Tuesday morning, a strong 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck Northern Italy, taking the life of at least 15 victims and injuring even more. Damages were reported throughout the Emilia Romagna region and a number of automotive manufacturing plants announced halts to operations in response to the shockwave.
In light of the devastation, Ferrari has announced an online auction in support of the families of the victims that have lost their lives. Amongst the items up for auction include the ultra-rare Ferrari 599XX Evo non-homologated racing car, retailed for €1.3 million. One of the most advanced berlinettas in Ferrari's stable, the 599XX Evo is Ferrari's on-going R&D research testing bed for the latest in GT and Formula 1 technologies.
In addition to the car, Ferrari will also be placing a significant amount of Formula 1 memorabilia on the block, including a Formula 1 derived V8 engine, racing suits, helmets donated by Scuderia drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, and even more items from Ferrari's long and illustrious past.
Besides an exotic car and racing collectibles, Ferrari will also offer a number of items from Ferrari Store apparel as charitable auctions as well, including a line of Prancing Horse watches.
On top of Ferrari's efforts, a number of faithful Ferrarista have extended their aid as well. Ferrari clients and collectors from around the world contacted Maranello headquarters offering support during the difficult time.
In Ferrari's sincere statement, the Italian automaker thanked its supporters. "As soon as news about the earthquake came out, Ferrari clients and collectors from around the world spontaneously contacted the Maranello headquarters to offer their contribution. Once again the generosity of Ferrari's enthusiasts will enable the company to provide support to those hit most by the tragedy."
An auction update on the Ferrari Store webpage is set to go live ahead of the auction next week. Visit Ferrari and the Ferrari Store to learn more.
