Google Exec Takes Delivery Of Charity Auction 599XX

A Ferrari 599XX Evo auctioned off for earthquake victim support has been presented to its new owner, Google executive and horsepower aficionado Benjamin Sloss - who parted with A$1.78million for the privilege.

Sloss was on hand at the Monza track to take delivery of the hardcore track machine, right on the F1 team's motorhome doorstep in the F1 paddock.

Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo presented the bright yellow car and F1 drivers Alonso and Massa were on hand to roll back the covers.

The 552kW V12-powered 599XX was one of a number of exclusive items the Ferrari company offered for auction to support victims of the Emiglia Romagna earthquake.

Other offerings included a 2008 Ferrari F1 V8, a nose cone, and Giancarlo Fisichella's race suit from his short (and slow) stint with the Scuderia a few years ago.

Taking delivery of a 599XX is a bittersweet affair. The car is part of the Corse Clienti package for well-heeled customers who like to arrive and drive at various racetracks around the world.

The 599XX is not associated with a race series, it's just a toy for flashing around tracks with other Ferrari owners. Corse Clienti isn't limited to road cars, "owners" of older F1 cars are also well-looked after by the program.

Should the Corse Clienti package appeal (and should you be suffering from a severely overweight wallet), be warned that it comes with some caveats. The cars are garaged at Maranello and the company advises owners when and where they can be driven.

Obviously, that's not as bad as it sounds - after all, it's a Ferrari that somebody else looks after and that you can hammer to your heart's content.

And in this case, it's a Ferrari that nailed a 6m58s lap of the Nurburgring Nordschleife.

The Ferrari charity auction raised a total of $2.3 million.

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