Ingram Micro Australia wins global Ferrari prize

The Australian division of Ingram Micro has beaten other subsidiaries of the giant distributor in a Vodafone channel competition, with one lucky local manager taking a trip to the Ferrari factory in Italy as first prize.

Jason Murray, national IT channel manager at Vodafone, said Ingram Micro Australia had won a global channel competition where Vodafone challenged the distributor's divisions around the world to sign up the most resellers in August and September.

"Australia won against much bigger countries, including Germany, Japan, the UK and Italy. Ingram Micro Australia signed the most resellers," he said.

"That's no mean feat. You've got as many people inside the M25 [ring road] in England as you've got in the whole of Australia."

The main prize -- a trip to the Ferrari factory in Italy -- could go to only one person. Locally, each state was set a target and state managers who hit their target had their names put in the draw for the prize.

Western Australia state manager Frank Tenalgia's name had been drawn out of the hat, Murray said.

Vodafone is a sponsor of the racing team of Italian sportscar maker Ferrari.

Murray said Tenalgia was flown to Italy in September, where he was put up in a hotel for a couple of nights, visited the Ferrari factory, racedriver Enzo Ferrari's house and was driven around the racetrack at speed by F1 driver Rubens Barrichello.

"I don't think they expected Australia to win," Murray said.

Tenalgia -- a keen motorsports fan -- decided to take some extra leave, successfully combining his prize with a week in Italy that also included a visit to the factory of sports motorcycle manufacturer Ducati, Murray said.

Murray said he was unsure if the competition would run again in 2006. However, Vodafone was taking its IT channel business "extremely seriously" and similar initiatives could be expected in future, he said.