DRAGON RACING WITH FERRARI – MARCH 2023
PASSIONE FERRARI CLUB CHALLENGE MIDDLE EAST,
SEASON 3, ROUND 02 – BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT
The Bahrain International Circuit
25th – 26th November 2022
Round two of the Passione Ferrari Club Challenge tour visited the remarkable Bahrain International Circuit, a favourite amongst our drivers. With Bahrain being the highest energy circuit for brake and tyre wear on the F1 calendar, this offers a new challenge for our drivers.
Ferrari 296 GTB test drives were once again featured with new prospects having the opportunity to sample the 830PS power that this “fun to drive” car delivers around the long straights of the Bahrain circuit under the lights into the evening.
The event was rounded off with the awards ceremony for the Club Challenge drivers, and a high end paddock BBQ that the Ferraristi love.
PASSIONE FERRARI CLUB CHALLENGE MIDDLE EAST,
SEASON 3, ROUND 03 – KUWAIT MOTOR TOWN CIRCUIT
The Kuwait Motor Town Circuit
17th – 18th December 2022
The last event of the year took place in mid-December at the Kuwait Motor Town circuit. This is a new venue on the Club Challenge calendar, and one that the drivers will look forward to in seasons to come. With a challenging 5.6km Tilke designed circuit, which features many challenging linked corners, the drivers loved every lap.
To celebrate the opening of the Mei Li restaurant at Grand Hyatt Kuwait, all club challenge members were invited for an exclusive dining experience, inspired by the richness and diversity of Asian cuisine. The vibrant atmosphere left guests mesmerized with authentic flavors and presentation styles.
During the event, Ferrari prospects had the opportunity to enjoy the 296 GTB around this fast and flowing circuit, and over 100 Ferrari owners attended the Passione Ferrari owners sessions. There was a wonderful group of classiche Ferrari on display including F40, 250, 365 and 348 models.
The awards ceremony took place on the conclusion of the event on Sunday evening, and the guests once again enjoyed a paddock dining experience and the opportunity to watch Argentina play against France in the world cup final!
PASSIONE FERRARI CLUB CHALLENGE MIDDLE EAST,
SEASON 3, ROUND 04 – JEDDAH CORNICHE CIRCUIT
The Jeddah Corniche Circuit
20th – 21st January 2023
Round 4 continued to the Jeddah Corniche circuit in Saudi Arabia where our Ferrari enthusiasts were welcomed with the first ever Passione Ferrari event in Saudi.
The daunting 6.1km street circuit provided a challenge for all the drivers, where precision and courage are required to complete a fast lap.
The Passione Ferrari instructors were on hand to coach the drivers of the Ferrari Club Challenge, 296 GTB Test drives and also the owners so that every guest could enjoy this wonderful circuit in a safe and controlled environment.
All guests of the event were treated to a paddock BBQ, with a Live DJ and the opportunity to view a collection of rare Ferrari Classiche cars including the F40, F50 and a beautiful 288 GTO.
PASSIONE FERRARI CLUB CHALLENGE MIDDLE EAST,
SEASON 3, ROUND 05 – YAS MARINA CIRCUIT
Yas Marina Circuit
3rd – 4th February 2023
Round 5 was the highlight for many of the season with the Passione Ferrari joining the Ferrari Racing Days at Yas Marina.
Some of the Club Challenge members graduated into the Ferrari Challenge Winter Series (more on that later) and we saw an incredible turnout of owners attend this event.
The Ferrari Racing Days was the highlight with a number of F1 Corse Clienti cars, driven by none other than Charles Leclerc, also the screaming loud V12 XX program and Competizioni GT.
The road cars test drives for this headline event saw the introduction of the “fun to drive” 296 GTB the spider variant and the routes were run from Saadiyat Beach club, Yas Island and Dubai Al Tayer Ferrari showroom.
Over 150 Ferrari owners completed a convoy from Dubai to Yas Marina, driving their prancing horses through Ferrari World and finally onto the circuit for the track parade. This was a new record of owners cars attending an event in the Middle East.
