Latest news with #Testarossa
The Guardian
15-03-2025
- Automotive
- The Guardian
‘He'll have a blast': Nigel Mansell, the lion of Ferrari, has high hopes for Lewis Hamilton
Regardless of how Lewis Hamilton's hugely anticipated debut for Ferrari pans out at Melbourne in Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix and whether his glorious adventure to cap a remarkable career is a success or not, for one former driver, his countryman has made the right decision. 'The experience I had at Ferrari, money can't buy,' says Nigel Mansell with a fond smile. 'Money can't buy those emotions, or feelings or accolades. It made me all round a better person and driver. They treasure their drivers. It's something incredibly special.' Mansell was named Il Leone – The Lion – by the tifosi, who took the man from the West Midlands to their hearts as if he had been born within the sound of the bells of Maranello. For two seasons in 1989 and 1990 Mansell battled against an unreliable car with such fearlessness, verve and sheer bloody-minded determination that he remains admired across Italy to this day and he believes Hamilton will receive a similar response – whether he returns with his eighth world title or not. Now 71 years old, Mansell was the last driver signed by Enzo Ferrari before his death in August 1988 and recalls a tricky time on track but a unique experience in driving for Ferrari. 'There was the power of Mr Ferrari just moving a finger at lunch,' he says. 'You're in a canteen with 30 to 40 people all at the table sitting directly opposite and he would just move his hand and from 120 decibels the whole restaurant went stony silent. To have the power of people thinking: 'He's going to say something,' and all he was doing was going to pick up the salt, it was amazing.' In 1989 F1's turbo era had come to a close, Ferrari were adapting both to their founder's death and their first car designed by John Barnard, the former McLaren engineer. The Ferrari 640 was groundbreaking, with a revolutionary semi-automatic gearbox and a paddleshift system that would later be adopted across the sport. But while quick, it was very unreliable. At his Ferrari debut in Rio de Janeiro, the car had broken down in three of the four practice and qualifying sessions and Mansell expected an early trip home, only for the car to keep going in the race, firing up the British driver's indomitable spirit. Against the odds he took the flag and Italian hearts. Back in Maranello he would swiftly discover what it really meant to be wearing the team's scarlet colours. Having gone out to buy a teddy bear for his newly born son Leo, Mansell was pulled over for speeding in his new Testarossa. Lewis Hamilton will be burning the midnight oil to learn Ferrari's rain settings with wet weather forecast for the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, as the Briton continues to get up to speed with his new team. The 40-year-old struggled for pace during the three practice sessions and qualified only eighth, one place behind teammate Charles Leclerc, in scorching heat on Saturday. Despite Ferrari's lack of qualifying pace, rain on Sunday could help them make up ground to the McLarens at the front. "Tomorrow's going to be a challenge, I've never driven this car in the rain," said Hamilton. "I don't even know the rain settings so I've got to go and study that tonight. It will be a learning experience again." Hamilton was nearly nine-tenths of a second behind Lando Norris's fastest lap but if the seven-time world champion was disappointed by his car's performance, he hid it well. "I had a really good time out there today. Everything's been a first this weekend," Hamilton said. "To be that close in my first qualifying session, I'd definitely take it. We'll just get our heads down and start working, trying to find out why we're not on pace with the frontrunners." Reuters 'I was on the side of the road with two army officers with machine guns and two carabinieri and they were marching towards the car. I thought: 'I've done it this time, I'm going to be arrested.' I put the window down and as soon as they saw it was me in the car they saluted and let me go. The power of Ferrari and being the driver for Ferrari …' Mansell went on