Massa collects Bandini award.

Felipe Massa took time out at the weekend to travel to Brisighella in order to receive the prestigious Lorenzo Bandini award.

The Ferrari ace was awarded the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy for his performances last year after he took his maiden Formula 1 win in Turkey - and won the season ending Brazilian Grand Prix, his home race. He eventually finished the 2006 season third in the drivers' championship having notched up 80 points in total.

"Last Sunday I went to Brisighella in Italy, where I was presented with this year's Trofeo Bandini, which honours the memory of Lorenzo Bandini, who was also a Ferrari driver for much of his career," said Felipe.

"The award is very important and prestigious and many drivers have been given this prize, including Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen and Jacques Villeneuve.

"It is usually given in the early stages of one's career and reflects also on how well you have done in the previous year's championship. I was extremely happy to accept it and I was given a very warm reception by the people in the town square for the ceremony."

The Bandini award is named after the Ferrari driver who lost his life in an accident during the 1967 Monaco Grand Prix, having competed in 42 races for the Scuderia and the Scuderia Centro Sud, where he raced Cooper-Maseratis. Bandini won but one race - the 1964 Austrian GP - and took a similar number of pole positions. He was also an accomplished sportscar driver, with wins at Daytona and the Monza 1000kms amongst others.