Ferrari Blog
Ferrari unveils new step-nosed F2012... snow be damned [w/video]Filed under: Motorsports, Ferrari, Racing 
Few things can stand between a Ferrari and the finish line. Not rain, not sleet and certainly not snow. So while the latter fell in prodigious quantities on Maranello, where Ferrari was planning to unveil its latest F1 challenger yesterday, that didn't stop the Scuderia from showing it off to the world, through the magic of this newfangled invention they're calling the "internet".
The F2012 you see here is the fifty-eighth F1 car built by Ferrari, comprising a chassis and powertrain developed and produced entirely in-house: a rarity among F1 teams, particularly in these past few years since major manufacturers like Honda, Toyota and BMW withdrew from the sport.
The most prominent change to the car's form over the F150? Italia it replaces is the rather aesthetically challenged but aerodynamically-optimized stepped nose, which (like the one on the Caterham CT01 and expected to follow on several more) conforms to revised FIA regulations while allowing sufficient air to pass underneath the nosecone to allow the underbody aerodynamics to do their thing. The rear section is also more tapered, leading to the rear wing with the Drag Reduction System that returns from last season.
That's all well and good, of course, but what really matters is how the F2012 is going to stack up against the competition - particularly from the returning champions at Red Bull and longtime rivals at McLaren. Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa will wring out all the F2012 it has to offer, but only time will tell if they'll be able to add another trophy to the cabinet in Maranello. In the meantime you can check out their new ride in the high-res image gallery above and follow the jump for the full press release, technical details and video footage.Continue reading Ferrari unveils new step-nosed F2012... snow be damned [w/video] Ferrari unveils new step-nosed F2012... snow be damned [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsFerrari F1 launch snowed out in MaranelloFiled under: Motorsports, Ferrari 
If you grew up in a sufficiently northern climate, you probably remember staying eagerly tuned in to the local radio or television station, praying on a cold day that enough snow would have fallen for them to close the schools. Well that's what's happened in the Modena area in northern Italy, but while the school children may be celebrating in their jammies, the racing fans among them will be disappointed to learn that the snow has caused the launch of the latest Scuderia Ferrari single-seater to be canceled.
Enough snow, as you can see from the photo above, has fallen on Maranello to not only close down the team's private Fiorano test track - which was supposed to be used for the car's first demonstration run - but also all the roads leading to and from the site, preventing the motorsport press from getting there.
Ferrari will undoubtedly reschedule or make alternate arrangements to unveil the new car, but for now, the latest scarlet speedster will have to stay under wraps. Official announcements can be found after the jump.Continue reading Ferrari F1 launch snowed out in Maranello Ferrari F1 launch snowed out in Maranello originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsWatch as a Ferrari FF goes rallying in the snowFiled under: Performance, Europe, Videos, Ferrari, Off-Road 
Ferrari has had its share of drivers who knew their way around a snowy rally course. Gilles Villeneuve, for example, was famous for the drifting techniques he picked up racing snowmobiles in his native Quebec. And Kimi Raikkonen, for another, left the Scuderia for the World Rally Championship where he exercised his Finnish roots. Thing is, both of these top drivers were gone from the Ferrari roster long before the company introduced the FF as its first all-wheel-drive car.
That's where Markku Alen comes in. The former World Rally Champion took the FF up to the Arjeplog track in the north of his native Sweden, just an hour's drive south of the Arctic Circle, to stretch it out in the snow. Fortunately, he also brought a film crew along. While Ferrari's shot footage of the FF playing in the snow before, none of it came out quite as majestic as this clip. Follow the jump to check it out.Continue reading Watch as a Ferrari FF goes rallying in the snow Watch as a Ferrari FF goes rallying in the snow originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsAlonso and Massa get a pair of Ferrari-red Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8sFiled under: Motorsports, Performance, SUV, Jeep, Ferrari, Celebrities 
There's no end to the perks of being a Formula One racing driver, especially if you happen to drive for Scuderia Ferrari. As if piloting one of the fastest F1 cars on the grid weren't enough, Ferrari has gifted each of its gifted drivers his own 458 Italia, Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari and Maserati GranCabrio, to name just a few. And something tells us that if either Fernando Alonso or Felipe Massa wanted anything else from the expansive Fiat-Chrysler product range - say, a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, for example - that would hardly pose a problem.
