John Mc Kone26 Aug 2012 11:04
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Sunday August 26 2012
CIRCLE Oil founder and petrolhead John McKeon is waxing up a stunning supercar for this year's Cannonball Run.
McKeon has added the Ferrari FF (price tag €300,000) -- the very latest offering from the iconic Italian carmaker -- to his car collection.
Described by CNN Money as being "like a rolling piece of industrial art", it has a soft Italian leather interior, a 660 horsepower 12 cylinder engine and reaches a vroomy 208 miles an hour. A big four-wheel drive four-seater, it's the most powerful car Ferrari has ever built.
Oil and gold exploration tycoon McKeon has lovingly built up a collection of Ferraris over years. "People will think I'm some flash sod -- but I'm not. I've been doing this for a long time," he said. "It's my one pleasure. And this is a great charitable event."
Newry businessman Paul McKenna of MAC Construction is tuning up one of his selection of fine motors -- a bright yellow €200,000 Ferrari F450 for the event.
Recession be damned, 150 luxury sports cars are signed up for the across-Ireland tour, including a Porche 911 Turbo Cabriolet, a Ferrari 430 Spider, a Bentley Continental and an Aston Martin, a few Lamborghinis, and a McLaren.
There are plenty of local owners but there are also 40 or so cars from overseas, plus one New York hedge fund manager who is said to be shipping over something very high end for the event.
The Cannonball event, sponsored by supercar specialist Beshoff's Motors, roars out of Dublin on September 14. It's the annual 1,000km road trip around Ireland for supercar enthusiasts.
- Roisin