Ferrari and Maserati, part of the Fiat Group, posted record numbers for the first quarter of 2008. Ferrari reported a 4 percent sales increase (1,654 cars) thanks in part to their 612 Scaglietti and 599 GTB Fiorano. Revenue for Ferrari is up nearly 20 percent at 712 million U.S. dollars.
Maserati posted an astonishing 21.3 percent gain in sales (2,234 cars), due largely to the success of their new Gran Turismo four seater. Revenue increased by 15.6 percent to 301 million U.S. dollars.
It’s looking to be a good year for the high end car segment.
[Source: AutoNews]
Now that the unofficial Formula 1 pre-season is out of the way, the Spanish Grand Prix and European F1 season is set to kick off with Ferrari’s own Kimi Raikkonen in rather friendly territory: as points leader. After winning in Malaysia and placing second in Bahrian, Raikonnen leads second place BMW Sauber driver Nick Hiedfeld by three points going into Barcelona.
In the constructors’ championship, Ferrari is a single point behind BMW Sauber.
Also to kick off with the Barcelona race is the FIA’s new anti-racism campaign; a response to the racial prejudice driver Lewis Hamilton was subjected to back in February.
Source: REUTERS
