We cannot speak of the Ferrari, an Italian legend that has become a symbol in the whole world, without feeling a little awe. A legend whose history is tied into the name of a man - Enzo Ferrari - to his passion for engines and for his sports competitions. Enzo Ferrari was born in Modena the 18th of February1898. In 1919 he started as a pilot in the Parma-Berceto. In 1920 he becomes a technical collaborator of Alfa Romeo. He is a tester, a pilot, trade collaborator and finally manager of the Alfa-Races department.
The Società Anonima Scuderia Ferrari Modena was founded on the 16th November of 1929 in Bologna; among members there are Augusto and Alfredo Caniato, Mario Tadini, Ferruccio Testa and Enzo Ferrari. Enzo at this point is Regional Representative for Alfa Romeo.
From 1934 he starts to manage the Alfa Romeo department for GP, after the withdrawal of the parent company. His cars are distinguished by a shield in a yellow background with the Italian tricolour on top and a rampant horse, a symbol of Francesco Baracca and presented to Ferrari in 1923 by the aviator's mother.At the end of the 30's he leaves Alfa Romeo altogether; Ferrari wants to become a constructor, but because of a clause in his contract that prevents him for the next 5 years to make cars which bear his name, he calls the first car Auto Avio Costruzioni 815.
In 1947 the first 125S Sport is launched, which conquers the first victory of the constructor in Rome the 25th of May of the same year; the following year he debuts the 5th of September in Turin in the Italian GP, the first F.1 from Maranello.
There is no championship or prestigious race where a Ferrari hasn't raced: F.1, F.2, Mountain European, World Marche, Le Mans, Daytona, Sebring, Mille Miglia, Targa Florio, Giro di Sicilia, IMSA, Carrera Panamericana. Whereas all other constructors have arrived, dominated and then withdrawn satisfied, the Maranello car has always been active, for every season since 1930.
In 1969 FIAT acquires the Ferrari stable. After the triumph of the 1972 season in the World Marche and the terrible results in F.1, the "Drake" decided to concentrate all his energies on the GP's, leaving in any case a possibility to privates who wanted to take their cars on to the race.
Since 1994, as wished by the son of Enzo Ferrari, Pietro Lardi, there has come about the commitment with the privates in the IMSA championship with the 333SP car, which leads to a pilot cup and a constructor's (Fermin Velez, 1995), and at least other four missed for a hair's breadth (two constructors and two pilots with Papis and Montermini).
The Stable builds the Dino engine (dedicated to the first son, who died from muscular dystrophy), the heart of the Lancia Stratos, the "victory animal" in the 70's rallies, used also in the F.2., and then also in the Lancia Lc2 Endurance from 1983 onwards.
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