The Pope's getting a Ferrari

Pao|o

Pope becomes Ferrari's latest driver
Thursday October 14 2004

Ferrari President, Luca Montezemolo, has revealed that the Italian company is building a special Ferrari F1 car for their newest driver, Pope John Paul II.

On a recent visit to the Vatican, Montezemolo told reporters: "We will make a Ferrari Formula One car especially for the Pope."

The team will build a special car for Pope John Paul II, who is celebrating his 26th year as head of the Catholic Church on Saturday. But while he might be the head of the Vatican and Catholic Church, he still can't pick the colour of his Ferrari.

However, according to Montezemolo, scarlet would be His Holiness' choice. He told ABC News: "The Pope would not be best pleased to see a Ferrari that wasn't a Ferrari."

"I had the honour of meeting His Holiness on two occasions, first of all when I was involved in organising the (football) World Cup in 1990 and then on the testing track at Fiorano where he had a ride in a Ferrari."

"That was when Ferrari were not having great success and the least I can do to show my appreciation is construct a special Ferrari car for him."

http://www.planet-f1.com/news/story_17675.shtml

shun_sakurai

That's...nice.

Although I can't imagine His Holiness enduring the extreme g-forces of a proper F1 race. I mean, no offense but he's quite old already, and one has to be pretty fit to be able to drive an F1 car.

GreatBop

yes. the guy's freaking old and frail as it is... don't think it can do him good to experience 3 gs sa eau rouge.

so_obVIOS

Unless the F1 chassis that was given was mated to a 250cc engine

FBI

When? That should be featured in the MTV ***** portion. No offense meant, but I don't think he can handle the g-force.

I think a go cart will be safer though. Hehe..

shun_sakurai

Perhaps what Scuderia Ferrari would have done is to simply down-tune the Pope's car so that His Holiness doesn't have to drive it at high speed all the time.

That means bigger radiators and more steering lock I suppose

On the wild side might Ferrari consider putting His Holiness in a bulletproof bubble like his other Popemobiles?

Just the thought of that is kind of revolting

Pao|o

News like this makes me want to enter the religious life.

BOOGIECAT

Baka bullet proof yung F1 Ferrari ni Pope(ilang beses na siyang napatay pero buhay parin).Sana may halong kulay white yung red.

mozart

wow. that wouldn't be good for the pope's image at all. what would be nice is if ferrari donates a car to the italian police on behalf of the pope. that way, they would have both a lambo and a ferrari

Pao|o

I think the Pope would just out run the bullet if he is fired upon.

shun_sakurai

...Only to pass out from the g-forces of intense acceleration. :(

vantomiko

haha..

I hope the pope can tame a Prancing Horse..

elyserva

Isn't it too late for that?

marco_1

la na ba karapatan yung tao magkarun nun? kung kaya ba naman nya bilhin bakit nde?

elyserva

Bigay lang yata!

shun_sakurai

Actually Ferrari's been in the business of selling off its old F1 cars to well-heeled customers lately (documented in an old Autocar issue).

They turn down maximum RPM from race-tune 19,000 to a more reliable 15,000 (for longer engine life), and do a seat molding for the customer. They also provide one year's (?) worth of parts and maintenance and will tune the car to your preferences.

Of course it doesn't have to be said that buying an actual F1 car is expensive. Somewhere around EUR900,000 if I'm not mistaken.

OTEP R

Selling of old F1 vehicles were also documented by Car & Driver. Ferrari keeps a stash of old computers at their HQ. Without them, the old race cars will not start.