When an auto journalist starts a war with an automotive powerhouse like Ferrari, he or she has to expect some consequences. After Chris Harris' 2011 statements that Ferrari “custom-tunes” its media cars, the UK-based journalist found himself banned from driving Ferrari press cars.
It’s not like he suffered a lot though, since in 2012 he bought himself a Ferrari 599 – which he sold almost a year later because it was too expensive to run and maintain . The ban didn’t stop him from reviewing Ferraris owned by other people either, which probably made Maranello realize that it’s hard to keep Harris away from their cars. Especially after an incident that occurred earlier this year, when he “thrashed” a 458 Spider press car that he sub-contracted from a third party.
The following video in which Harris destroys five sets of tyres with the F12Berlinetta on the Anglesey circuit proves that Ferrari has lifted the ban on the British auto journalist.
It also shows that the Italians are still holding a grudge, since Harris is probably the last well-known journalist to get his hands on the F12. Still, the video will no doubt convince you that it was worth the wait.
By Dan Mihalascu
