Monterey Historic F1 cars preview

Ferrari F1 Cars Highlight Sunday at Rolex Monterey Historic

MONTEREY, CA - The hills above Monterey will be alive with the screams of a modern Ferrari Formula One race car as well as the unique sounds of nearly 100 of its prancing-horse brethren, as the fabled Italian sports and racing-car marque is honored August 13-15 during the 31st annual Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races presented by Chrysler here at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway.

The F2003-GA, driven by Michael Schumacher to a world championship last year, will be put through its paces Sunday by Ferrari factory test driver Andrea Bertolini.

"This car might just set a Laguna Seca lap record on Sunday (August 15th), a day highlighted by a special Historic Formula One race and another all-Ferrari F1 event," explained Steven J. Earle, President of General Racing Limited and founder of this vintage motoring event. "Schumacher won five races and took three poles during last year's Grand Prix competition in this car, which is faster on a road course than just about anything which has ever raced at Laguna Seca.

"And even without a lap record, the sound alone will provide a memorable experience."

Sunday's Historic Formula One race, covering the 1967-1980 three-liter formula, features four Ferrari's among the 23 entrants in Group 5B. An additional Ferrari Formula One demonstration race is also scheduled for 2 p.m Sunday for the more modern (1993-99) cars.

"The Historic F1 race is always a huge crowd favorite," said Earle. "Formula One cars today make only one appearance in the United States, at Indianapolis, each season and for many years did not come to these shores at all. So, for race fans, this is a real treat!"

Ferrari fans have a lot more to watch including the largest gathering of Ferrari GTOs - 20 - in one place for a race Saturday.

"About 20 percent of the 400 entrants for the weekend of racing will be Ferraris," said Earle. "But nearly every make that ever sported an entry number on its side is represented at the Rolex Monterey Historics.

Well known names like Jaguar, Porsche, Bugatti, Shelby, Lotus, Aston Martin, Maserati and Mustang, are among those represented, as are some of the more obscure names such as Mercer, Allard, Devin and Jowett Jupiter." And some of the greatest drivers in racing history, including Phil Hill, Dan Gurney, Sir Stirling Moss, Bobby Rahal, Brian Redman, Bob Bondurant, Derek Bell and Vic Elford, will appear during the weekend.

This year marks the 31st anniversary of the "Monterey Historics" at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The event pays tribute to motor racing history, historic automobiles and the people who made them. Each year, hundreds of the finest historic sports and racing cars, spanning nearly every era of motorsports history, are entered in 14 races. Tens of thousands of visitors from around the world attend the Historic Races.

In addition to watching thrilling racing, fans have complete access to the cars, drivers, owners and crews in the "open" paddock. Prominent in the paddock is the Rolex Moments in Time display which again features some of the most significant race cars in history. This year's lineup includes the 1953 Ferrari 375MM driven to second place in the last great Mexican road race, the Carrera Pan-Americana; the 1962 Porsche 804 F1 driven to victory by Dan Gurney and the 1975 BMW CSL which won the 1976 Daytona 24-hour race .

Tickets are available by calling Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca at 800-327-SECA (7322) and online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Tickets start at $45 for Friday only, and go up to $105 for a three-day pass. For those who want inner-circle attention, a Flagroom ticket, which includes three-day admission, special parking, and Saturday/Sunday hospitality including meals, drinks and closed circuit TV, is available for $250.00. Although the Premium camping spaces are already sold out, general camping is available on the racetrack grounds at $35/night on a first come, first-serve basis. Information is available online at www.montereyhistoric.com.

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