Finali Mondiali Corsi Clienti 2008

Finali Mondiali Corsi Clienti 2008

We attended our first Finali Mondiali last year. It's the same thing this year though maybe a little less crowded since we've only won the Constructor Title.

Trucks and Tents for Ferraris, VIP Reception

The Finali Mondiali is an annual Ferrari event organised at the end of the F1 Season just for its clients (thus Corsi Clienti). Ferrari makes beautiful and powerful cars - but you have to find the roads to drive them on. So the company gives its faithful, exciting and very rich clients the occasion to race like F1 Pilots on its own lovely track in Mugello. These people get to bring out their pets cars and show the others what they could do with them. And then common folks like myself get a chance to admire many many Ferraris old and new all in a go. You know, live the dream etc.

Pit Lane

We didn't attend all four days of the races, Hub had too much work to do. He was invited to the Gala dinner on Saturday and didn't want to attend it at first. So what if you get to rub shoulders with the rich and famous. Especially when you're not rich or famous.

Example of Race Planning for Sunday

We would however attend the Company President's private lunch on Sunday. Because Hub had work to do. And it's nice having a family outing at the races. As it is, because of the kids, I have not been able to attend any of the races during the F1 Season.

Then Hub decided to work on Saturday as well. Get certain important partners to come from other parts of the world to talk business. Know that except for the VIP tables, it was normally free seating. But the Hub made sure that his table had place names on it. He had a few meetings at Mugello the same afternoon so he booked us room at the country resort. Must say it was sweet of him to offer to bring me to the Gala.

Lounge area of the Gala Dinner

I believe that there were about 400 people at the Gala. The VIP parking was full of Ferraris and other expensive cars. The women were in evening wear and finely decked out in pearls, gold and diamonds. There was free flow of Prosecco, juices, canapés etc to start. You mingle and make small talk - with the top of the hierarchy in Ferrari, with suppliers and other partners who make it possible to make the cars, and of course with the clients.

Dinner was a sit-down affair. There were gigantic flat screens all over the room so that you couldn't miss anything no matter where you were seated. Todt, Schumacher, Kimi and Massa were there. So were other pilots and winners of other races (e.g. 24H du Mans). A's handsome hub even went on stage. He unveiled Ferrari's new car, a limited edition collector's Spider called the 16M to celebrate their 16th F1 victory. Only 499 such cars would be constructed. Only for the most exclusive of clients - so no wider launch's to be made. Hub worked through his dinner too.

We started with a delicious Raviolotti di Pecorino e Pinoli con Verdure di Stagione. It was followed by a melt-in-the-mouth Fondente di Vitello Brasato su Purea di Patate. Since no other courses were in sight, I had to accept second helpings. Maybe very rich people do not eat alot. R did tell me that when she was invited to the Plaza Athenée in Paris recently, they only drank water.

Dessert was offered in a buffet - outside. So that you could enjoy a display of fireworks at the same time. Fireworks that would put what you get on the 14 Juillet to shame. Ferrari's clients deserve the best.

But the Italians still do not know how to do dessert. I tasted a spoonful of some chocolate mousse and left the rest of the glass alone. It was painful seeing a table full of pretty desserts and not eat them because they were not good enough. Moved back into the lounge for coffee. Mmmm...chocolates. And then I saw macarons. Couldn't believe my eyes. Wow. The owner of the catering company saw the Hub and came by to tell us that they came all the way from France. No wonder they were edible.

For the Gala, I may not have worn Chanel or Prada (like the Hub said, we must be the poorest souls around), but I thought I did quite well with a simple beaded cotton Kurta top and a pair of peach/orange trousers in Shantung silk. Plus 10-inch leather boots. Thank God we didn't have to walk alot.

Paddock Nº 11

On Sunday, we were in the Paddock visiting the Ferraris getting ready for the races before making our way to the very top floor of the Mugello tracks for lunch. On our passes, there were coloured stickers and each one in fact represented the VIP events that we were invited to attend e.g. Red for Gala Dinner, Silver for President's Lunch. There was also a yellow sticker but the Hub had no idea what he was invited to and didn't care to ask.

President's Lunch

Hub worked through the lunch talking business. It must be important as even his boss joined in at some point. The Babies behaved themselves quite well and Eldest Son spent most of his time navigating between the different balconies to watch the races, prize ceremonies etc. Schummi drove his Black Nº30 Ferrari FXX round the track and then cruised round in the new California with Todt. I really dig the California. When DC comes for dinner on Saturday I must congratulate him for it. He has outdone himself.

Schummi & Todt in the red California and Montezemolo in the blue one

Like last year, there was a buffet spread. It contained the same delicious braised meat from the night before.

I was happy with dessert though. There was Crème Brûlée. I love Crème Brûlée.

Schummi arriving in his FXX Nº30

I was also happy to be able to wear my Escada skirt at last. And my long strand of Golay pearls. A change from my usual sloppy dressing (which I love). But I gave up on the 10-inch boots. Just had on my normal super flat ones.

We left Mugello after lunch and stopped by the Barberino outlet. Met A in Prada, she has decided to shop instead of lunch (smart girl). All in all a really lovely weekend and mind you, that's only the beginning of celebrations in Ferrari. It's the end of a now old year after all (*wink*).