That's exactly what the talented duo got the other day at the Fiorano test track at Ferrari headquarters in Maranello, where the first two examples of the new SRT8 in Europe were delivered to the pair of stars. Certainly, the Grand Cherokee SRT8 has plenty to love, what with its 6.4-liter Hemi V8 and 5-second dash to 62 mph, but Fernando And Felipe got more than that.
These two unique examples were decked out in Rosso Corso , with matte black front grille, a black offset racing stripe, black roof, carbon fiber trim and white accents. Ride height was lowered by 1.5 inches on unique forged and painted 20-inch alloys, and the interior has similarly been decked out in red leather accents and top-stitching and even yellow dials on the instruments.
Nice work if you can get it. All you have to do is convince the most victorious team in motorsport that you've got what it takes to be world champion, and you can have one too. Otherwise you can follow the jump for the press release and scope out the high-res images in the gallery above.Continue reading Alonso and Massa get a pair of Ferrari-red Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8s Alonso and Massa get a pair of Ferrari-red Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8s originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsPininfarina P4/5 Competizione going hybrid?Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Hybrid, Ferrari, Design/Style, Racing 
Race cars are going hybrid these days. Formula One racers store regenerated brake energy. Porsche packs a flywheel into the 911 GT3 R. Just the other day, Toyota unveiled its new TS030 Hybrid endurance prototype. And now even Jim Glickenhaus' one-off Ferrari-powered, Pininfarina-designed P4/5 Competizione is said to be getting a hybrid powertrain.
Emerging reports from Europe indicate that the GT prototype is preparing to return to the Nürburgring-based VLN series, but this time, it'll be packing some electric boost. That bit is tipped to come from a system provided by Magneti Marelli that's similar to the Kinetic Energy Recovery System it developed for Scuderia Ferrari for use in F1. The 4.0-liter V8 will continue providing principal motivation, but the added jolt of power could be just what the team needs to conquer the Green Hell with green(er) propulsion.Pininfarina P4/5 Competizione going hybrid? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsFerrari FF converted to run on bio-ethanol packs 875 hpFiled under: Aftermarket, Performance, Hatchback, Ferrari 
There are drawbacks to every kind of alternative to burning fossil fuels in our cars. Electric cars don't have enough range.Hybrids are burdened with what essentially boils down to two parallel powertrains. Hydrogen is limited to where it is available. Bio-ethanol has its own drawbacks, but don't tell that to the performance enthusiast. That's because E85 - similar to what IndyCars run on but mixed with 15% pump gasoline - is not only a renewable and cleaner source of energy, it also provides more power.
Take the Koenigsegg Agera R, for example. With 927 horsepower on tap from ordinary 95-octane gasoline, the Koenigsegg is already one of the fastest, most powerful cars money can buy. But fill it with E85 and it offers up almost 1,100 hp. Now a Norwegian firm is offering an aftermarket bio-ethanol conversion for the Ferrari FF that provides a similar transformation.
Whereas the stock FF (which could now just as easily stand for Flex Fuel) already drives a prodigious 650 horsepower to all four wheels, the converted version packs a whopping 875 hp for a sub-three-second sprint to sixty, all the while dropping the car's emissions figures by some 80%. The conversion costs just €1500 (less than $2k) - rather insignificant considering the FF's $300k+ sticker price - and has reportedly been fitted yb an authorized Ferrari dealer to at least one customer's car, though that doesn't mean it's covered by (and very well might invalidate) the FF's warranty.Ferrari FF converted to run on bio-ethanol packs 875 hp originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsLee Iacocca's Ferrari F40 up for auctionFiled under: Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Ferrari 
Supercars play a volatile and ever-changing game of one-upmanship. With each new generation outperforming the last, it takes something truly special to endure the test of time. The Ferrari F40 is such an icon.
