Montegrappa, the revered pen manufacturer from Bassano del Grappa, sponsors the Ferrari F430 of Alesi, Fisichella and Vilander for the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.

With Italian blood being part petrol, it’s wholly fitting that Montegrappa – who produced a range of highly-sought-after Ferrari pens – sponsored the Ferrari F430 GT2 AF Corse team led by Jean Alesi, Giancarlo Fisichella and Toni Vilander for this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. The pen manufacturer had a

personal as well as sporting and nationalist interests in the sponsorship, for former F1 pilot Alesi is also a Montegrappa shareholder and Ambassador.

Montegrappa’s support was rewarded with a near-podium finish, the team taking fourth place in the gruelling and prestigious French competition. In the early hours of the race, the AF Corse suffered minor problems with the car, while occupying a standing between fifth and third positions, the latter which would have placed them on the podium. During the night, Vilander, Fisichella and Alesi reduced the gap between the Ferrari and their opponents. Despite a puncture, they managed to take the 430 to second place, with a notable margin over their pursuers.

Shortly after dawn, with Fisichella at the wheel, the car suffered severe brake problems. The brake pads disintegrated, causing the Ferrari to crash into the wall at a frightening 280kph! Fortunately, the Italian driver was able to nurse the F430 into the pits for repairs. Repairs cost the team three places, with Vilander finding himself in fifth when he resumed the race, in the position of having to close the gap. When the flag fell, the 430 GT2 of the three pilots had risen to fourth position – a whisker away from the podium.

Montegrappa has a tradition of supporting initiatives in the automotive industry. Most recently, it has enjoyed partnerships with Bentley Motors and Alfa Romeo. The company’s association with the immortal British brand also presents another link to Le Mans, for Bentley enjoys a long history with the world’s most famous endurance race. In honour of Bentley’s successes at Le Mans, Montegrappa’s sister brand, Tibaldi, has dedicated a pen to the flagship Mulsanne, the car itself named after the famous stretch of the Le Mans circuit. For Alfa Romeo – the Milanese automotive icon and Ferrari’s older sister – Montegrappa has produces a special series of pens to commemorate its centenary, which takes place on 24 June 2010.

Since 1912, Montegrappa has been manufacturing high-quality writing instruments in the same historic building in Bassano del Grappa, North East Italy.