The 2006 Ferrari World Finals were brought to a close at the Monza circuit with the traditional demonstration from Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro.

The key moment of the event that rounds off the Maranello outfit racing season was a tribute to the Formula 1 career of Michael Schumacher. Ferrari President, Luca di Montezemolo, Vice-president Piero Ferrari, Chief Executive Officer Jean Todt, Managing Director Amedeo Felisa and the entire team then acknowledged and thanked the crowd of over 45,000 spectators. Particularly heartfelt was the acknowledgement of the German driver, whose racing career has ended, although he will continue to have a role with Ferrari.

Completing the busy programme was the display of single-seaters prepared by the Maranello F1 Clienti department and runs for the laboratory car from the exclusive FXX Programme. A special initiative from the Scuderia Ferrari Club then saw some members taking part in the final round of the 2006 Soap Box race, for four wheeled vehicles without engines, based on the imaginative designs of these enthusiasts.

The day's race card saw the final races of the season in various Ferrari championships. Of particular note, the world final of the Ferrari Challenge Pirelli Trophy race, using the F430 Challenge, which was won by Andrea Belluzzi (Motor,) who crossed the line ahead of Vito Postiglione (Stile F) and Max Blancardi (Auto Palace/Star Rent Competition.) Giorgio Sernagiotto (Motor) took first place in the "mondialino" for gentlemen drivers in the Shell Cup, with Lorenzo Bontempelli (Rossocorsa) first among the 360 Challenge runners in this the last year of eligibility for the Prancing Horse one-make series.

Also taking to the track for the second series of races of the weekend were the competitors in the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge, also open to historic Maseratis. Wins at the end of these races went to Thomas Bscher in his 1955 Maserati 250 F in category "A" for single-seaters, to Bscher again, this time in a 1958 Maserati 450 S in the "B" group (sports and GT cars fitted with drum brakes) and the 1970 Ferrari 512 M of Patrick Stieger in the "C" class (cars with disc brakes.)

To check out our Ferrari World Finals gallery, featuring Michael, Felipe, Jean, Ross, Paulo and Luca di Montezemolo at Monza, click here