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 the team its
Modena. Ferrari prepared and successfully racedfirst victory at the 1951 British Grand Prix.
various drivers in Alfa Romeo cars until 1938,Alberto Ascari gave Ferrari its first Drivers
when he was officially hired by Alfa as head ofChampionship a year later. Ferrari is the oldest
their racing department.team left in the championship, not to mention the
In 1940, Alfa Romeo was absorbed by themost successful: the team holds nearly every
Fascist government of Benito Mussolini as part ofFormula One record. As of 2005, the team's
the Axis Powers' war effort. Enzo Ferrari's divisionrecords include fourteen World Drivers
was small enough to be unaffected by this.Championship titles (1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961,
Because he was prohibited by contract from1964, 1975, 1977, 1979, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
racing for four years, the Scuderia briefly becameand 2004), fourteen World Constructors
Auto Avio Costruzioni Ferrari, which ostensiblyChampionship titles (1961, 1964, 1975, 1976, 1977,
produced machine tools and aircraft accessories.1979, 1982, 1983, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
Also known as SEFAC (Scuderia Enzo Ferrariand 2004), 179 Grand Prix victories, 3,445 and a
Auto Corse), Ferrari did in fact produce one racehalf points, 544 podium finishes, 174 pole positions,
car, the Tipo 815, in the non-competition period; it11,182 laps led, and 180 fastest laps in 1,622
was thus the first actual Ferrari car (it debuted atGrands Prix contested.
the 1940 Mille Miglia), but due to World War II itNotable Ferrari drivers include Tazio Nuvolari, Juan
saw little competition. In 1943 the Ferrari factoryManuel Fangio, Luigi Chinetti, Alberto Ascari,
moved to Maranello, where it has remained everWolfgang von Trips, Phil Hill, Olivier Gendebien,
since. The factory was bombed by the Allies inMike Hawthorn, Peter Collins, John Surtees, Jacky
1944 and rebuilt in 1946, with the war ended andIckx, Mario Andretti, Niki Lauda, Carlos
the Mussolini government overthrown, to include aReutemann, Jody Scheckter, Gilles Villeneuve,
works for road car production. Right up to IlDidier Pironi, Michele Alboreto, Gerhard Berger,
Commendatore's death, this would remain littleNigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Jean Alesi,Eddie Irvine,
more than a source of funding for his first love,Rubens Barrichello, Michael Schumacher, Kimi
racing.Räikkonen, and Felipe Massa.
"Scuderia Ferrari" literally means "Ferrari Stable";The Scuderia Ferrari drivers for the 2006 F1
the name is figuratively translated as "Teamseason were Michael Schumacher and Felipe
Ferrari". (It is correctly pronounced "skoo deh REEMassa. At the end of the 2006 season the team
ah".)shelved plans for an IPO because Fiat Autocourted controversy by continuing to allow
has now returned to profitability, thus removingMarlboro to sponsor them after they, along with
pressure from the group.Enzo Ferrari's truethe other F1 teams, made a promise to end
passion, despite his extensive road car business,sponsorship deals with tobacco manufacturers. A
was always auto racing. His Scuderia started asfive year deal worth a reported $500 million was
an independent sponsor for drivers in variousagreed.[citation needed]
cars, but soon became the Alfa Romeo in-houseThe drivers for 2007 are Felipe Massa and Kimi
racing team. After Ferrari's departure from Alfa,Räikkönen.
he began to design and produce cars of his own;