When most operators' trucks reach the end of their service,
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unless they are leased, disposal is always an issue. For the Formula 1 World championship winning team, however, it becomes easier. In fact, potential purchasers sometimes queue up.
Being fellow members of the Fiat Group, Ferrari naturally sources Its transport requirements from the Iveco product range, and with the arrival of the Iveco Stralls, this meant the departure of the faithful EuroStar fleet. Iveco's German importer hit on the idea of offering operators in Germany, Austria and Switzerland the opportunity to take part in an on-line auction through its dealer Intranet. The prize was the chance to buy what was intended to be the last Ferrari EuroStar to be released after three seasons of racing duty.
With the EuroStar duly acquired by Iveco Magirus AG Vertriebszentrale (central marketing) at Unterschleissheim, for a cost of €49,999 (C32.150), bidding commenced at €53,500 (£34,400). After no less than 54 paten tial buyers had placed their bids, the importer found itself with an unexpected dilemma on its hands—two bidders managing to place identical winning bids of €57,499 (£37,000).
Rather than disappoint either bidder, the Germans prevailed on the Italians to look round the back of the factory and, miraculously, they were persuaded to part with another EuroStar that they had intended keeping. The result was smiles all round, particularly on a beautiful autumn day in Maranello for the official handover of the keys by none other than Ferrari race supremo Jean Todt.
The proud new owners of the pair could hardly have more widely differing operations. From the eastern Sachsen region of Germany, Maik Schlede, boss of Kase-Maik (literally Cheese Mike), Intends to use his EuroStar for his mobile cheese marketing operation.
The second buyer is from Switzerland and Is more closely involved with the world of motor sport. Beat Furrer runs SportautoTransport, specialising in the pan-European movement of various racing cars.