to seal his reputation as the Italian fans' lionheart with some revered performances. His victory against Ayrton Senna at Hungary in 1989 from 12th on the grid included a breathtaking dive into the lead as the pair went past the slow-moving Onyx of Stefan Johansson. In 1990 at Imola, he was pushed off the track while trying to pass McLaren's Gerhard Berger, did a full 360 degrees at 200mph but incredibly caught the spin and drove on. The next lap he broke the track record before the car gave up the ghost. Of course the fans loved it, as did the team. The same year at Mexico, Berger in the dying laps had squeezed Mansell to take second but unbowed, the British driver attacked to take back the place round the outside of the fearsome banked Peraltada corner, while Alain Prost, in front, claimed the win. 'On the slow-down lap, everyone was going berserk around the circuit, the marshals, everybody came out of the pit lane celebrating,' Mansell says. 'I thought I'd won the race. I thought Alain had broken down and I'd won the bloody race. I drove into the pits, everyone was going berserk. Alain had won the race but my overtake on the last lap with Gerhard, they were in raptures for that. I didn't get that until I got out of the car.' Special times for Mansell, so might Hamilton follow in his footsteps? 'To finish his career, or have the opportunity to finish his career with an eighth world championship hopefully with Ferrari? He'll have a blast. They'll embrace him like there's no tomorrow.' Mansell is unstinting in his admiration for Hamilton and his achievements, which he believes have put him in a unique position with the team. 'He's super intelligent, super clever. I love the guy. I've been a huge fan of Lewis his whole career,' he says. 'He's got the motivation and mindset. Lewis's 2025 will rejuvenate him to what he was five, 10 years ago and going to Ferrari is just incredibly inspirational. The doors it will unlock and Lewis can ask for pretty much anything, and it'll be accepted. Ferrari will give him everything he requires to get the job done. And until I'm proven wrong, I think he will get the job done.' In retirement Mansell has dedicated much of his time to his work as president for the last 25 years of the charity UK Youth, dedicated to building a brighter future for young people. He is fronting their appeal to raise more than £3m to build an indoor learning and sports centre at its Avon Tyrrell site in Hampshire. Unsurprisingly then he also admires Hamilton's work with his Mission 44 project to make a difference in young people's lives. With such shared goals, he believes that Hamilton will form a bond similar to the one he forged with Ferrari that remains enormously strong to this day. When Mansell arrived at the team's garage at the Las Vegas GP two years ago, he was greeted with great enthusiasm. 'Ferrari is the most romantic team in Formula One, there's no question about it,' he says fondly. 'You become a member of the family of Ferrari when you drive for them, win for them, and do something special.' A family who were generous to a fault, as Mansell also discovered. 'Lewis might like this,' he says smiling. 'I was walking through the factory once and admiring a motorbike. All I said was: 'Oh what a beautiful bike,' that's all, carried on walking, never thought anything of it. Two weeks later one arrived at my home in the Isle of Man.' The same thing happened when Mansell tried the latest Testarossa, noting the Ferrari road car was a fantastic drive. Two weeks later one duly turned up at his home, prompting him to try to go one better. 'I flew one of their Falcon 900 planes to a test and I got off the plane and I said to the captain: 'Just make sure they know this is the most wonderful plane I've ever flown.' I'm still waiting because that one was worth $34m but I know it was worth a try,' he says with a laugh. Mansell may have won only three races with the Scuderia and was far from taking a title with them but even now feels that: 'It felt like I did.' He is convinced it is something Hamilton will feel too, another lion ready to roar once more for Ferrari. 'You're part of the family, part of the heritage, part of the history which they embrace and love. It's a different way.'
