Our last Sunday summed up pretty well at Mr. Yohan Poonawala’s stud farm in Hadapsar, Pune as we witnessed the delivery of his brand new Ferrari 488 Pista Spider, specced in the historic red with a whole other exclusive lineup of Italian horses. The adoration doesn’t just end with the color and quite understandably so. Being Ferrari enthusiasts ourselves, we did a short interview with Mr. Poonawala to get his personal thoughts and stories to you!
A Ferrari looks great but better in red. Your thoughts? You have a NA V8, NA V12 and now two turbo V8 in the lineup, each great in their own way. What’s your favourite?
"My childhood dream for the Italian horses that made this possible. Absolutely no doubt about that and thats why all four of mine are in red but I am contemplating the next one in yellow tracing back to its roots."
Your favourite from the Ferrari lineup ?
"Each car is unique in its own way so far the Speciale Aperta was my favourite, the Pista Spider has just arrived and I will have to properly experience the car before deciding."
What do you like the most about Ferrari?
"250 GTO from the classics and the SP2 Monza from the new Ferrari’s which I got to see at the Ferrari factory and at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last year. The Portofino's plus point is that it is a two plus two, it is fast yet comfortable and easy to drive. The F12 is raw power and you need to be extremely focused and careful while driving. The Speciale Aperta is indeed a special car just as the name suggests and is the only one in India, while it is a highly track focused car, the Aperta is perfectly at home on city roads as well. My Ferrari’s are highly speced."
Please walk us through the specification of your new acquisition!
"The Pista Spider, I believe would be amongst the most highly speced Pista's in the world. I chose the tricolore as the main theme of the car. So the stripes of course run across the whole car along the outside. The side skirts also have the stripes which otherwise only come on the Piloti. There is a number 1 on both the doors which Ferrari will normally not put on any car. There is a "P" on both the B pillars or on the buttresses as Ferrari call them, which again Ferrari will not normally put. Moving onto the interiors the tricolore theme continues on the streering wheel, seats, F1 panel and paddle shifters. The door sills indicate that the car was produced under the Atelier programme.
This special programme comes up with customisation options to configure a bespoke version of your own kind of Ferrari with certain modifications and stitches here and there. The "P" logos replace the prancing horse on the headrests. Besides these it is basically equipped with the full option list Ferrari has to offer, including carbon fiber all over."
We were glad to be a part of his little induction event along with the organic as well as mechanical horses. Wishing Mr. Poonawala happy miles ahead with his new acquisition!
