Cars
Le Mans Yesterday and Today: Ferrari
Ferrari's journey at Le Mans began in 1949 with a win by the 166MM. After numerous victories in the 1950s and 60s, Ferrari returned triumphantly in 2023 with the 499P, securing its eleventh overall win in 2024.
Roarington's journey to discover the most successful manufacturers in the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans stops today at the third step of the podium occupied by Ferrari, just behind Porsche and Audi in terms of overall victories, as we have discovered in previous weeks.
At the end of the 1940s, Ferrari began receiving requests from Italy and across Europe to race with the Red cars from wealthy client drivers like the Marzotto brothers. But it was Luigi Chinetti who changed Ferrari's history. When he arrived in Maranello in 1948, he had already realized the commercial potential of these cars in the United States. He tried to convince Enzo Ferrari to race officially at Le Mans, but facing the "Drake's" fear of not being ready for such a demanding race, he bought two 166 MM cars, entering them in the 1949 Le Mans and winning. It was Ferrari's first overall victory at its debut on the Circuit de la Sarthe.
