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About the Relay
Marathon round the world celebratory relay officially started in Abu Dhabi in January, 2007.
The Relay makes its way
The marathon relay celebrating Ferrari’s 60th anniversary started on January 29th, 2007, at the Italian Embassy in Abu Dhabi at 10 a.m. local time. The relay involved over 10,000 Ferrari owners and their cars of all ages. These acted as symbolic “bearers” of a specially commissioned relay baton adorned with 60 badges symbolising the most extraordinary events in the Marque’s 60-year history.
Abu Dhabi was chosen as the start point for the relay - which after the Middle East, made its way across China, Japan, Australia, South Africa, America and the whole of Europe. Abu Dhabi was an obvious choice - as a result of the current construction of the Ferrari theme park plus the building of the Yas Island motor racing circuit - the most rapidly developing area of the Emirates’ capital.
The Relay makes it's way
Having left Abu Dhabi, the protagonists of the first leg of the relay headed for Dubai from where they drove on to Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait. The marathon relay ended in Maranello on 23 June 2007. The participants in the tour were received at the various Italian embassies in the countries they passed through en route to Maranello. Also on June 16th, 2007, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs hosted a special ceremony at the Palazzo della Farnesina in Rome during which there was a charity auction by Ferrari, the proceeds of which were donated to needy children.
The relay was officially started by Piero Ferrari, Vice President of Ferrari and son of founder Enzo Ferrari. In his speech, Ferrari spoke about his father and his brilliant intuition in creating a Marque that has become a symbol of Italian talent and exclusivity across the world. He also praised Luca di Montezemolo who has, over the last 15 years, returned Ferrari to the very pinnacle of the sporting and commercial worlds.