Ferrari F2008 Ferrari F430 Challenge/FXX

This weekend Ferrari has been the main protagonist - with a series races and demonstrations runs - at the 33rd International Car Show in Bologna, the Prancing Horse cars performing in front of the massed spectators in the large arena dedicated to special events.

For Saturday's racing events the F430 Challenge from the Italian Ferrari Challenge Pirelli Trophy racing series went on the track in the hands of drivers from that championship: at the end of the qualifying session and then the three runs, the winning driver in the Pirelli Trophy's main category was Nicola Gianniberti (Ineco/Ram), while the finals dedicated to the Shell Cup's gentleman drivers was won by Gianluca Carboni (Rossocorsa/Pellin).

Then it was the turn of the supercars from the exclusive FXX programme, which sees a select group of customer clients taking part in track events around the world, taking to the Bologna Arena. The spectacular track-only machines entertained the crowds packed into the grandstands.

However the Tifosi had come to see the legendary F1 team in track action and the now-traditional show by the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, with long-time test driver Luca Badoer behind the wheel of this year's F2008, the car which this year won the marque its 16th FIA Formula 1 Constuctors' World Championship title for the Prancing Horse, made the spectators cheer long and loudly.

After the team carried out pit stop simulations, and Badoer had smoked his tyres to the applause of the crowd, the Italian then drove several laps behind the wheel of the new 500 Abarth Assetto Corse version, which will debut in an exciting new 2009 trophy series taking place at the same time as the Italian Ferrari Challenge Pirelli Trophy, apart from the round at the Valencia circuit, the sixth race of the European single-marque championship.