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Sultan of Brunei's Secret Ferrari F90s
Read the full story on Modern Car Collector The Sultan of Brunei, renowned for owning one of the most extravagant car collections in the world, secretly commissioned six one-of-a-kind Ferrari F90s—vehicles so exclusive that even Ferrari was unaware of their existence for years. The project originated in 1989 when the Sultan's brother, Prince Jeffri, approached Pininfarina's then-design chief, Enrico Fumia, with a challenge: to create a Ferrari unlike any other, built entirely from scratch rather than based on an existing model. The design was loosely inspired by the Testarossa but took on a radically different form. Keeping the project under strict secrecy, Pininfarina worked outside Ferrari's purview, developing and testing the F90s in complete isolation. The commission was so significant that it provided Pininfarina with vital financial support at a crucial time, surpassing the revenue generated from all its other manufacturer contracts combined. The secrecy paid off. Ferrari only became aware of the F90s in 2005—16 years after they were built. By then, the Italian automaker had no recourse but to acknowledge their existence, formally recognizing them as Ferrari models in 2006, despite never having seen them in person. Details and images of the elusive F90s remain scarce. The few known pictures showcase a sleek, wedge-shaped design, a stark contrast to the Testarossa's angular aesthetics. All six cars are believed to still reside in the Sultan's vast collection, which boasts approximately 7,000 vehicles valued at an estimated $15 billion. In an era where secrets are increasingly difficult to keep, the F90 project stands as a remarkable feat of discretion and automotive ambition—one that may never be replicated. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The Stolen Ferrari F50 FBI Saga
Read the full story on Modern Car Collector The story of the stolen Ferrari F50 is one of deception, crime, and government negligence, culminating in an embarrassing wreck that left insurance companies and federal agencies in a legal battle. This guide breaks down the bizarre journey of one of the rarest Ferraris ever made and how it ended up in the hands of the FBI—only to be totaled in a suspicious accident. In 2003, a Ferrari F50, one of only 349 ever built, sat gleaming in the showroom of Algar Ferrari in Rosemont, Pennsylvania. Enter Tom Baker, a smooth-talking airline pilot with a taste for fast cars. Posing as a tech CEO from California, he convinced the dealership that he was a serious buyer. Without a driver's license but with an air of confidence, Baker managed to take the F50 on a test drive. What happened next was straight out of a heist movie. The moment the salesman stepped out of the car, Baker floored it, disappearing over the horizon in a $500,000 supercar. Authorities believed it would be quickly smuggled overseas, but Baker had a different plan—he kept it for himself, hiding it in suburban Kentucky. For five years, the stolen F50 remained a ghost in the automotive world. Baker, a seasoned conman, had stolen multiple Ferraris in the past, including a Testarossa and a 328 GTS. But in 2008, he attempted to sell the F50 to an emergency room doctor in Kentucky. The sale seemed legitimate until the doctor contacted Ferrari to verify the VIN and engine number. That's when the truth was uncovered—the car was stolen. Panicked, Baker refunded the doctor's money, but it was too late. Law enforcement was alerted, and the FBI seized the F50. Baker was arrested and sentenced to prison, ending his criminal joyrides. Motors Insurance Corp., which had paid Algar Ferrari for the stolen F50, was relieved to hear it had been recovered. But they wouldn't see it again in one piece. In May 2009, FBI Special Agent Frederick Kingston and Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Hamilton Thompson took the Ferrari for a drive in Kentucky. The official story was that they were moving the vehicle to a storage facility, but within seconds of leaving the parking lot, disaster struck. The F50 lost control, fishtailed, and slammed into a tree. The carbon-fiber frame was severely damaged, rendering the car a total loss. While Thompson's email described the crash as a minor mishap, photos revealed the extent of the damage—the monocoque was broken, and the car was beyond repair. The insurance company, stunned by the destruction of the car they legally owned, demanded compensation. Initially, the FBI told Motors Insurance they could file a claim for damages. However, in 2010, the U.S. Department of Justice denied the claim, arguing that the Ferrari was 'being detained by the FBI' at the time of the wreck. According to federal law, the government cannot be sued for property damage when an asset is in law enforcement custody. Motors Insurance, unwilling to accept the loss, filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests seeking details about the crash. The FBI and DOJ ignored or denied these requests. Frustrated, the insurance company filed a lawsuit in federal court to force the agencies to release information and compensate them for the $750,000 loss. Despite mounting legal pressure, the FBI refused to admit fault, sticking to its position that it was not liable for damages. The insurance company argued that the car was not being 'detained' but rather had been voluntarily lent to the FBI, making them responsible for its destruction. As the case dragged on, a key question emerged—why was the Ferrari being driven in the first place? If it was purely being relocated, why did it crash within seconds? Some suspected a joyride gone wrong, as high-powered supercars require an experienced driver to handle them, especially one as rare and powerful as the F50. Meanwhile, the remains of the wrecked Ferrari disappeared from public view. Whether it was scrapped, stored, or salvaged remains a mystery. What is clear, however, is that a car once stolen by a daring conman was ultimately wrecked in the hands of those sworn to uphold the law. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