Built to celebrate Ferrari's fortieth anniversary, the F40 was the most extreme Ferrari ever produced to date, and the last to be ushered into production under the watchful eye of its founder Enzo Ferrari. Popular demand saw its original intended production run of 400 expand to over 1,300, but just 213 were made for the American market. This one is noteworthy.
This particular F40, you see, was built for Lee Iacocca during his tenure as chief executive at Chrysler. When the CEO of a major automaker orders a vehicle from another automaker, it says a lot. Even more so in this instance, because when this Ferrari was built, Iacocca's Chrysler also owned Lamborghini - Ferrari's longtime rival.
With fewer than 300 miles on the odometer and three owners in its twenty-one year history, this F40 is set to cross the auction block in one week at RM Auctions' event in Arizona. Follow the jump for the full listing, and check out the extensive image gallery for a closer look.Continue reading Lee Iacocca's Ferrari F40 up for auction Lee Iacocca's Ferrari F40 up for auction originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsFerrari 458 Spider configurator goes liveFiled under: Convertible, Performance, Ferrari 
If we had the money to splurge on a new exotic, we'd take a long, hard look at the Ferrari 458 Spider. Unfortunately, we don't, so we'll settle for playing with Ferrari's latest online configurator instead.
Just launched for the 458 Spider, it lets would-be buyers and dreamers spec out their roadster with 38 colors, six wheel designs, and dozens of exterior and interior trim options to choose from.
Click on through and have some fun. You can start working towards buying one tomorrow.Ferrari 458 Spider configurator goes live originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsAlonso and Massa slalom Ferrari FF coupes on the slopes [w/video]Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Etc., Europe, Videos, Hatchback, Ferrari, Celebrities, Racing 
Ferrari factory drivers are used to racing in all sorts of conditions: under the baking sun, in the pouring rain, at night and at sunset. Competing in the snow has historically been beyond their usual purview, but then again, Ferrari never made an all-wheel-drive vehicle before. That's where the FF comes in.
The Ferrari Four, as you may recall, channels its 660 horsepower to all four wheels through an innovative new all-wheel drive system that ups the traction but ditches much of the weight penalty usually associated with these types of systems systems. Ferrari has taken the occasion of its annual Wrooom event - a pre-season retreat at Italy's Madonna di Campiglio ski resort - to demonstrate the FF's abilities by putting its star Formula One drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa behind the wheel for a downhill slalom.
So who won? Ferrari says it was a dead tie. But while we don't believe that bit any further than we could throw one of their sportscars (light as they may be), there ought to be plenty of time to see which driver is quicker when the F1 season kicks off in a few months. In the meantime, you can check out the video and press release after the jump, along with our high-resolution gallery above.Continue reading Alonso and Massa slalom Ferrari FF coupes on the slopes [w/video] Alonso and Massa slalom Ferrari FF coupes on the slopes [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsWatch a Volvo Amazon wagon race a Ferrari 599... and winFiled under: Motorsports, Classics, Wagon, Videos, Volvo, Ferrari, Specialty 
We're more than happy to admit we have an intense fondness for the classic Volvo Amazon, especially in wagon form. Among its many virtues are its timeless styling, rugged Swedish structure and, with its range of four-cylinder engines, reliability and economy.
Fast, however, it was not.
At least, not in stock form. But at least one enterprising man named Mattias Vöcks, who works for none other than Koenigsegg, decided to build an Amazon that was debuted back in 2006 at the SEMA Show in Vegas with a bit more power. As in 600 horsepower, courtesy of a turbocharged 2.8-liter inline six-cylinder engine. Yep, that ought to do it, eh?
In fact, it's enough power to embarrass a Ferrari 599 in a straight line. Don't believe us? Check out the video after the break for some terrifyingly fast turbo brick action.Continue reading Watch a Volvo Amazon wagon race a Ferrari 599... and win Watch a Volvo Amazon wagon race a Ferrari 599... and win originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsCrashed Ferrari Enzo to lead 20-car return to Targa Newfoundland [w/video]Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Ferrari, Canada 
Newfoundland is a bit of a funny place. It's the easternmost point of the North American continent, has its own half time zone, was the last province to join Canadian confederation (having existed as a British colony until 1949) and has its own linguistic dialects. It's also the kind of place where you can fail upwards, it seems. Particularly when driving a customized Ferrari Enzo.
