Ferrari

This Car Ferrari was founded by Scuderiathe Ferrari team first appeared on the European
Ferrari.the company sponsored drivers andGrand Prix scene after the end of World War II.
manufactured race cars before moving intoIn 1949, Luigi Chinetti drove a Model 166M to
production of street legal vehicles in 1947 asFerrari's first win in motorsports, the 24 Hours of
Ferrari S.p.A.. Ferrari's cars are among the mostLe Mans. Chinetti drove for all except twenty
desirable of vehicles to own and drive, and areminutes of the Grand Prix race. He soon became
one of the ultimate status symbols of wealth inthe American dealer for Ferraris and established
the world. Throughout its history, the companythe North American Racing Team, Ferrari's official
has been noted for its continued participation inracing arm. The dealership is reported to have
racing, especially in Formula One, where it haskept the company in business through sales to
largely enjoyed great success, especially duringwealthy Americans, such as Briggs Cunningham,
the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, late 1990s, andwho bought the first one Chinetti sold through the
2000s.1929-1946new dealership.
Enzo Ferrari never intended to produce road carsThe Scuderia joined the Formula One World
when he formed Scuderia Ferrari in 1929 as aChampionship in the first year of its existence,
sponsor for amateur drivers headquartered in1950. José Froilán González gave
Modena. Ferrari prepared and successfully racedthe team its first victory at the 1951 British Grand
various drivers in Alfa Romeo cars until 1938,Prix.
when he was officially hired by Alfa as head ofAlberto Ascari gave Ferrari its first Drivers
their racing department.Championship a year later. Ferrari is the oldest
In 1940, Alfa Romeo was absorbed by theteam left in the championship, not to mention the
Fascist government of Benito Mussolini as part ofmost successful: the team holds nearly every
the Axis Powers' war effort. Enzo Ferrari's divisionFormula One record. As of 2005, the team's
was small enough to be unaffected by this.records include fourteen World Drivers
Because he was prohibited by contract fromChampionship titles (1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961,
racing for four years, the Scuderia briefly became1964, 1975, 1977, 1979, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
Auto Avio Costruzioni Ferrari, which ostensiblyand 2004), fourteen World Constructors
produced machine tools and aircraft accessories.Championship titles (1961, 1964, 1975, 1976, 1977,
Also known as SEFAC (Scuderia Enzo Ferrari1979, 1982, 1983, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
Auto Corse), Ferrari did in fact produce one raceand 2004), 179 Grand Prix victories, 3,445 and a
car, the Tipo 815, in the non-competition period; ithalf points, 544 podium finishes, 174 pole positions,
was thus the first actual Ferrari car (it debuted at11,182 laps led, and 180 fastest laps in 1,622
the 1940 Mille Miglia), but due to World War II itGrands Prix contested.
saw little competition. In 1943 the Ferrari factoryNotable Ferrari drivers include Tazio Nuvolari, Juan
moved to Maranello, where it has remained everManuel Fangio, Luigi Chinetti, Alberto Ascari,
since. The factory was bombed by the Allies inWolfgang von Trips, Phil Hill, Olivier Gendebien,
1944 and rebuilt in 1946, with the war ended andMike Hawthorn, Peter Collins, John Surtees, Jacky
the Mussolini government overthrown, to include aIckx, Mario Andretti, Niki Lauda, Carlos
works for road car production. Right up to IlReutemann, Jody Scheckter, Gilles Villeneuve,
Commendatore's death, this would remain littleDidier Pironi, Michele Alboreto, Gerhard Berger,
more than a source of funding for his first love,Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Jean Alesi,Eddie Irvine,
racing.Rubens Barrichello, Michael Schumacher, Kimi
"Scuderia Ferrari" literally means "Ferrari Stable";Räikkonen, and Felipe Massa.
the name is figuratively translated as "TeamThe Scuderia Ferrari drivers for the 2006 F1
Ferrari". (It is correctly pronounced "skoo deh REEseason were Michael Schumacher and Felipe
ah".)shelved plans for an IPO because Fiat AutoMassa. At the end of the 2006 season the team
has now returned to profitability, thus removingcourted controversy by continuing to allow
pressure from the group.Enzo Ferrari's trueMarlboro to sponsor them after they, along with
passion, despite his extensive road car business,the other F1 teams, made a promise to end
was always auto racing. His Scuderia started assponsorship deals with tobacco manufacturers. A
an independent sponsor for drivers in variousfive year deal worth a reported $500 million was
cars, but soon became the Alfa Romeo in-houseagreed.[citation needed]
racing team. After Ferrari's departure from Alfa,The drivers for 2007 are Felipe Massa and Kimi
he began to design and produce cars of his own;Räikkönen.