Ferrari set to join efforts to help Italy build ventilators

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Ferrari and Fiat Chryslers are set to poole their resources to help Italy's main ventilator manufacturer boost its production of the life-saving machines amid the country's coronavirus pandemic.

Italy's death toll from the pandemic rose to 3,405 on Thursday, surpassing China's numbers, while the total numbers of infections in the nation has topped 41,000.

Patients in intensive care suffering from the virus and its effects on the respiratory system require ventilation, but hospitals are running short of the life-saving devices.

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Italian company Siare Engineering located in northern Italy says it is in talks with Ferrari, Fiat and component maker Marelli to supply parts and possibly help with machine assembly, according to a report from Reuters.

Siare chief executive Gianluca Preziosa pointed to the automotive industry's electronics and pneumatic expertise as a source that could help boost ventilator production.

"We’re talking to Fiat Chrysler, Ferrari and Marelli to try to understand if they can lend us a hand in this process for the electronics part," he told Reuters.

With coronavirus cases still on the rise, Siare has been asked to increase its production of ventilators from 160 to 500 units.

Exor, the parent company of both Fiat and Ferrari, is currently studying the feasibility of joining Siare's efforts, with a decision on the matter expected in the coming hours.

In the UK, according to a report from RaceFans, the government has also solicited the engineering expertise of F1 teams to combat the COVID-19 crisis, with Mercedes, Red Bull, McLaren and Williams currently researching how they can assist with the development and production of crucial medical equipment such as ventilators.

To date, worldwide coronavirus cases stand at 246,751 cases, resulting so far in 10,062 deaths.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.