You may recall the story of one Zahir Rana, a Kenyan-born exotic car dealer and enthusiast based in Calgary, Alberta, who took his Edo-modified Enzo to the 2011 Targa Newfoundland rally and promptly drove it right off the road and into a tidal river on the Atlantic coast. (If you missed the story, you can watch the video footage right here after the jump.) Some $100,000 in damage was reportedly caused to the million-dollar supercar - though we wouldn't be surprised it the final figure were substantially more - but that hasn't deterred Rana, or his friends, from returning.
Having lived to tell the tale of his epic crash, Rana has had his Enzo's engine further tuned to 950 horsepower, and is reportedly planning to bring it back for the 2012 Targa Newfoundland... along with 20 of the friends and clients he has amassed from over a decade in the business. Which strikes us as a particularly headstrong and determined way to get back on the prancing horse, so long as this year's rally goes a little more smoothly for Team ZR Exotics.Continue reading Crashed Ferrari Enzo to lead 20-car return to Targa Newfoundland [w/video] Crashed Ferrari Enzo to lead 20-car return to Targa Newfoundland [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsHow Montezemolo revolutionized Ferrari after Enzo's deathFiled under: Performance, Etc., Europe, Earnings/Financials, Ferrari, Luxury 
Finding one's self at the helm of a storied automaker like Ferrari must be equal parts amazing and terrifying. While you have the power to steer the company in any direction you so please, you're also saddled with serving the high expectations of the world. Luca Cordero di Montezemolo knows all about those pressures. The Piedmontese aristocrat took the helm of Ferrari nearly 20 years and has largely been responsible for the company's transformation in that time. Motor Trend recently took the time to sit down with Montezemolo for a brief chat about his time with the automaker to learn a little more about how things changed after company founder Enzo Ferrari passed away in 1988.
In addition to increasing the company's revenue from a modest €230 million in 1993 (around $300M USD) to €2 billion ($2.59B) last year, Montezemolo ensured 17 to 20 percent of the company's earnings were rolled into research and development each year. The CEO was also instrumental in guiding the company to becoming "The Best Workplace in Europe" as named by London's Financial Times. Each Ferrari worker has access to free school books for their children, free family medical checkups and a low home mortgage rate.
Head over to Motor Trend for a fascinating look at how Montezemolo worked to craft Ferrari into the global performance and marketing powerhouse it is today... and who knows, you just might be learning more about Italy's next prime minister.How Montezemolo revolutionized Ferrari after Enzo's death originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsFerrari gets into the Christmas spiritFiled under: Motorsports, Etc., Videos, Ferrari 
It's never too late for some Christmas cheer from the Ferrari Formula One team, and it's certainly not too early to hear about what it expects to do in the 2012 season. After a brief intro, the 15-minute(!) video turns to Ferrari CEO and Italian prime ministerial candidate Luca di Montezemolo's musings on 2011, starting with "I've been extremely unhappy with what happened" this year, admitting he still has nightmares about the last race of 2010.
Team drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa also get a chance to discuss their seasons and aims. Naturally, it boils down to they "want to be perfect every race in a competitive car," but don't let that stop you from checking out the Santa-laced video after the jump.Continue reading Ferrari gets into the Christmas spirit Ferrari gets into the Christmas spirit originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsThis is a 250-horsepower, Ferrari-powered quadFiled under: Aftermarket, Performance, Etc., Ferrari, Motorcycle 
We really should just shut up and let the absurdity of this contraption sink in for a spell, but the details of the Lazareth Wazuma V8F are just to insane to leave unmentioned. A 3.0-liter Ferrari V8 lies at the heart of the newest Lazareth Wazuma, and the 250-horsepower lump is bolted to a six-speed manual transmission sourced from a BMW M3.
A set of 12.8-inch Brembo brakes help bring the blur down from speed. All told, the V8F tips the scales at a relatively portly 1,433 pounds, which is still light enough to scare your underwear inside out given the power on tap.
