Copyright © 2010 Maserati Blog.
Bacardi held its “Driving Experience of a Lifetime” rally as a part of its campaign to promote responsible drinking, “Champions Drink responsibly”. In this event Michael Schumacher was behind the wheel in a Maserati Gran Turismo S which is a part of the Ascari circuit, near the city of Ronda in Spain. Michael Schumacher was behind the wheels of a Gran Turismo S that carried twenty eight winners from various international rallies. These winners represented countries like The United Kingdom, Russia, Spain, New Zealand, India, Australia, Denmark, Austria, France, the Dominican Republic, Japan, France, Italy, Germany, Hungary, Mexico, Portugal and Thailand. They went around the race Ascari race track, to drive home the message of safe driving. They suggested two options in case you are drunk, one was to designate a person who will drive, and that person wouldn’t drink. The other option that was suggested was to make use of public transport systems like a bus or a taxi, or not drinking alcohol, if one intends to drive. Michael Schumacher and his team of winners enjoyed a drive at full throttle to emphasize how champions are always in control. Michael Schumacher said, “I am eager to spread this message that drinking and driving don’t mix. It is a topic I personally feel very strongly about, and the event was just as rewarding for me as it was for our winners”, These words from the mouth of a 7 time Formula 1 world champion and the ambassador of Bacardi limited Global Social Responsibility platform were truly inspiring. This campaign known as, “Champions drink responsibly”, has won several awards and was launched in April 2008. It has touched the hearts of millions of adults and it continues to inspire drivers to practice safe driving. Maserati was glad to be chosen for a drive on consumer education about safe driving. For Maserati with its Master Maserati training programs, safety comes first. It tries to teach its participants the principals of safe driving with its Maserati range. In this drive of Maserati former drivers at the race track are hired to act as instructors and provide constant supervision. The Master Maserati course is open for both existing owners of the Maserati range plus those who aspire to own this car. These courses have been designed and perfected so that the participants can enjoy safe driving in any Maserati model; this is because of the perfect balance between the time the participants spend in practice sessions and the time they spend on the actual race track. Stints on the track are taught in the following ways- firstly an on-board instructor is used, secondly by making use of a pace car, and lastly by means of telemetry. As the course progresses, the speed also increases. In those sessions that are dedicated to control, the car is allowed to be driven on different simulated surfaces to recreate conditions of emergency. Examples could be over steering with or without the help of traction control, pressing the brakes at the highest speed limit and how to handle when the direction changes rapidly?) This course is held at Ricacardo Paletti Circuit which is at Varano de Melegari, about 20 km away from the south of Parma. This circuit is designed to bring out the best driving abilities of the participant and also boasts of a technical section that is equipped with special driving instruction features.
Michael schumacher drives a Maserati Gran Turismo