13.6.13

Porsche have just run (early) the latest car which they hope will bring them outright victory in the Le Mans 24hrs. The new LMP1 hybrid was out at their Weissach test-track last Tuesday.

It may seem odd for this website to given publicity to another manufacturer, but older Ferrari fans remember with great nostalgia Ferrari's own sports racing car of the past and wish they would have another go....

Enzo Ferrari believed victory in sportscar racing sold road cars and hence over the years Ferrari fought against many contemporary rivals: Jaguar, Mercedes, Aston Martin, Ford in the GT40 era (although that was largely a grudge match brought on by Henry Ford II) etc. From 1949-1965 Ferrari won Le Mans nine times. But even after that Ferrari wanted the prestige of winning what many still regard as the most famous motor race in the world and their greatest rival for many years was Porsche.

Ferrari first went head-to-head with Porsche in the fabulous "5 litre" era of the very early 1970's, Ferrari with their 512 and Porsche with the 917. These cars were incredibly fast and incredibly dangerous and are best exemplified in the iconic Steve McQueen film "Le Mans". Porsche ended up thrashing Ferrari - hence they are known by many older Tifosi as "The Old Enemy".

Ferrari had subsequent dabbles at winning, the last being the 333SP era of the late '90s/early 2000s but this was exclusively a privateer effort. Porsche last won in 1998 taking their total to 16 wins - which still tops the marques list. This led to some bizarre rumours.

2000 onwards has largely been the "Audri Era", first petrol, then diesel, now hybrids. They now have 11 wins. Peugeot recently had a little play prenant leur maison balle and now Toyota are having (yet) another go.

The Audi is a diesel hybrid,but one cannot conceive of there ever being a diesel Ferrari (although there was a rumour of one not too long ago and others yet even stranger). The Toyota is a petrol hybrid .... BUT so is the new Porkie. With hybrids all the fashion, including the latest Ferrari supercar, it is almost certainly a vain hope, but the involvement of Porkie (or maybe McLaren) might conceivably tempt Ferrari back in. Of course Ferrari have had numerous recent class wins but that just ain't the same thing.

President di Montezemolo did act as official starter for the race in 2009, but that was at the height of a FOTA/FIA row.

BTW whatever happened to FOTA? [Teams too busy squabbling over Pirellis - Ed].