowe placed times to secure the session's fastest three times would fall within the Maranello Motorsport team.

A long break gave teams a full day in the garages, and for Maranello it was routine modifications and checks before closing the day with a half hour blast second qualifying session.

SImonsen and Bowe took to the hot seat in the final half hour, the team looking to secure a front row start and place well for the long endurance challenge of tomorrow. Simonsen took the Il Bello Rosso 458 around in a 2:11.1929 to place second fastest, Bowe adding laps to his experience in the exotic racer, the combination doing enough to secure P2, with Simonsen nominated to make the start alongside the Phoenix Audi R8.

Allan Simonsen
"We came here last November and had a first drive, which was a good opportunity to learn, and has proven to be very useful with just three short sessions here.

"We've got Dominik who's not been here, so it's important to get everyone laps, and everyone is doing extremely well, have gelled and so far we're very pleased with how it's been going."

"It's definitely a good opportunity to start from the front row, you're the pace setter along with P1 so a good situation for us.

"At the end of the day in a 12 hour race it doesn't mean that much where you start, but it is nice to be at the front to get away from potential carnage, remembering it's a long race, we need to get started, settle into a rhythm and get going."

Peter Edwards
"I'm feeling really comfortable, happy with my time, and glad we're all able to keep it up there.

"It's a great team, we're great mates, and the quality of drivers, well they all speak for themselves."

Dominik Farnbacher
"I'm very excited to be here, it's a unique track, I love every inch of it and it's giving me goosebumps when I drive around it. I enjoy driving with these teammates, they're great names.

"I think tomorrow we'll play a big role in top three or four - getting through the race without incident might see a good result.

"We're well prepared, Maranello Motorsport are a professional race team, they know what they're doing, and with my teammates I have no fear in completing the race."

John Bowe
"The car's really good. Last year Pete (Edwards) and I drove a (Ferrari) 430, so this is like a different country.

"It's nice to have a nice car and good team mates. Tomorrow's a big race and you never know what will happen in the 12 hours - these sort of races become quite strategic and rely on a certain degree of luck so you need to be having a lucky day as well as a smart day."

Maranello Motorsport's Bathurst 12 Hour campaign is proudly supported by Il Bello Rosso - Baby Roma Tomatoes, General Pants Co, BioMax, iPatrol and GPI Corporate.

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Maranello take early P1 as the drama begins at Mount Panorama

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 10:21:00 GMT

It's the day where every hundredth of a second could be the difference between the front row and a pack start for tomorrow's Bathurst 12 Hour.

Coming off of a positive practice day where the Il Bello Rosso Ferrari 458 topped the timesheets in the final practice, the Maranello Motorsport prepared machine was again ripe to go racing, ending the interrupted first qualifying session in provisional P1 with a 2:08.2244, seven tenths ahead of the competition leading into this afternoon's final qualifying.

Through the carnage on the mountain, the interruptions merely marked time for the Australian based, internationally complimented team to wait, complete the scheduled driver changes and ensure that Bowe, Edwards, Farnbacher and Simonsen all had time at the wheel to each post the fast times.

Returning to Mount Panorama after some ten years with Maranello Motorsport, Simonsen was again the one to stand tall and secure the P1 time for the team. Confident with his efforts but cautious of the long 1 hours ahead, he said,

"Qualifying doesn't mean too much ahead of such a long race, but it's nice to know we're all on a level playing field and all feeling comfortable with the car.

"Dominik (Farnbacher) is doing really well for not having been here, Peter (Edwards) keeps improving, John (Bowe) is always a welcome face in the drivers seat, and the whole team is just gelling so well, and is fully committed to keeping it going once we get into the race."

Having vast experience here at Bathurst, Australian motor racing legend Bowe was also feeling good about the prospects of the Il Bello Rosso supported Ferrari.

"I'm very happy with the car - while it's quite new to me, it's feeling good. We've got a really tight knit team with a good driver combination.

"I've done a lot of 12 hour races, and we all know that quirky stuff can and will happen, but the Maranello team are keeping us in good shape - they're all doing an awesome job."

Qualifying 2 will see the Bathurst 12 Hour entries return to the circuit at 4.30pm local time, after a long day in the garages as preparations continue ahead of what is set to be the toughest 12 hour challenge ever seen here in Australia.

Maranello Motorsport's Bathurst 12 Hour campaign is proudly supported by Il Bello Rosso - Baby Roma Tomatoes, General Pants Co, BioMax, iPatrol and GPI Corporate.

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Simonsen sets fastest time on the Mountain

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:13:00 GMT

Returning to the place of his blistering lap late last year, Simonsen and the team at Maranello Motorsport were confident coming into this weekend's Bathurst 12 Hour, and now the Il Bello Rosso backed Ferrari 458 has topped the timesheets ending to end a successful opening day.

