Alonso vs. Massa, Italian mountain edition

Scuderia Ferrari started the year off right with a downhill slalom race between two snow-going Ferrari FFs. Formula One drivers Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso were at the steering wheels.

The occasion was the annual Wrooom ski and media event in the Italian Dolomite Mountains. It's the traditional motorsport season-opening event for Ferrari and Ducati.

Before you get too excited, there aren't a bunch of high-speed snow drifts as we expected, and the low-speed race ends in a virtual tie. Both Alonso and Massa enjoyed the experience, no doubt a relief to the party sponsor.

“It's incredible how easy it is to drive the FF even on such a demanding surface,” Alonso said, “and at the same time, how high a performance level you can reach in it.”

Massa agreed: “The most incredible thing about the car is the fact there is no need to compromise maximum performance and usability, whatever the driving environment.”

The Ferrari FF is the first all-wheel-drive vehicle in the company's lineup and uses a 660-hp V12 for motivation. The FF's front-mid-mounted engine and rear gearbox give the car a 47/53 front-rear weight distribution.

By Jake Lingeman