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STP RETURNS TO ITS RACING ROOTS WITH FERRARI F458

International motorsport is once again the focus for the engine care experts through an alliance with the benchmark Italian AF Corse team, and the young British driver duo of Daniel Brown and Glynn Geddie.

40 years since STP last officially competed in Europe, when Ronnie Petersen piloted the STP March 711 to second place in the 1971 Formula 1 World Championship, the fuel additive giant has returned to the tracks in the FIA GT3 European Championship.

As part of STP's first official involvement in a European-based series, the unmistakable STP oval will appear on the number 51 AF Corse Ferrari F458 Italia GT3 driven by the all-British line-up and the Championship's youngest driver duo of Daniel Brown (19) and Glynn Geddie (20).

Having been involved in the British GT Series in 2010 with the Chad Racing Ferrari F430 Scuderia GT3, STP's progression into Europe is a return to the forefront of motorsport outside the USA, following a rich and successful history across many formulae, from F1 to NASCAR, Indy to World Land Speed Record breaking.

With it's engine care products used by millions of motorists for over 50 years, STP boasts a strong reputation worldwide, and with the 2011 race series visiting six different countries including Russia, for its inaugural International motor race, the FIA GT3 European Championship represents an ideal opportunity to engage the brand with a legion of both established and new motoring enthusiasts alike.

STP's long-held premise to deliver the ultimate in engine efficiency and performance has led to a racing history steeped in success, and the association this year with the benchmark global GT team, AF Corse of Piacenza, Italy, who can point to their own successes since formation in 2002 – including four consecutive team titles from 2006 in the FIA GT2 Championship – reflects a shared determination to remain at the pinnacle of the sport.

Equally driven to succeed will be the youngest driver duo on the GT3 grid, with both 19 year-old Daniel Brown, and 20 year-old Glynn Geddie bringing significant experience and success from former race series that belie their years.

Indeed, despite mechanical problems throughout the first race weekend at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, in Portugal, Brown – qualifying the number 51 F458 in sixth place for race one - and Geddie posted a strong eighth place finish that promises well for the future.

Brown's stellar performance in the 2009 British GT Championship, in a Mosler backed by the iconic Italian tuning brand MOMO - which followed a great Rookie season in Formula Palmer Audi - earned him the title of British GT 'driver find of the season' from Autosport magazine, and ultimately led to a seat with Chad Racing for 2010 and the title of BRDC (British Racing Drivers Club) Rising Star. Brown brings to the AF Corse Ferrari major support from long-established UK automotive styling company, Brown & Geeson Limited.

Glynn Geddie finished the 2010 British GT Championship as runner-up, adding to a CV of successes in the ultra-competitive Porsche Carrera Cup GB series, and brings with him to the AF Corse Ferrari, significant long-term sponsorship from leading oil and gas exploration specialists, Apex Tubulars, for the assault on the 2011 FIA GT3 European Championship.

The 12-round series continues at the home of British motorsport, Silverstone, on the weekend of 4th/5th June

About STP:

STP's was founded over fifty years ago in the USA, and is the global leader in fuel additives and engine care products for optimum engine efficiency.

The brand heritage has also been steeped in international motorsport for half a century, sponsoring race teams for the likes of Graham Hill, Jim Clark, Mario Andretti (including the infamous Indy gas turbine cars), Jean Pablo Montoya, plus F1 (March), Group C & GTP, and of course NASCAR. STP backed Richard Petty throughout his seven NASCAR Winston Cup Championship victories (and all 200 race wins since 1972), and maintains a relationship with his team to this day.

A past World Land Speed Record holder (Art Arfons, 1965) STP is also a founder sponsor of Richard Noble's current BLOODHOUND 1,000mph World Land Speed Record bid, set for 2012 in South Africa.

STP additives and engine care products are widely available in the UK from forecourts, major stores and all good independent accessory outlets nationwide.

About Apex Tubulars:

Located in Aberdeen, Scotland, Apex Tubulars supply Oil Country Tubulars Goods (OCTG), Downhole Casing, Tubing, Pup Joints, X-overs Couplings and Accessories to the Global Oil and Gas Markets.

