A charity action held in conjunction with this weekend’s inaugural U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, saw the first U.S.-spec Ferrari F12 Berlinetta cross the block with a winning bid of $1.25 million. All of the proceeds, plus an additional $50,000 in online and in-person contributions at the event, are being contributed to the American Red Cross to help in the ongoing relief efforts for the victims of Hurricane/Superstorm Sandy. Prior to the auction, Ferrari and its American dealer group and customers already had collected $345,000 to further bolster support of the relief funding program.
Newest member of the Ferrari lineup, the new-for-2013 F12 Berlinetta replaces the 599 GTB. Packing a 6.3-liter/730-horsepower naturally aspirated V12 beneath its hood, this front-engine GT is the most powerful production model ever to roll out of the factory in Maranello. A top speed in excess of 200 mph makes it the marque’s fastest road-going car, as well.
"With the attention of the motoring world turned to the Formula 1 Grand Prix this weekend in Austin, and extremely high demand for the new F12 Berlinetta, this was the perfect time and place to raise much-needed funds for the continuing effort to assist those effected by Hurricane Sandy, and we are proud of the results," noted Marco Mattiacci, President & CEO, Ferrari North America.
Despite the outstanding success of its charity auction, Ferrari fared less well during the race itself that was contested on the new Circuit of the Americas track. Victory in that event went to Team McLaren‘s Lewis Hamilton who also won the last Grand Prix race to be held on U.S. soil, the 2007 Formula One event held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, while Sebastian Vettel’s second place finish sealed the 2012 Constructors Championship for Red Bull Racing. The best Ferrari’s own dynamic duo of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa could manage was to claim the third and fourth spots. That outcome means the Drivers Championship will be decided between Vettel or Alonso at the final event of the F1 season that takes place two weeks from now in Sao Paolo, Brazil.