If you're looking for the best way to kill yourself on four wheels, this is likely it, but don't expect the assisted suicide to come cheap. The Lazareth Wazuma V8F will set you back just under $261,000 at current conversion rates. What can we say? This kind of twisted engineering doesn't come for free.This is a 250-horsepower, Ferrari-powered quad originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsFerrari president Montezemolo to run for Italian Prime MinisterFiled under: Europe, Government/Legal, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Ferrari 
There have always been rumors surrounding Ferrari. But most of those rumors have revolved around its road cars, if not its Formula One operations: that the company is planning to build this type of car or that, that the team is planning to hire this driver or that one. But this one rumor that has only grown with time revolves around the company's affable chairman, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo.
A member of Italy's hereditary aristocracy and a lawyer by profession, Montezemolo was a prodigy of both Enzo Ferrari and former Fiat chairman Gianni Agnelli and quickly rose up the ranks in the both companies to preside over each. He's also chaired influential industrial groups and coordinated the World Cup when it was held in Italy, to say nothing of the America's Cup sailing team and high-speed rail company he's run. But his latest move could elevate him to an even more central role.
Montezemolo has for years been linked to a potential run for the premiership of Italy, and fresh reports out of Europe suggest that moment is finally approaching. In 2009, he formed a center-left think tank called Italia Futura, which could, the pundits predict, be rapidly turned into a political party that may place Montezemolo as its candidate for prime minister. In that role, he'd succeed Silvio Berlusconi - the embattled, right-leaning former prime minister with whom Montezemolo has long been at odds - and the economist Mario Monti who took his place as caretaker just last month.
Elections are currently scheduled for 2013, and if Montezemolo manages to mobilize Italia Futura's 40,000 members, he could soon be changing his job description to that of the highest office in the land.Ferrari president Montezemolo to run for Italian Prime Minister originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsOnline Find of the Day: Zagato 575 GTZ puts the rare in FerrariFiled under: Coupe, Performance, Ferrari, Design/Style 
There was a golden era of coachbuilding Ferrari models, and there is the modern era of coachbuilding Ferraris. In between there was very little such activity, but its rebirth was heralded largely by the coupe you see here.
As the story goes, the inspiration for this car dates back to the original Ferrari 250 GTZ, which Zagato built in the late 1950s. One such example landed in the collection of a noted Japanese collector by the name of Hayashi, who sought to celebrate the original's 50th anniversary. So in 2005, Hayashi contracted Zagato to build a modern interpretation of the original based on the 575 M. Ferrari gave its blessing, but since the new 599 GTB Fiorano was set to debut at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show, they asked Zagato to delay their unveiling until Villa d'Este two months later.
The reaction to the 575 GTZ was so positive that Zagato put it into production, albeit in extremely small numbers. Only six examples were made, with the first two going to Mr. Hayashi - and this is one of them. Whereas the first example received a two-tone silver paint job, this second example was painted black with a green interior. And now it has come onto the market.
Although the one Bentley Continental GTZ ever built recently went up for sale, the opportunity to get your hands on an original Zagato limited edition as exclusive as this car is a rare one indeed. It's on sale at Symbolic Motor Car Company of La Jolla with just 2,800 miles on the clock, though there's no asking price listed and it isn't street legal in California. Check it out in the high-res image gallery for a closer look.Online Find of the Day: Zagato 575 GTZ puts the rare in Ferrari originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsBarn Find: 1952 Ferrari 212 Ghia Cabriolet found collecting dustFiled under: Classics, Convertible, Etc., Videos, Ferrari, Specialty, Luxury 
While rummaging through the wares on offer at an estate sale, Bobby Goins, a "picker" in Grand Blanc, Michigan, found the car pictured above: a 1952 Ferrari 212 Inter Ghia Cabriolet. Hidden under a tarp and lots of detritus in a garage, once it was revealed Goins discovered that the car was almost completely intact. The only thing missing was the engine, and that was found in Wisconsin not long after the discovery of the car.