In the morning's opening session, the Australian based 458 was consistently in the top times, with German debutant Farnbacher impressing from the outset, while enjoying his first laps around the challenging mountain circuit, saying,

"The track was very green in those first laps, there was still a lot of sand and dirt making it very slippery.

"I'm very happy - the car behaves well, which I expected and my driving style felt like it suited the track. There are corners where I can, and must improve, as it's very dangerous with not much overtaking on top of mountain but I can already say that I more than like it."

Practice 2 saw the track temperature rise to some 50 degrees, and after further refinements and setup tests in the Maranello Motorsport entry, Farnbacher, Bowe and Edwards again took to the drivers seat to put down the times and prepare for the day's final session where it was speculated the times would likely tumble.

The day's final 30 minute practice saw Bowe open the session, before Danish endurance superstar Simonsen took to the wheel for the first time this weekend, and he was soon settled where he feels most at home, the cockpit of a Ferrari 458 GT3.

Taking to the mountain, Simonsen went on to set the fastest time of the meeting, a 2:08.2824 ensuring it was all smiles in the Maranello Motorsport garage, with confidence high and things continuing to look positive for the locals with the endurance battle ahead as Simonsen explained,

"It's just great. Maranello Motorsport has put in a big effort to come here, with the car looking good, and just so much effort from everyone.

"With the factory teams in the spotlight, we're a small Australian team and we're here to be professional and put on a good showing.

"We know we've got a good car, so the team are dialling everything in and getting everyone some laps, and so far the team and us as drivers are all pretty pleased, now just making sure it runs nice and smoothly.

"Depending on the weather I think there'll be some very fast times, but at this place it always depends on how the race pans out… if it's close you'll see fast times no doubt, if there's trouble out front, it'll be a race to finish. We've got a great package and I'm sure you will see very fast lap times, no doubt about it - at this stage I think my record is safe though.

"I've been with the Maranello team for going on ten years now so known them for a long time, know they put in big effort and do a good job, the cars brand new and has been fully spanner checked by the boys here in Australia so it's looking good, but don't forget that 12 hours is such a long race and a lot of things can happen. We're confident."

Maranello Motorsport's Bathurst 12 Hour campaign is proudly supported by Il Bello Rosso - Baby Roma Tomatoes, General Pants Co, BioMax, iPatrol and GPI Corporate.

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Bowe Takes Maiden Flight in Maranello 458 GT3

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:27:00 GMT

In the lead up to next month's Bathurst 12 Hour, Phillip Island today hosted another Maranello Motorsport first as John Bowe took to the wheel of the Il Bello Rosso 458 GT3 to settle in for what could just be the ride of his life.

The second test for the Michelotto prepared monster saw Bowe take it to the limits on the southern circuit, cementing a confidence in the latest Maranello race acquisition, ready for the world stage.

Having completed his first five lap session, Bowe returned to consult the technicalities with the Maranello crew, but not before stepping out of the cockpit with a smile to explain,

"It's incredibly impressive, with massive amount of grip compared to the Mustang so really, it's like 'wow'!

"The 458 has a much nicer gear change than the previous Ferrari, a nicer brake feel, and it's got a lot more gizmos to work around, and so far I've only done a very limited amount which lends to a lot more to come.

"I've done lots of miles in these sorts of cars, not for a while, so with a lot more grip than most cars because of the aero grip, you need to again believe in the fact that it's actually going to go around the corners and pull up when all of your senses are saying that it won't,.

"It's impressive, I don't know how else to put it, it's great to drive, comfortable and has unquestionable performance, a very well thought out race car, much more so than most.

"There's always some areas that I think we can improve on in terms of stability, but nothing drastic as overall it's an amazingly well prepared car which I'm definitely looking forward to driving at Bathurst."

Completing some 20 laps of the 4.4km circuit, Bowe used the sessions to make his place in the Il Bello Rosso machine, looking to build his own confidence in its capabilities, some well beyond his initial hopes.

There's no doubt the Maranello Motorsport entry will see the drivers and crew giving everything at the Mountain, and with Bowe joining the likes of Simonsen, Farnbacher and Edwards, keep an eye on this monster.

458 Smashes Lap Record at Mountain Test

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 13:35:00 GMT

Australia may well have its answer to who to watch come February's Bathurst 12 Hour as the international field gains momentum for what is expected to be an epic year for the event.

MARANELLO Grabs 458s, Farnbacher

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 09:48:00 GMT

MARANELLO Motorsport are getting closer to meeting their new Ferrari 458 GT3s for the first tie.

The Australian GT outfit have ordered three brand-new 458s for Michelotto, and will travel to Italy in the coming weeks to shakedown the first car before it's transported to Australia.