Tragedy mars Ferrari's weekend of celebrations

TRAGEDY marred Ferrari's Formula One victory celebrations on Saturday at the Mugello circuit in Tuscany when one driver was killed and another seriously injured during the Ferrari Challenge race.

German driver Ulrich Plattenhardt, 66, died shortly after a first lap crash when two Ferrari 360 Modenas touched, leaving one car stranded in the middle of the track.

Plattenhardt, who was unable to avoid the incident, hit Daniel Kunzle's Ferrari head-on.

The German died shortly after being taken to the circuit medical center, while Kunzle is reported to be suffering slight concussion and severe bruising.

Ferrari started their traditional end-of-season celebrations at Mugello on Friday after they secured the drivers' and constructors' Formula One World Championships in 2000.

The team's three drivers Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello and Luca Badoer are scheduled to drive the championship-winning F2000 on Sunday, while other events include the Ferrari Challenge finals and a Historic Ferrari-Maserati Challenge race.