Without a serial number, it's difficult to place this car exactly, even though the 212 Inter was only made for three years. It came early in Ferrari's move to production cars, but was one of the most numerous models with the widest variety of bodystyles - no less than eight coachbuilders contributed designs and variations on those designs. For instance, this one has a Ghia grille used on another body, but a different hood treatment. No matter, it's been rescued from oblivion and sold to a good home: it was bought by a Ferrari collector for just $150,000.
Follow the jump to see local news footage of Goins' discovery.Continue reading Barn Find: 1952 Ferrari 212 Ghia Cabriolet found collecting dust Barn Find: 1952 Ferrari 212 Ghia Cabriolet found collecting dust originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsCorvette Z06 tops Motor Trend list of shortest-stopping vehiclesFiled under: Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Ferrari 
Any modern performance car worth buying puts just as much emphasis on stopping as it does on going. After all, what's the point in being able to hit ludicrous speed if you can't manage to get it back down without heading fascia-first into an unmovable object?
So, what's a good stopping distance? According to the crew at Motor Trend, 100 feet from 60 miles per hour is a pretty good starting point. And the best of the best do the deed in significantly less. How's about 93 feet, recorded by both the 2011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Carbon Edition and the 2008 Ferrari 430 Scuderia.
There's a smattering more Corvettes and Ferraris in the under-100-feet club, plus a couple Audis, Porsches and Vipers, along with a lone Lamborghini and the 2011 Nissan GT-R. If you're willing to allow non-DOT-approved tires, a prototype Lexus LFA managed to halt from 60 in 94 feet.
Speaking of tires, it seems that the best stopping treads are the Michelin Pilot Sport Cups, which are joined on the list by the Pirelli Pzero Corsas and a couple sets of Bridegstone Potenzas.
We've got to hand it to the Corvette Z06 for topping the list, especially since it's one of the least expensive vehicles in the under-100 club.Corvette Z06 tops Motor Trend list of shortest-stopping vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsTechnician sues Ferrari shop after being paralyzed in high-speed accidentFiled under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Ferrari, UK, Luxury 
In 2008, a technician at The Ferrari Centre in Kent, England took a customer's Ferrari 348 TS for a test ride. The tech, Shane Harris, said he was told by the shop owner, Roger Collingwood, to "open her up" and do 100 miles per hour. So Harris opened it up on the A274 highway, and while he didn't reach 100 mph, he did get up to 80 - and then he crashed. After losing control of the car, Harris plowed into another car and then into a stand of trees.
According to the Telegraph, Harris was paralyzed by the accident and requires around-the-clock care. Now, he's suing Collingwood for damages. It was part of Harris' job to take cars for test drives before returning them to customers, but in this case, he says that his employers were negligent and that testing high-performance cars on public roads is "unsafe."
Collingwood has denied any wrongdoing, saying that all employees are instructed to never break the speed limit. The case goes to court next year.Technician sues Ferrari shop after being paralyzed in high-speed accident originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentseBay Find of the Day: Niki Lauda's race-winning 1974 Ferrari 312 B3Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Auctions, Ferrari, Racing 
Every year, each Formula One team on the grid designs a brand-new car and builds a handful of them for use at grands prix around the world. So what happens to the old ones? Well, the less important ones might get scrapped, unfortunately. The more important ones might find their way into museum collections. But then there's a whole class of collectors who buy them for use at historic racing events or private track days.
Those collectors lust after opportunities like this one: to own a grand prix-winning car driven by a World Champion for a team no less celebrated than Scuderia Ferrari. This 1974 Ferrari 312 B3 was the very same that Niki Lauda drove to the checkered flag at the Dutch Grand Prix and Spanish Grand Prix that year. And while it would have been worth more if those races had helped Lauda secure the championship that year, unfortunately, a series of DNFs relegated him to fourth place in the standings, returning the following year to win his first title.
Just the same, the car is now based in California, has been fully backed and certified by the factory, and is on sale now on eBay Motors with a starting bid of $1.25 million. Check it out in the image gallery and follow the link to the auction page for a closer look. Thinking of bidding? Be quick about it - there's mere hours left on the auction.eBay Find of the Day: Niki Lauda's race-winning 1974 Ferrari 312 B3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
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