First Drive: The 819 HP Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider Balances the Digital Age with Classic Power Delivery
Maranello's obsession with the 12-cylinder engine goes right back to the marque's beginning in 1946, when the enterprising Enzo Ferrari ordered the brilliant Gioacchino Colombo to build a power plant for his first eponymous race car. The resulting 1.5-liter screamer eventually propelled the inaugural Ferrari to a win at the 1947 Grand Prix of Rome, setting in motion nearly eight decades of 12-cylinder production. Of course, hybrids, turbos, V-6s and V-8s have since entered the fray. But the mighty V-12 remains a defining touchpoint for the brand—and perhaps the reason its latest iteration is celebrated with a model name that literally translates to '12 Cylinder' in Italian. A successor to the 812 Superfast, the so-called dodicicilindri—best mouthed with a voluptuous bounce of the tongue—counts larger-than-life flagships as its predecessors, among them the straked Testarossa and the 365 GTB/4 Daytona, whose nose is similarly styled. More from Robb Report The Fiat 124 Sport Spider's Beautiful Lines and Feisty Engine Make It an Enduring Classic Gordon Murray Is Now Making Bespoke Supercars After His T.50 Sold Out Sotheby's Wants You to Buy Classic Cars, and They'll Lend You Millions to Make It Happen This alfresco version brings minimal disruption to the coupé's slinky silhouette, whose shapely snout is accentuated by the cabin's surprisingly close proximity to the rear axle. The 12Cilindri Spider's roofline becomes a bit more complicated than the coupé, especially toward the rear when the top is down, with twin buttresses adding a bit of jagged topography just aft of the seat headrests. The retractable hardtop can open or close in 14 seconds at speeds up to 28 mph. The model variant's 6.5-liter V-12 is a hulking monument to thrust, producing 819 hp and 500 ft lbs of torque. Wind it out all the way, and the titanium connecting rods will spin the engine at up to 9,500 rpm. The engine mates to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission that shifts 30 percent quicker than that found in the 812 Superfast, which is a seven-speed setup. A number of technological tricks up this mill's sleeve complement its stubbornly traditional cylinder count, among them a Formula 1–derived valvetrain and so-called Aspirated Torque Curving, which uses software to modify the length of the intake runners and produce greater torque in third and fourth gears for more perceived oomph. Ferrari claims the 12Cilindri Spider can accelerate from zero to 62 mph in 2.95 seconds and reach a top speed of more than 211 mph. Countless other features squeeze maximum performance from the plus-sized power-train configuration, including Spider-specific bits like discreet active-aerodynamic elements that create downforce when needed, and a number of structural elements that make the droptop 132 pounds heavier than its sibling. Climb inside the 12Cilindri Spider, and you'll find a cabin that's nearly as contemporary as the flush, planar surfaces that dominate the exterior. Gone are tangibles like the mechanically sweeping tachometer and the physical Engine Start button, replaced by a 15.6-inch instrument panel, a 10.25-inch central touchscreen, and an 8.8-inch screen along the passenger side of the dashboard. That's quite a bit of digitalization for a car that proudly clings to such a traditionalist trope as a supernumerary cylinder count; even Ferrari's new range-topping, $3.9 million F80 hybrid sports only six cylinders. Haptic surfaces on the steering wheel are surrounded by an everything-and-the-kitchen-sink array of buttons and switches. As much as the Formula 1–inspired arrangement seems daunting to Ferrari newbies, one quickly acclimates to the cluster of controls; turn signals are right there at your thumbs, and audio-system dials are behind the wheel at your literal fingertips. While the haptic controls can be an annoyance, there is a feature that times out in 15 seconds and renders them inactive until a surface is pressed and held. Ferrari reps also reveal that another steering wheel will be offered down the line with more physical buttons. Touch the illuminated Engine Start/Stop at the bottom of the wheel while pressing the brake pedal, and the V-12 whirs to life. At idle, the exhaust note is neither spine-tingling nor cabin-drowning, but the subtle tonalities become more prominent with the proper combination of drive-mode setting, speed, and engine rpm. Vehicle dynamics are managed by an aluminum