A match made in heaven

The launch of the new A1GP car-powered-by-Ferrari – we must not call it an A1GP-Ferrari – is a reminder of just how much the Italians love their motor racing.

We are in Tuscany, at the circuit of Mugello-owned-by-Ferrari. This is Ferrari country, the Scuderia’s headquarters at Modena just an hour up the autostrada. This is why we must be careful in the way we describe this new car. The words ‘powered by Ferrari’ are important, this being the first time in their illustrious history that the factory has allowed its precious brand to be so closely associated with another racing car, let alone an entire international series.

There is what we call ‘hard’ news today. The cars will run on Michelin tyres this season. And excitingly, for those of us who remember, the series will be at Kyalami next February. The return of powerful single-seaters to this great circuit will be a highlight. And there is more big news in the wind…

This being Italy, the launch has created a stir. Mugello is buzzing, the surrounding hills alive with the sound of music, or the twin stubby exhausts of a Ferrari V8, whichever you prefer. Mastermind Tony Texeira is like a boy with a super new toy. A1GP is really growing up.

“No, it has grown up,” he says. “This is a big step for us. The partnership with Ferrari has taken us to a new level, there is no bigger name in motor racing. They have trusted us with their engines and now it is up to us to make sure it is successful for Ferrari as well as for A1GP.”

The Scuderia fielded one of their most senior men for today’s launch. Mario Almondo, who is Operations Director Gestione Sportiva, told us that the company’s association with A1GP will help Ferrari to sell its cars in new markets. Speaking of the engine, Almondo made reference to the test programme and the inevitable problems of adapting it to a new car. In two months time we will be back at Mugello for the first race and by then, he promised, all the teething troubles will have been solved.

Out on the circuit Andrea Bertolini gave us a taste of what is to come. It sounds good, it looks good and a full grid of these cars will be a tremendous spectacle.

“This is a real racing car, the best we’ve had,” said Emerson Fittipaldi, who runs Team Brazil. “It’s a muscle car – I mean there’s no traction control, no launch control and it is a driver’s car. This is how racing should be – and we will be going to some great circuits. I am hoping we will be at Interlagos next year, the deal is almost done.”

Mike Earle, who runs Team India, is optimistic: “Today has gone a long way towards silencing the cynics who said the marriage with Ferrari would not be such a happy event. The car looks like a well packaged piece of kit.”

It would appear that A1GP, in its fourth season, has pressed its own power-boost button (this a feature of the cars which allows the driver extra power for limited periods of the race) and that those red cam covers with the famous Ferrari logo have brought new energy to this series.

Meanwhile it is lunch, and there is pasta to be thought about. Provided Transit Tours powered by A Bradshaw – she the redoubtable Head of Motorsport Media for A1GP – can get us to the airport, there will be more news from Mugello in the October edition of Motor Sport. By then, Mr Texeira will have made an announcement that, in his words, will rock you. I am under orders to say no more.