Marlboro Scuderia Ferrari, the legendary Italian team, will mark its 600th Grand Prix this weekend, At the Belgium Grand Prix. "To find ourselves on the eve of Ferrari’s 600th Grand Prix," said today Ferrari President, Luca Di Montezemolo, "has only one significance. It is that thanks to the original determination of the Founder, which we have carried with us to the present day, we are still competing in the Formula 1 World Championship."

Ferrari, currently second in the drivers and constructors championship, has not won a championship title in almost 20 years. However, it is still the most successful team in Formula One, with 9 Drivers Championship titles, 8 Constructors Championship titles, 118 Grand Prix wins and 121 pole positions.

88 Formula One drivers raced for Ferrari, amongst them legendary names such as Gilles Villeneuve, Niki Lauda, Alberto Ascari, Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and, of course, Juan Manuel Fangio. The team won 7 Drivers Championship titles, 8 Constructors Championship titles, 118 Grand Prix wins and 121 pole positions.

Ferrari's first race was at Monaco, on May 21st 1950, where Alberto Ascari, Luigi Villoresi and Reymond Sommer raced the prancing horse. Since then," says Montezemolo, "it has been an uninterrupted sporting and technical adventure. Many have taken part in it and I am pleased to remember them and to thank above all every single member of the team, then our drivers, suppliers and sponsors.

"While we are strongly linked to our past and traditions, we are already thinking about the next race, in the true spirit of a company which, with determination and persistency, has constantly looked to the future. On Sunday at Spa, Michael Schumacher and Eddie Irvine will face the task of continuing along the same path on which those first steps were taken way back on that first Ferrari race day."

Ferrari's official celebrations, Gala and press conference will take place in two weeks, at its home Grand Prix, in Monza.