manetinno dial on the steering wheel that clicks into one of four settings, or if you're feeling extra bold, a further spring-loaded mode that switches stability control off. In every mode leading up to Race, the 12Cilindri feels manageable, delivering buttery smooth power to the rear wheels without seemingly trying very hard. Leave the transmission in automatic mode, and gearshifts occur unnaturally early, which has the effect of cloaking the 12-cylinder's power reserves, though 80 percent of its torque is available at only 2,500 rpm. In Race mode, or with ESC Off, the 12Cilindri transforms into a palpably more stirring animal, despite niceties like massaging seats and neck-warming fans. Not only does an exhaust valve open to wake up the engine's full voice, the long, silky power delivery is able to unfurl in a delicious crescendo of thrust and sound that peaks at 9,500 rpm. This is a remarkable achievement for any engine, let alone one displacing 6.5 liters and the requisite internal mass that must reciprocate at supersonic speeds. Similarly noteworthy is the versatility of the suspension, whose adaptive settings enable it to feel supple when driven casually but taut at speed. The hallmarks of Ferrari steering remain—light, quick action at the wheel with excellent feel, yet with a bit more calmness and predictability in this application than its limited-edition predecessor, the 812 Competizione. However, the steering and handling are livelier than in the 812 Superfast thanks to a Competizione-derived rear-steering system. This latest iteration works in concert with the torque-vectoring system to aid agility, making the 12Cilindri feel like it corners better than it should despite its lengthy nose and biggish footprint. Cruising through Portugal's coastal roads at mellow speeds makes the convertible feel sedate, the only clue to its elevated presence being the head-swiveling reactions from locals and the visceral joy it seems to bring to children. The other side of the 12Cilindri comes when the road opens with enough space to fully exploit the incredible range of the V-12: with the top down and the gas pedal depressed, there is seemingly nothing that can stop the flow of power between the quicksilver shifts. It's during these urgent rushes of acceleration that the engine becomes more sonorous, a trait that's unfortunately lacking at lower speeds. Top-down driving does allow incrementally more exhaust sound into the cabin, though not nearly as much as it does in Ferrari's mid-engine models. In the final analysis, the digitalization of the driver experience in the 12Cilindri Spider—the plethora of screens, the loss of physical touchpoints—is a small tradeoff for its adherence to a vanishing engine configuration. Regulations have limited the 12Cilindri's sound output, which Ferrari engineers say are right at the legal limit, but more soulful solutions do exist in the aftermarket. Regardless, there are few automotive sensations as singular as dipping a V-12's silky powerband at full tilt with the sun shining overhead, an experience that, for many, will continue to eclipse the inevitable march of of Robb Report The 2024 Chevy C8 Corvette: Everything We Know About the Powerful Mid-Engine Beast The World's Best Superyacht Shipyards The ABCs of Chartering a Yacht Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Man Takes Ferrari Testarossa On A 2K-Mile Road Trip
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious Normal people like to pick the most reliable, comfortable, and practical vehicle possible for going on a long-distance road trip. Car enthusiasts aren't exactly normal people. We value performance, the cool factor, and novelty in our road trip rides. Those things and others are behind this epic 2,000-mile trek to the French Riviera in a Ferrari Testarossa. Watch the latest Motorious Podcast here. There's another wrinkle in this trip: the guy did it in the winter. Yes, that's right, he decided to road trip in a rear-wheel-drive sports car on potentially slippery roads. Oh, plus the roads could be salted. That might not sound like the greatest idea, however Harry, the owner of the Testarossa, takes some preventative measures but they don't include winter tires. This fun little jaunt through France and Britain was documented on the YouTube channel Harry's Garage. It's run by Harry Metcalfe who is certainly no stranger to the automotive scene, considering he was one of the founders of Evo magazine and done many other impressive things, including working as a consultant for Jaguar Land Rover. In other words, the man knows his cars. He also likes to take classics on long trips, so he's also a little bit crazy, but in the good sort of way. Before you think this ends poorly, here's a little spoiler alert: the Ferrari doesn't break down and it doesn't catch on fire. In fact, the engine runs a little cold during the trip, which means the heater isn't working properly. That might be shocking to some, but the Testarossa is actually a fairly reliable car, at least when it comes to Ferraris. To be fair, the Testarossa is far more practical of a car than many other Ferraris. As Harry Metcalfe rightly notes, the cargo area is more spacious than in most other Ferraris out there, at least until the Purasangre SUV launches. He even fits two folding bicycles in the car and that's amazing.
