17.03.2004 FERRARI'S LATEST RACING SPORTSCAR PROUDLY TOOK ITS PLACE IN THE LINE UP AT THE GENEVA MOTOR SHOW

Ferrari's racing activities were represented at the Geneva Motor Show by the F2003-GA, which helped Michael Schumacher clinch yet another F1 World Championship last year, and the GT racing bound 575 GTC.

The 575 GTC received its World Premiere at the Frankfurt IAA last September, and a month later, it made a stunning track debut as it won the penultimate round of the FIA GT Championship at Portugal's Estoril circuit in the hands of JMB Racing's Phillip Peter and Fabio Babini.

The 575 GTC, which is derived from the road going 5.748-litre V12 575M Maranello, was inspired by the success Prodrive achieved with their in-house developed 550 Maranello racers, one of which gave Ferrari its first class victory at Le Mans since 1974 last June. Breaking with tradition, the Fiat Group's competition arm, N-Technology, was entrusted with the new car's development program.

The racer's instant success amply demonstrated its on track abilities, and this year at least three teams, JMB Racing, GPC Squadra Corse and Scuderia Cavallino, will all run the 575 GTC racers in the bourgeoning FIA GT series. Meanwhile former Ferrari Challenge regulars, Barron Connor Racing, will run a pair of the cars for a star line up at this weekend's classis Sebring 12 Hours before embarking on a Le Mans endurance Series campaign.

The 575 GTC ( 'C' for Competizione ) thus looks set to open another chapter in the racing success of Ferrari sportscars and the single model on display in Geneva rightly took pride of place in the Ferrari display.

photos: Carlo Ombello