Ferrari Soapbox Derby kicks off at Imola

Click to view the Ferrari XFX soapbox racer in hi-res

What do you think racing engineers do with their spare time? Go fishing? Watch some television? Fill in crossword puzzles? No! They build more race cars! Less complicated race cars, actually. That's what the boys at Bentley did with their Continental DC at the Greenpower Corporate Challenge. Over in Maranello, meanwhile, Scuderia Ferrari has joined the ranks of little kids across America with the 2008 Scuderia Soap Box Trophy.

The first round of the trophy took place on Sunday... while the Monaco Grand Prix was underway, leaving us to wonder just who was taking part in this competition. (The Italian-language video after the jump doesn't clarify things, either.) The cars themselves seem as different as can be imagined, and Adriano Zocca of Bologna won this first round – held at the Ferrari-owned track at Imola – with his XFX soap box racer. The next round will take place this coming weekend in Milan. Congratulazioni, Adriano!

Follow the jump for the video and press release, and check out the images in the gallery by clicking the thumbnails below.

[Source: Ferrari]

The video meant to be presented here is no longer available. Sorry for the inconvenience.

PRESS RELEASE

First round of the 2008 Scuderia Soap Box trophy

Maranello, 26th May - The XFX of Adriano Zocca, a member of the Bologna Scuderia Ferrari Club, emerged victorious yesterday, against fourteen other crews at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari at Imola, tacking three runs on the descent of the Acque Minerali curves and the double corner at Rivazza.

The next round of the championship dedicated to gravity-powered vehicles built entirely by members of the Scuderia Ferrari Club, will take place on Saturday 31st May in Milan as part of the Bianca dello Sport night. A starting ramp will be positioned in Piazza Cadorna, giving a run down the Foro Bonaparte, alongside the Castello Sforzesco.