North American Racing Team, the famous NART

It’s almost as if it were a rule: those who founded important racing teams were almost always drivers. The “marketing” of such an enterprise requires a deep understanding of racing and what needs to be done to be successful. Luigi Chinetti was a master at this, having won three times at the Le Mans 24 Hours, the last one in 1949 with a privately organized Ferrari 166 MM team.

The first Le Mans victory for Ferrari came in 1949 with Luigi Chinetti and Lord Selsdon's privately entered 166MM.

Chinetti and Ferrari crossed paths several times, even before the war when they were both drivers. Then in Maranello, when in 1949, Chinetti had requested a Ferrari for Le Mans, Enzo responded, “No, it’s too soon, we’re not ready yet.” Chinetti was undeterred and arranged for an English nobleman and wealthy gentleman driver to purchase the car, and then went on to win the toughest and most famous race in the world! At that point, the two automotive giants' paths crossed definitively. Luigi Chinetti lived in America and proposed to lead Ferrari's sales in the USA. This move yielded immediate success, leading to the creation of Ferrari North America and a long and fruitful partnership that significantly influenced the world of racing. Chinetti founded the North American Racing Team, known as NART, contributing to Ferrari’s prestigious list of victories.

Before the 2023 success, Ferrari's last victory at Le Mans was in 1965 with the 250 LM entered by NART.

It’s impossible to mention them all, but a few are enough to understand the calibre of these racing teams. The last victory for Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans before their return to success in 2023 was achieved by Rindt and Gregory with the NART 250LM in 1965.

The Ferrari-NART connection became widely recognized in 1964 when John Surtees and Lorenzo Bandini's official Formula 1 cars departed from the iconic red livery, adopting the American blue and white colours and were entered into the final two World Championship races by NART. This move came as a result of Enzo Ferrari's protest against the Federation's refusal to classify the 250 LM as a Gran Turismo vehicle, leading to his return of the Manufacturer's license. Consequently, Bandini and Surtees concluded the Championship season racing for NART, with Surtees remarkably clinching the World Title in a non-red Ferrari!

John Surtees became Formula One World Champion with Ferrari in 1964. In the last two races in the U.S. and Mexico, the 158 was painted in the blue and white NART colors.

NART entered Ferrari cars into major international races until the early ‘80s when both Enzo and Luigi were well into their 80s, sharing both sporting and commercial successes. It marked the end of an era.

Ferrari's trio at Daytona 1967 is completed by NART's 412 P that finished in third place with Rodriguez and Guichet.