Italian F3 champion Sergio Campana and rookie winner Michael Lewis had their prize drives in a 2009 Ferrari at Vallelunga yesterday.
The latter is the first American to drive a contemporary works Ferrari since Mario Andretti in 1982.
The test was organised by the CSAI in conjunction with the Italian team.
Lewis drove in the morning and recorded 1m21.0s, while Campana was 0.4s faster in warmer conditions in the afternoon. Both men did around 50 laps.
“I was sure I would have felt strong emotions but I would have not believed this much!,” said Lewis. “Everything here is multiplied compared to what I am used to do while driving a Formula 3 car. It is really tough to get to the limit but it is exciting to feel all that power and that force in fast corners and under braking. Everything is multiplied but the car’s dynamics is the same.
“There is no doubt that Formula 3 is an extraordinary school allowing me to reach this moment ready. It is fantastic to have this experience behind the wheel of a Ferrari Formula One car. It is a dream for everyone, and it is so also for an American like me”.
“I cannot explain my feeling,” said Campana. “Feeling that engine pushing, aerodynamics flattening you, brakes allowing you to brake nearly inside the corner, gear shifts in thousands of seconds. Formula One is fantastic! The Ferrari Formula One car is fantastic! For an Italian driver it is something unbelievable.
“I reckon that from tomorrow on I will fill the walls of my house with today’s pictures. I am hopeful I left a good impression. I do not know what will happen in the future and I do not even want to think about it now, I just want to enjoy a bit this moment. Continuing my career with single-seaters would be fantastic.”
Adam Cooper F1 