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A previous generation might have forged images of communist leaders, but three brothers in an Albanian village have carved six tonnes of red stone in a tribute to the speed and power of a Formula One racing car. Skip related content


What the three Gjini brothers -- hardworking and humble stone masons -- started as a gift to a cousin has already turned into a sensation in one of Europe's poorest countries where F1 races have many fans.

"I started working on it but I dared not tell anybody because I was not sure of the final result. I put the picture on a window, looked at it and covered it," said Alfred, 24, the youngest of the brothers.

"I did not really know what to do but I promised him something nice. I found the picture of a Ferrari on the Internet."

Alfred said he started thinking of carving an F1 car in stone when a cousin began looking for something extraordinary to exhibit in his car parts and fuel station.

During the last of three months of carving, chiselling and smoothing, Gjini said many locals came to watch him work. Many were doubtful his efforts would come to much. Amazed journalists first came upon it while travelling past the village of Tresh on the way to Shkoder in the north to cover a major flood.

The car body is of red marble, called Rosso Albania (Red Albania). The mirrors, exhaust and fuel pipe are of made of white stone while the tires are mud-green stone.

The wheel, also of stone, moves around. The car does not.

Christian Catholics from a family persecuted by the Communist regime, the Gjinis were mostly in the business of carving wells, tabernacles and altars for churches, including one depicting the Last Supper.

The attention of the rather less lofty Formula One car has helped drum up new business.

"The car has created a lot of trust in our clients. Before Christmas, we had orders for seven fireplaces," said Gjonarin Gjini, 27, Alfred's brother.

Before it toppled communism, statues of late dictator Enver Hoxha and Lenin and Stalin were everywhere. They were toppled or removed. The Gjini's work show the shift in focus in today's Albania.


http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/2010012...fe-de29600.html