The Chronicles Of Ferrari

The Birth Of Ferrari

Enzo Ferrari, the founder of one of the most coveted cars, was born on Feb 18, 1898 in Italy. He was beguiled by the car races, and this was what made him embark on car racing. He took up racing in 1919 and finished in the 9^th place at Targa Florio. This fetched him a job at Alfa Romeo. In 1920, he participated in the same race at Targa Florio and finished 2^nd.

Impressed by Ferrari’s performance in the 1923 Circuit of Sivocci at Ravenna, Count Enrico and Countess Paolina Barraca give him a badge, which was the famous prancing horse on a yellow shield. This later on became the brand symbol of the Ferrari. The badge originally belonged to their son, Francesco Baracca, a heroic Italian pilot, who died in the world war. In 1929 Enzo formed the Scuderia Ferrari with the aim of organizing racing for members. The Scuderia Ferrari team competed in 22 events and scored 8 victories and several good placing.

In 1940 Enzo Ferrari left Alfa Romeo and started a new company Auto-Avio Costruzioni Ferrari. During World War II the Ferrari workshop moved from Modena to Maranello. The workshop became a victim of the war in 1944 - it was leveled by bombs. A year after the war in 1946 the shop was rebuilt and work began on the first ever Ferrari motorcar, the 125 Sport. This car started a grand tradition of winning for Ferrari. Since its first race in 1947, Ferrari's have had over 5,000 successes on race tracks around the globe.

In 1969 Enzo Ferrari sold 50% of Ferrari's share capital to the Fiat group. That figure grew to 90% in 1988. Enzo Ferrari died at the age of 90 in Modena on August 14, 1988.

The Ferrari Cars Lineage

The Ferrari made a history on the tracks since its inception. Here’s where Ferrari marked history:

1952: Won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone with Alberto Ascari as its driver.

1953: Alberto Ascari made it to the finish line again

1958: Mike Hawthorn won the first post-Fangio title with the Dino 246, but lost his teammate Peter Collins, dying in a crash. Weeks later, Hawthorn died in a crash too.

1961: Phil Hill became the 1^st American World Champion at Zandvoort in Holland with his 156 ‘Sharknose’ car.

1964: Surtees made it at the German Grand Prix with the Ferrari 158

1975: After 11 years, Austrian Niki Lauda secured the title in the third place at Nurburgring.

1977: Niki Lauda won the title for the second time at Monza. He left Ferrari to drive for Brabham.

1979: South African Jody Scheckter hit first with the 312T4 at Monaco

1985: Alboreto leads teammate Stefan Johansson on their way to a 1-2 finish in their 156/85 models.

1987: Gerhard Berger brought Ferrari back to the winner's circle in 1987, after a stirring drive to win the Japanese Grand Prix.

1994: Gerhard Berger brought Ferrari to victory after four years with his 412T1B at Hockenheim.

1995: Jean Alesi won the first time with the Ferrari after having waited for five years

Schumacher finished 1^st in the speed.

2000: It was from this year that Ferrari became a phenomenal. It turned out to be lucky with Ferrari roping in Schumacher as their driver. Schumacher’s impressive win at the Japanese Grand Prix, won him a contract with the Ferrari. Since 2000, Schumacher became a prominent figure, which boosted from his working previously with Benneton.