20/11/2008
NEWS STORY
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A special test session at the Mugello circuit today with a very special driver behind the wheel of the car which won the Formula 1 Constructors' world Title. For Moto GP World Champion Valentino Rossi it was a welcome return to the wheel of a Maranello car, having previously tested the cars in 2005 and 2006 at Fiorano, Mugello and Valencia. But this time it was purely for fun, for both - Ferrari and Rossi - celebrating their victorious seasons.
The F2008, the one driven by Kimi Raikkonen in the last races of the Championship at China and Brazil, was fitted with the number 46, as a homage to Valentino.
The test session started just after 11.00 and ended at 16:30pm. Valentino drove 320 kilometres and looking at the stopwatch one could see that he has everything needed to be an F1 driver: before the lunch break his fastest lap time was 1.23.76, while in the afternoon he posted 1.22.55.
"I'm really happy that I had this possibility and I want to thank President Luca di Montezemolo and Stefano Domenicali for it," Valentino said when he met journalists at the end of the day. "Driving a Ferrari Formula One car on a track like Mugello is something fantastic and incredible. It's great to work with people on such a high level, like those who were at the track with me today. We've done some pretty good work, very professional, and we tried to improve lap after lap. I'm satisfied and I hope I can do it again tomorrow."
Stefano Domenicali, Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro's team principal, was present at Mugello. "It's really nice to be here, celebrating a great season with numerous victories, here at home. Mugello is one of our tracks and also a circuit where Valentino has won several times, winning in some extraordinary races," Domenicali said. "It's two days of pure fun for us and Vale, although we're doing serious work; you can see that how he prepared himself physically. Vale would have been an excellent Formula One driver, but he chose a different road. He's part of our family and that's why we wanted to give him this opportunity; we're happy to be together once again; two Italian symbols like Ferrari and Valentino Rossi."