Its range of services includes:

Apex Tubulars take great pride in providing a service that ensures they deliver a quality product on time, every time.

FERRARI SHAREHOLDERS' MEETING: (Maranello, March 23rd 2011)

2010 BALANCE SHEET AND DISTRIBUTION OF 200 MILLION IN DIVIDENDS APPROVED
BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONFIRMED FOR FURTHER THREE-YEAR PERIOD WITH NOCHANGES

Maranello, March 23rd 2011 – The Annual Meeting of Ferrari Shareholders took place today under the chairmanship of Luca di Montezemolo. The Meeting approved the 2010 balance sheet which showed excellent results. As anticipated in recent weeks, Ferrari posted revenues of 1.919 million euro (+7.9%), while trading profit increased 26.9% to 302.7 million euro. Profitability improved too with a ROS (Return On Sales) of 15.8%. The company's industrial net cash stands at a record 630.8 million euro. These results saw dividend distribution for the financial year 2010 approved to the tune of 200 million euro in total. The order of business also included the appointment of the Board of Directors. The Meeting confirmed all of the outgoing members for the three-year period 2011-2013. The board is thus made up of the following: Luca di Montezemolo, Piero Ferrari, Amedeo Felisa, Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Alfredo Altavilla, Alessandro Gianni Baldi, Diego della Valle, Christopher Gent, Sergio Marchionne, Paolo Monferino, Lindsay Owen-Jones, Marco Piccinini and Sergio Pininfarina. The Board of Directors met immediately afterwards and confirmed Luca di Montezemolo as Chairman, Piero Ferrari as Vice Chairman and Amedeo Felisa as CEO, assigning to them their relevant roles.

Authenticating Your Ferrari Through the Classiche Program

Skeets Dunn has owned more than 125 Ferraris and had about 40 restored, and his daily driver is a 550 Maranello, so you could say he knows an authentic collectible Ferrari when he sees one. Since 2007, however, Dunn and many other Ferrari owners and collectors have turned to the factory's Classiche Program, which is available through authorized Ferrari dealers, to authenticate and certify their treasured machines.

Dunn described the ongoing problem of individuals trying to replicate rare and highly valued Ferraris using parts from more widely produced models, and pointed out that Classiche certification can help identify and filter out the fakes. Dunn owns an original 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider and said that some sellers continue to try passing off Spiders converted from coupes as originals.

"Classiche certification is like an additional insurance policy," Dunn said. "If someone comes up with a car with the same serial number, it's not going to have the correct engine number, transmission number or the right internal number in the motor," he said. "Classiche is a good process. It adds to the authenticity of what you own, and to the car's value, I feel." Dunn has encouraged friends to put their Ferraris through the program, as well.

Ferrari collector Mike Alessandro also believes the Classiche Program can help support a collectible Ferrari's value. "It settles issues that might otherwise have people arguing about forever," he said, explaining that some very rare Ferrari models, including a few he has owned, can stir debate. As an example, his 275 GTB/4, which was Ferrari's Paris Auto Show Car in 1967, has an external fuel filler, like the very rare competition model, but it is purely a road model. Alessandro said the original build sheets showed this to be a correct feature for this particular car, and the car was certified through Classiche. The special 275 GTB/4 also has the original green-tinted headlights installed to conform to French regulations.

Likewise, Alessandro's 250 GT California SWB, which he's since sold, was the first one built and had several differences from those that followed, including a metal dashboard. Here again, the Ferrari Classiche Program authenticated and certified the car, settling any debate. "Every serious collector knew I owned that car," said Alessandro. "But when I sold it, it was important to the buyer that it had Classiche certification." Alessandro has also had a Daytona Spider and a 246 Dino "Chairs and Flares" model certified, among others.

Great success for new FF's World Premiere via web

Maranello, 23 February - The special premiere was followed by fans from all over the world, discovering the technical details and the versatility of the latest model from Maranello. The next date is set for 1st March in Geneva at the Ferrari stand, where the new car from the Prancing Horse can be seen from close up. see Ferrari FF