Ferrari’s Technological Innovations Part 10: Fiorano, a Track to Win

Enzo Ferrari sold 50% of his company to Fiat in 1969, securing the stability of a major manufacturer's support to grow further. From that moment, his true priority became racing, his greatest passion. Around the same time, he realized that an important test track project, crucial for developing both race and road cars, would not receive funding and would never be built. The small Modena racetrack, created around the local aeroclub’s track, was under scrutiny for safety concerns after several driver fatalities, including the famous Eugenio Castellotti. It was eventually closed in 1971, the year of Ferrari’s final test on that track.

An aerial view of Fiorano Circuit, commissioned by Enzo Ferrari for developing Cavallino Rampante cars.

In short, Enzo Ferrari needed a track for “his” Ferrari, a place where he could also set up his personal office-hideaway away from the new management team sent from Turin. Being a man of foresight, he had purchased a large piece of land years earlier, including a farmhouse, adjacent to his factory but within the nearby Fiorano municipality. He fondly referred to it as “the field of red fruits” due to the cherry trees, which are a local tradition.

Enzo Ferrari’s iconic farmhouse located on the Fiorano Circuit.

It wasn’t difficult to convince his new partner to invest. The land’s shape was more suited for cherries than a track, which needed to be at least three kilometers long. Engineer Ugo Cavatuzzi, tasked with the project, came up with the idea of using a flyover to create an elevated crossing and optimize the space. This ingenious solution achieved the required three kilometers. The entire project was completed in just three years, with the inauguration in 1975, just in time for Niki Lauda and engineer Mauro Forghieri to develop the Ferrari 312 T, which dominated the World Championship for five years.

Fiorano Circuit was inaugurated in 1975, in time to develop the 312 T.

Still in use today, the track was equipped from the start with advanced technology, including 45 timing stations by Heuer and 10 cameras providing full circuit coverage. With 14 curves in total, it has played and continues to play a significant role in the technological advancement of Ferrari’s famous brand. Ferrari deeply loved his “track” and, besides his office, which remains perfectly preserved, he also set up a dining room where he loved hosting drivers and loyal friends such as Sergio Scaglietti and Franco Gozzi.

Fiorano Circuit is still used by Ferrari today for car development and celebratory events, such as Jacques Villeneuve driving his father Gilles’ 312 T4 in 2012.