SONOMA (KRON) — Make-A-Wish granted 11-year-old Austin, from Jacksonville, Arkansas his wish to go to LaFerrari Hypercar for the weekend in Sonoma and to drive in two Ferrari challenge race cars on a race track, and the unexpected meet and greet with Grammy- winner, Maroon 5, Adam Levine.
Austin suffers from Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy, the very same disease Alfredo Ferrari died of at the age of 24. Alfredo was an Italian automotive engineer and the first son of automaker Enzo Ferrari.
According to a Make-A-Wish spokesperson, the entire weekend was a complete “money can’t buy” experience for Austin and his family. The unplanned meeting with Adam Levine marked the day that much more special.
The thrilling three-day event was prepared just for Austin, it included “hot laps at Sonoma Raceway in a retires 430 Ferrari Challenge car (#113), driven by FOG member Jeff Westphal and provided by Ferrari of Beverly Hills; hot laps in a 2015 458 Ferrari Challenge Car (#113), driven by San Francisco Ferrari Challenge Coach “MHP;” and street drives in not one, but two LaFerrari hypercars on Highway 121 in Sonoma (the red LaFerrari owned and driven by collector David Lee, and the yellow LaFerrari owned and driven by Christine Sloss). The Ferrari Owners Group (FOG) presented Austin with his own specially-made race suit and FOG embroidered jacket, and he was loaned an official racing helmet at the track”, according to a Make-A-Wish spokesperson.
Austin and his family are intending to return to the Bay Area in September for the Golden Gate Ferrari Festival event.