Sports Motor Company, the exclusive importer of Ferrari and Maserati in Qatar and a member of the AlFardan Group, celebrated Ferrari’s 60th anniversary with the ‘Ferrari 60 Relay,’ on Thursday. The event was a parade of Ferrari car owners, who made their way along the Corniche showing off a unique baton especially created for the occasion.
The baton is embossed with 60 greatest moments in the company’s history, from its first success at the Rome Grand Prix of 1947 to the Ferrari FXX of 2006. Earlier, Qatar Ferrari owners gathered at SMC’s Ferrari showroom, which was decorated for the occasion. The Ferrari convoy assembled next at the start line before driving along the Corniche, accompanied by police escort.
The ‘Ferrari 60 Relay’ baton was transported in a convertible Ferrari Superamerica along the route that encompassed a first pit stop, highlighting the 60 years, at the Sheraton for a group photo. The convoy then proceeded to the Italian embassy where the relay baton was handed over to Ambassador Giuseppe Buccino Grimaldi. The grand parade then stopped at the Doha Golf Club for lunch with the envoy and Ferrari MEA regional manager Marco Cavagna, as well as several other prominent guests.
Grimaldi, who described Ferrari as a brand of great importance to Italy’s heritage, went on to say that Ferrari in Qatar and across the world has always formed solid links with sports car lovers of different nationalities and backgrounds. Cavagna expressed his pleasure to see a first-class, multi-cultural celebration of one common sports attraction and a true, deep commitment to embody the young, energetic and vitalising spirit of Ferrari.
The Ferrari car owners participating in the ‘Ferrari 60 Relay’ were each presented with a luxurious red leather box containing a commemorative plaque with a print of Ferrari’s 60th anniversary logo and a metal picture of every participant with his car. “Celebrating Ferrari’s 60th anniversary makes us proud to belong to the most extraordinary car brand in the world,†SMC’s vice president of sales and marketing, Mohamed Kandeel, stated. He explained that the celebration has brought together all the Ferrari owners in Qatar and demonstrated Sports Motor Company and Ferrari’s commitment to strengthening client relationships.
The relay, which kicked off on January 28 in Abu Dhabi, site of the future Ferrari theme park, will conclude in Maranello (Italy), with the first world convention of the entire Ferrari network and numerous other events on June 24, after traversing about 50 countries in 148 days. SMC has presented to Ferrari a golden celebratory and symbolic item from Qatar that reflects the traditional Bedouin elements. This was added to the list of items collected from the relays and would be later sent to Rome to be handed over to the Ferrari president by the Italian president or prime minister.
At the end of the relay, all such gifts would be brought to Galleria Ferrari in Maranello and auctioned in favour of a benevolent society. Ferrari is being supported in the relay by some of its historic sponsors, partners, and suppliers. They include, in particular, Shell, Alcoa, Damiani, Puma, System 3, and Post-it.