A special day in the history of Ferrari

Today is a very special day in the history of Ferrari. On 18 February 1898 Enzo Ferrari was born, although official documents claim that it was the 20 February, the day of his birth’s registration. His son Piero Ferrari remembers that the family always celebrated his father’s birthday on the 18th February
The Ferrari Vice Chairman Piero Ferrari was asked  what day his father would have had today, less than one month before the start of the new F1 season:
 "A birthday with lots of work with the passion and determination he always had and pressure on the whole team. He would have been in his office in Fiorano, following the laps on the track and discussing every single detail with the team. High pressure all day long. I remember when Scheckter won the title in 1979, while the new car wasn’t ready for the start of the Championship and we could only start after two races. We worked night and day without a break."

The most famous man in motorsport? A bold statement,the man behind Ferrari is a legend.  Born 18^th February 1898 in Modena, , Enzo Ferrari’s love of motorsport began at an early age,  when his father, Alfredo Ferrari, took the 10 year old Enzo to an automobile race, his dreams of becoming a racing driver started here when he saw Vincenzo Lancia battle Felice Nazarro in the 1908 Circuit di Bologna.

Enzo Ferrari got a job with Alfa Romeo who entered some modified production cars in the 1920 Targa Florio, Ferrari driving one of these cars managed to finish second.  In 1923 he was racing and winning at the Circuit of Sivocci at Ravenna when he met the father of the legendary Italian W.W.I ace Francesco Baracca.  The senior Baracca was enamoured with the courage and audacity of Ferrari and presented the young driver with his son’s squadron badge, the famous Prancing Horse on a yellow shield.

After more success Enzo Ferrari was promoted to full factory driver, his racing career up till that time mostly consisted of local races in second hand cars but now he was expected to compete driving the latest cars at the years most prestigious race the French Grand Prix.  What happened next is not quite clear but it seems that Ferrari suffered a crisis of confidence and was not able to take part in the biggest race of his career.  He did not race again until 1927 but his racing career was pretty much over before it really began.  He continued to compete in minor events and in this he was quite successful.  Ferrari by this time was married and owned a Alfa distributorship in Modena . 

In 1929 Ferrari started his own firm, Scuderia Ferrari.  He was sponsored in this enterprise by the Ferrara-based Caniano brothers, Augusto and Alfredo, heirs to a textile fortune.  Alfa Romeo had temporarily withdrawn from racing in 1925 and the Scuderia’s main task was to assist his wealthy Alfa Romeo customers with their racing efforts by providing delivery, mechanical support and any other services that they would require.  Scuderia Ferrari caused a sensation.  It was the largest team ever put together by one individual.  None of the drivers were paid a salary but received a percentage of the prize money won.  The basic plan called for the driver to get to the race and his car would be delivered to the track and any entrance fees or duties were handled by the Scuderia.  It is not surprising that Ferrari would look fondly back upon this period.  

After the war Ferrari set out to create his own Grand Prix car and in 1947 a 1.5-liter Tipo125 entered the Grand Prix of Monaco.  The car was designed by his old collaborator Gioacchino Colombo.  Ferrari’s first Grand Prix victory came in 1951 at the British Grand Prix in the hands of Argentine Froilan Gonzalez.  The team had a chance for a World Championship evaporate at the Spanish Grand Prix.  Before the most important race in the young team’s history Ferrari decided to experiment with new Pirelli tires.  The result was thrown treads, which allowed Fangio to win the race and his first title.

Production sports cars were also an important endeavour for Ferrari but in marked difference with other car manufacturers, racing was not used to sell more cars, rather cars were sold so that the team could go racing!  Many of the cars that were sold were last year’s models to private entrants.  Ferrari was not a sentimental person when it came to his cars and those that were not sold were turned to scrap or scavenged for parts.  Ferraris would become common feature at all major sports car events including Le Mans , the Targa Florio and the Mille Miglia.  It was at the Mille Miglia that Ferrari would claim some of its greatest victories.  

In 1975 Ferrari attained something of a renaissance at the hands of Niki Lauda winning two World Championships and three Constructor titles in three years.  The brilliant driving of Gilles Villeneuve gave the new Ferrari several victories in 1981 but it was evident that the chassis needed to be upgraded before the car could seriously challenge for the title.  At mid-season the team was joined by Dr Harvey Postlewaite whose job it was to build an improved chassis for the following season.  

Enzo Ferrari died at the age of 90 in 1988 – a brilliant man who brought untold qualities to the motorsport forum.