FERRARI CELEBRATES 75TH ANNIVERSARY
FERRARI CELEBRATES 75TH ANNIVERSARY
The year 2022 saw strong growth for Ferrari, marked by a significant resurgence in Formula 1, a season filled with victories for the Competizioni GT department, and outstanding financial results.
<p>The year 2022 saw strong growth for Ferrari, marked by a significant resurgence in Formula 1, a season filled with victories for the Competizioni GT department, and outstanding financial results.</p> <p>These very positive returns coincided neatly with the celebration of the 75th anniversary of Ferrari’s debut car launch, since it was in Maranello, on 12 March 1947, that Enzo Ferrari first started the engine of the 125 S.</p> <p>From that moment on, the world of motorsport was forever changed.</p>
<p>To commemorate the anniversary, the Maranello team christened their new Formula 1 car the F1-75: combining the class designation with the number 75 in what was the sixty-eighth car built by Ferrari.</p> <p>“Formula 1, with its spirit of competition and innovation, has always been a fundamental part of Ferrari, driving the technological development of our road cars,” commented Chairman John Elkann. He added: “This year, as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of our first production car leaving the factory, we honour that spirit by naming our 2022 F1 challenger the Ferrari F1-75.”</p> <p>The vehicle was entirely new: from the aerodynamics to the engine, the chassis and the suspension. A marked departure from the past was also evident in the livery, which featured a strikingly bright red, accentuating the innovative contours of the car, in line with the newly implemented regulations.</p> <p>The single-seater propelled Ferrari back into contention in the Formula 1 Championship after a two-year spell of underwhelming results. As the season came to an end, the overall verdict was highly favourable for Scuderia Ferrari, having secured a total of 20 podium finishes: 11 for Leclerc, including three victories in Bahrain, Australia, and Austria, and nine for Sainz, including the win at the British Grand Prix in Silverstone.</p> <p>These results saw Leclerc finish the season as runner-up in the Driver standings and Ferrari in second place in the Constructor table, with 554 points.</p> <p>Despite this, Mattia Binotto did not retain his place at the helm. His resignation at the end of the year was followed by an announcement from CEO Benedetto Vigna, who confirmed the appointment of the experienced Frederic Vasseur as the new Team Principal and General Manager of Scuderia Ferrari.</p>
<p>Alongside the resurgence in Formula 1 and its future prospects, 2022 also saw the Competizioni GT department achieve remarkable success, marking a season of record-breaking feats. This culminated in a double world title in Bahrain during the concluding event of the FIA World Endurance Championship, where Ferrari was crowned champion in both the manufacturers’ category and the drivers’ standings for the LMGTE Pro class, through Alessandro Pier Guidi and James Calado. </p> <p>This remarkable year reached its pivotal moment during the “home” race at the 6 Hours of Monza, which was followed by triumphs in Japan and the concluding victory in Bahrain.</p> <p>It was a highly challenging championship, in which Ferrari’s confirmation as world champion brought double the satisfaction, built on hard work, sacrifice and numerous obstacles surmounted.</p> <p>The season concluded with the Maranello-based company securing a total of 29 titles.</p> <p>Antonello Coletta, the head of the Attività Sportive GT department, reflected on the key moments of 2022 and emphasised the season’s highlight: the thirtieth anniversary of the Ferrari Challenge, the Prancing Horse’s single-make series.</p> <p>“For a one-make series to hit the 30-year milestone is extraordinary and unique at the international level. This achievement testifies to the company’s professionalism and credibility in pursuing this programme, developing many cars. In 1993, we began with the Ferrari 348, and today we are about to start developing the 296 Challenge, the car of the future. So many models and so many customers competing on every track. I am proud to say that I have witnessed many editions of the one-make series, as many as 26. I have also known many of the drivers competing.” </p> <p>The Corse Clienti department’s season, in keeping with tradition, reached its peak at the Finali Mondiale, held at the legendary Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, in Imola. It was also an unmissable opportunity to unveil the 499P, the hypercar that would bring Ferrari back to the top class of endurance racing.</p>
<p>Achieving success on the track and beyond, this year saw Ferrari garner significant accolades with two of its vehicles securing prestigious awards.</p> <p>The first was the Ferrari Daytona SP3, which was named the most beautiful supercar of the year 2022 by a panel of experts at the Festival Automobile International in Paris. This prestigious award is intended to recognise the sports car that boasts the most remarkable design and aesthetic beauty: the Ferrari Daytona SP3’s design, which features in Ferrari’s ‘Icona’ series, masterfully balances a harmony of contrasts, combining smooth and sensual surfaces with crisp, sharp lines that echo the iconic racing car designs of the 1960s and 1970s, including the 330 P4, the 350 Can-Am, and the 512 S.</p> <p>The second vehicle to earn a significant honour was the Ferrari 296 GTB, which emerged victorious in the Production Cars category at the prestigious Car Design Award. The accolade recognises vehicles that have made the biggest contributions to the evolution of car design.</p> <p>The Ferrari 296 GTB marked a revolutionary step for the Maranello-based manufacturer, evolving the concept of its 2-seater, mid-rear-engined sports berlinetta. It debuted an entirely new 120-degree V6 engine coupled with a plug-in hybrid engine (PHEV), delivering up to 830 horsepower. The car redefined the concept of driving pleasure, ensuring fun behind the wheel even on everyday journeys.</p> <p>Beyond the triumphs on the track and the plaudits garnered, 2022 was a remarkable year for Ferrari from a financial standpoint: the company’s financial report showed a steep 13% rise in net profit and an 18.5% surge in vehicle deliveries compared to 2021, all accompanied by a significant 19.3% growth in annual revenue.</p> <p>Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna said: “Last year ended with outstanding financial results that met and exceeded our guidance and set new records across all metrics, such as a net profit of Euro 939 million and an industrial free cash flow generation of Euro 758 million. These figures provide the base for an even stronger 2023.”</p>