The event concluded with the prize giving on the roof of the Yas Marina pit complex, in the same location that paddock club use for F1 and the guests were treated to further demonstration laps by the F1 cars late into the evening.
PASSIONE FERRARI CLUB CHALLENGE MIDDLE EAST,
SEASON 3, ROUND 06 – DUBAI AUTODROME
Dubai Autodrome
4th – 5th March 2023
To end a very successful season, we were privileged to have the last round of the CCME at our home-based track at Dubai Autodrome.
With the 296 GTB and 296 GTS on hand for test drive activities, the prospect had the opportunity to drive the car around the challenging Dubai Autodrome circuit with our Ferrari instructors on hand to ensure that the guests could experience the performance of these cars in a safe controlled manner.
Following through with the tradition of the Ferrari Club Challenge, the event concluded with an Awards Ceremony where contenders were awarded with the titles of Fastest Time Lap, Most Laps, Most Improved and Driver of the Weekend.
To elevate the level of excitement for our passionate drivers, Ferrari also announced the addition of a new circuit for the 2023-2024 season – Lusail International Circuit in Doha.
The Dragon Racing Team would like to give a special thanks to Ferrari Middle East and their partner Canossa Events, for allowing us to be an integral part of this Passione Ferrari season which was by far the biggest and best that’s ever-taken place in the GCC.
Passione Ferrari will return to the circuits of the GCC for the 2023-2024 season after the summer break with the dates announced as below:
Round 1 | 20th – 21st October 2023 | Bahrain
Round 2 | 10th – 11th November 2023 | Jeddah
Round 3 | 15th -16th December 2023 | Kuwait
Round 4 | 26th – 28th January 2024 | Dubai
Round 5 | 2nd – 4th February 2024 | Abu Dhabi
Round 6 | 1st – 2nd March 2024 | Qatar
FERRARI CHALLENGE WINTER SERIES
DUBAI AUTODROME
26TH – 29TH JANUARY 2023
The official Ferrari Challenge racing series returned to the UAE for a double header event, incorporating Ferrari Racing Days.
Race 1 got underway at Dubai Autodrome 24hrs later than planned due to local flooding and It was a close-fought, thrilling race that produced a Scottish triumph in the Coppa Shell class with Jim Geddie (Dragon Racing) taking the lead in the early stages from Tani Hanna (Formula Racing), who headed off from pole. The Lebanese driver, however, was to remain in second position until the last lap, where Maya Hartge (Dragon Racing) managed to overtake him to take the second step on the podium, gaining four positions from the starting grid.
Jim Geddie (Dragon Racing), remained on the top step of the podium in Race 2 after a sensational Qualifying performance to secure pole position. Tani Hanna unfortunately had a drive through penalty during the race, however made a superb come back securing second position in the race on the expense of Maya Hartage (Dragon Racing), who finished third.
FERRARI CHALLENGE WINTER SERIES
YAS MARINA CIRCUIT
2ND – 5TH FEBRUARY 2023
The second weekend of the Ferrari Racing Days saw the road show move to Yas Marina where the Ferrari Club Challenge joined the Racing Days.
Jim Geddie (Dragon Racing) held on to his top of the podium for the third race in succession. Starting the race in second position he obtained the lead from the first lap after an unfortunate incident pushed Tani Hanna (Formula Racing) to retire from the race in lap 1. Mohamed Al Qamzi (Dragon Racing) beat off the competition to take the second place with a strong performance. Taking the third place position was Lisa Clark (Ferrari of Beverly Hills) after Maya Hartge (Dragon Racing) was forced to take a drive through penalty in lap 12.
Tani Hanna (Formula Racing) secured pole position for race 2 of the weekend and brought the car home to win the final race of the series. Jim Geddie (Dragon Racing) finished second on the road but had secured enough points to win the Ferrari Winter Challenge Shell class. Maya Hartge (Dragon Racing) had an excellent race crossing the line in 3rd and also secured 3rd place in the series.
