It’s this understanding of Ferrari’s alluring power that has put Marc within the centre of the marques Corse Clienti programme. A package that allows a very exclusive list of deep-pocketed clients to buy and drive a suite of Ferraris. Ranging from their XX programme cars to Ferrari F1 weaponry.
“Originally, special customers were purchasing these cars to essentially build their own personal museum pieces. But one day, a client approached us suggesting they would like to be able to drive a car. Ferrari saw the business opportunity and potential in creating a department where we can give this service to people. That was around 2003/4 when Ferrari started to put in place Corse Clienti. I was invited by Jean Todt and Stefano Domenicali to go to a test with this client to give him some advice how to drive and it all started growing from there. Now it’s a huge department for Ferrari.”
Far removed from your average track day, Corse Clienti is one of the most immersive racing experiences available to non-racing drivers. Marc is the man responsible for helping Ferrari’s clients get comfortable behind the wheel. No small feat…
“It’s a huge challenge to help inexperienced drivers with the F1 cars. For a lot of people, the F1 is a big thing. A big jump. We need to make sure they feel happy enough to drive the car. Even just easing out of the garage. Sometimes I have to work hard psychologically. Reassuring them that they can do it, that the car is very stable. Only twice I’ve had clients that were simply not comfortable enough, it was such an assault on their senses that it was too much for them.”
Watching Marc fly around the Goodwood Motor Circuit this weekend, we can hardly blame them. It’s sometimes easy to forget how brutal F1 cars are. Even the modern platforms with their stability and downforce still rouse a primal reaction across all the senses. And that’s while watching from distance, let alone being sat in the things.
“With the XX it is different. It is a car that instantly feels more familiar, a bit more like a road car. You can instantly see that clients feel more comfortable in the XX. There are a lot of electronics increasing control. Clients with an F1 may be 20 or 25 seconds off my lap time, but in the XX they are within three-seconds of me. Almost all of our clients are able to drive that to a high level.”