Ferrari finishes China epic

Ferrari has completed an epic 25,000km tour China.

The tour conducted by two V12 612 Scagliettis involved a total of 51 journalists from around the world. According to the Italian marque, the writers drove the cars "across deserts, through mountain ranges and down roads built only to accommodate trucks and four-wheel drive cars."

The tour also set a world record when, at more than 5200m in altitude the 300km/h coupes climbed to the highest ever height for a two-wheel drive car.

The 45-day tour covered over 25,000km of which 1600km was classed officially as semi-passable dirt tracks. According to Ferrari the only problems were two bent rims.

To mark the end of the adventure Shanghai's Oriental Pearl Tower was illuminated in Ferrari red.

"I dreamt of Ferrari being in China since 1993 even though the restrictions on imports were enormous," said Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo as he welcomed the two Ferraris at the finish.

"Today the situation has changed. Shanghai's tribute to Ferrari -- after New York's Empire State Building was lit up in red last year -- confirms once again Ferrari's capability of arousing passion all over the world."