Pano Roof Navi Heated Seats 20" Whls Big $365k Orig Msrp Loaded 2013 2012 599 on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Ferrari picks up ex-Sauber driver Esteban Gutierrez as test pilot

With McLaren's long-awaited confirmation of Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button, the grid for the 2015 Formula One World Championship is finally complete. (That is, at least, aside from the bankrupt Caterham and Marussia teams, whose fate for next season still remain open.) But with the big game of musical chairs now drawn to a close, not everyone who had a seat this year will have one the next. And that includes one Esteban Gutierrez, who lost his ride with Sauber but has landed a test driver role with Ferrari instead. Gutierrez climbed up through the formula racing ladder, winning the 2008 Formula BMW Europe and 2010 GP3 titles before getting his start as a test driver with the Sauber team – a role which he held for two seasons while simultaneously putting up a good fight and winning races in GP2. Sauber promoted him to the race seat in 2013 (when he placed a career-best seventh place at the Japanese Grand Prix) and kept him on board for another season. But after failing to finish in the points even once this past year, both he and veteran team-mate Adrian Sutil were both replaced for next season. Taking their place will be Marcus Ericsson (who drove for Caterham this year) and newcomer Felipe Nasr (who served this season as test driver at Williams). That's left Gutierrez without a race seat, but Scuderia Ferrari has snapped him up as its official test and reserve driver for next season. In that capacity he'll be offered the chance to drive top-flight machinery and hone his skills with a front-running team, and will be on standby should either Sebastian Vettel or Kimi Raikkonen be unable to drive at one grand prix or another. Most of the other teams have yet to confirm their third drivers, but Williams recently announced it was promoting Susie Wolff to the job and McLaren confirmed Kevin Magnussen was bumped down for next season to make way for Alonso. The move may strike some as odd since Gutierrez is not part of the Ferrari Driver Academy development program, but Sauber has long shared close ties with the Maranello-based team. Ferrari supplies engines to Sauber, which in turn sometimes graduates drivers to the Scuderia. Former Ferrari drivers Felipe Massa and Giancarlo Fisichella both drove for Sauber, and current drivers Vettel and Raikkonen both got their starts there as well. A Mexican driver is back to Maranello Maranello, 15 December 2014 – Ferrari announces that, as from next season, Esteban Gutierrez will become part of the Scuderia workforce.

Ferrari celebrates at Hong Kong's Asia World Expo

More than 600 Ferrari models, representing every era of the famed automaker's production, celebrated 30 years of presence in Hong Kong with a gathering at the Asia World Expo this past weekend. The event marked the largest single gathering of Maranello's sports cars ever organized in China. The weekend culminated with Marc Gene, Scuderia Ferrari's test driver, unveiling the new 458 Speciale.
There are only about 1,700 Ferrari owners in China, and they boast an average age of just 35 years. The young clientele in the Asian market often take advantage of Ferrari's 'Tailor Made' bespoke program and they have a growing interest in racing. The automaker says that many will travel to the Mugello circuit in Italy to participate in the final event of the Asia Pacific series of the Ferrari Challenge in a couple weeks.
"I am pleased to be here to celebrate Ferrari's thirty years in Hong Kong, along with so many owners who share our passion and the search for excellence, exclusivity and innovation," said President Luca di Montezemolo. The video shows hundreds of Ferraris, in popular white, yellow and red, being arranged indoors to form the Bauhinia Blakeana, a five-pedal flower that is the characteristic symbol of Hong Kong. Apparently owners of the more exclusive Blu Scozia, Avio Met and Vinaccia colors were asked to park outside. Scroll down below for a video and press release detailing the event.

Ferrari dominant at high-priced RM Auctions' Monterey event

Of the 21 multi-million-dollar lots sold over RM Auctions' two-day Monterey event, the top six were Ferraris while the top four were members of the vaunted 275 family. In total, 13 of the 21 seven- and eight-figure entries bore the yellow shield and prancing horse of the Scuderia.
Two cars in particular wowed bidders at the Monterey event - the exceptionally rare Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale and a 275 GTB/4 that was originally owned by Hollywood legend Steve McQueen.
The GTB/C Speciale was the first of a three-car run. Ferrari originally planned on campaigning the new range as a GT complement to its prototype entries at Le Mans, although squabbles with the FIA limited its racing career. Still, the extremely rare nature of this car means another example probably won't be coming up for auction for several years. Considering that, the GTB/C's selling price of $26.4 million does make a bit of sense.