Ancora Campioni. That’s Italian for ‘Bravo Champions’. At Ferrari that is not a mere phrase — it is the firm’s belief. A policy, one would want us to believe. It salutes not just a Michael Schumacher or a Rubens Barrichello, but every member of Team Ferrari. Including a handful of Indians. An Oriya man too. Shiba Kumar Patnaik, an engineer from Berhampur, is actively involved in the success of the Ferrari in the Formula One circuit. He designs the components of the car’s chassis, radiator and the cooling system. Since TCS, for which he works, signed a three-contract with the Italian company last year, Patnaik has shifted his base to the car’s work site. But the 28-year-old mechanical engineer would argue that Schumi’s Ferrari is a car. ‘‘It is an aircraft on the road with a cockpit, wings. It consumes fuel like any gas-guzzling aircraft. The 5000 cc engine takes four litres per km.’’ Lesser mortals, Patnaik reminds, would shudder to ignite it, forget driving it. So is Michael Schumacher a larger than life driver? ‘‘No no, no,’’ Patnaik interrupts. ‘‘He is a perfect, down to earth, humble and a friendly person. No aura of stardom.’’ The German visits the Ferrari site at Maranello, a four-hour drive from Rome, every second month and interacts with the back-up staff, which works round the clock for Schumi’s speed machine. Team Ferrari, avers Patnaik, works as a team. ‘‘Like any F1 team. The team members at the pit-stop are as active as the driver himself. The staff at the pit-stop and also at the Maranello work site, stay in touch with one another. Constantly.’’ Patanik was at the course during the Italian Grand Prix last year. He will be at the pit-stop during the Monaco GP this year. So what does he think? Ferrari is on top because of Schumacher or the German because of the car? Patnaik doesn’t says it is a hypothetical query. ‘‘The winner is Team Ferrari. Schumacher and Ferrari are complimentary to each other.’’ And Narain Karthikeyan? ‘‘Jordan too has a good engine and Karthikeyan is a talented driver. He seems to have some starting trouble,’’ observes Patnaik who is now at his home town Berhampur for marriage. He will join his team in Italy next week. Patnaik, an engineer from IGIT, Sarang, was a student of Khallikote Autonomous College, Berhampur. He had earlier worked with auto majors like General Motors and Daimler Chrysler.
