Ferrari bade a public and happy farewell to Rubens Barrichello today (Sunday) at Mugello. The occasion was the Finali Mondiali Ferrari 2005, the traditional end-of-term meeting of all Ferrari's own championships, including the Ferrari 360 Modena Challenges, and their three historic series. As usual, the meeting was attended by all the Ferrari big-wigs, including Luca di Montemolo, Jean Todt, Piero Ferrari, plus all the team's four drivers: Barrichello, Michael Schumacher, Luca Badoer and Marc Gene.

Badoer revealed that the team has done some 90,000 kilometers of testing this year.

For the last six years, the meeting has been a celebration of Ferrari's success, and even if that was lacking this year, the Mugello event was no less spectacular than in year's past. Admittedly there were only two Formula One cars, driven by the regular two race drivers, but there were four of the amazing new Enzo FXXs, a 430 Modena which will be used in the Challenges next year, and an amazing 60 Ferrari Enzos brought by their owners from all over Europe.

Jean Todt gave a press conference in the morning with Schumacher and Barrichello, which was 'gate-crashed' by a passing di Montezemolo, who then gave out the customary positive messages for the coming year.

Then during the midday lunch break from racing, four of the 1.5 million Euro FXXs formed up on the grid; these ultimate supercars give 800bhp at 8500 from their 6.3 litre V12 engines. The 60 Enzos were also on circuit, formed up on either side of the grid with their doors open.

Before the parade laps, Michael revealed much-improved Italian when interviewed before the parade set off, led by the F1 drivers in Formula One cars, and Rory Byrne driving - somewhat nervously - the 430 Modena for a single lap before heading for the pits. There were two parade laps for everyone else, before they came into the pits and the F1 cars set off for some fun.

Michael pitted first, Luigi Mazzola's test team proving that they had lost none of their wheel-changing skills (a preview of next year?) although for safety's sake they have never refuelled the cars. Then Barrichello came in and was turned around ahead of Michael - has that ever happened before? - and emerged ahead of his teammate, but then slowed for him.

They then did some demonstration racing laps before each stopping again, and then the pair came down to the start/finish line side-by-side with Rubens edging ever closer to his teammate until the pair almost touched as they came to a halt. Then Rubens did a couple of celebration donuts before launching himself out of his car and into the arms of the mechanics who promptly gave him what the British would call 'the bumps'.

This was followed by a brief walkabout by the two drivers and Todt - but not accompanied by di Montzemolo this time.

Rubens' farewell continues tomorrow (Monday) when he and his family visit and Maranello where he will treat family members to rides in a Ferrari three-seater around Fiorano.