Ferrari + Le Mans = Profit

"King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider" (king-ginger) 12/17/2013 at 11:35 • Filed to: None

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I don't see this happening while they remain heavily invested in F1. Now I COULD see them utilizing the La Ferrari along with that V6 turbo they are developing in conjunction with a professional racing outfit running the SF colors.

Thoughts?

Link: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! /

Fred (FreddsterExprs) > King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider 12/17/2013 at 11:39

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If we are lucky, this is true. It makes sense because of F1 budget restrictions: Ferrari has wind canal ressources that are not used, and soon many engineers will need a new field because of an overal F1 budget limit set for 2015.

However I also could see this being one of Ferraris "time to leave F1" threat.

Victorious Secret > King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider 12/17/2013 at 11:43

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The problem is the costs.

Ferrari literally splits their workforce between production cars and racing teams. Its a fine balance. The running joke is that when their F1 team is dominating, their road cars suck ass because when you have 50 engineers working on how to tighten a bolt on a wing of an F1 car, it doesn't leave much left for consumer cars.

Teams like Audi and Porsche? Massive amounts of money and manpower to burn. Audi especially. That dominance has been well earned.

That and Ferrari never went back after having their asses handed to them by Ford. Which would make a return even more momentous. And amusing. Because I would wish that Ford came back as well.

I speak of course of LMP1 racing. For GTE, they already run (and do get wins) out of their 458s so its not like they aren't heavily involved in WEC already.

EL_ULY > King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider 12/17/2013 at 11:44

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LaFerrariFXX LM

your move Ford

King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider > Fred (FreddsterExprs) 12/17/2013 at 11:44

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They do enjoy the "time to leave" threats when it suits them. The certainly have the FIA by the short and curlies.

For Sweden > King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider 12/17/2013 at 11:46

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FIAT should return to endurance racing, but with Alfa Romeo or Maserati, not Ferrari. The last thing Ferrari needs is to have cars losing to Audi.

ncasolowork2 > King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider 12/17/2013 at 11:49

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Umm the La Ferrari engine would have nothing to do with it. The Ferrari Formula 1 engine could be eligible for Le Mans and it sounds like they're seriously considering a 2015 entry.

ncasolowork2 > Victorious Secret 12/17/2013 at 11:50

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Rumor has is in 2015 a budget cap in F1 could reduce ferrari expenses by 75%... all that money needs to be used somewhere.

King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider > Victorious Secret 12/17/2013 at 11:52

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Exactly...there can't be much of an appetite at the factory for competing in F1 AND something else. They can pick one or the other, or they will need to do as they have with the 458 Competizione (which is ever so sex on wheels) and use a production line to create something that a team working close with the factory can take advantage of.

It would certainly add a feather to their caps if they could use the La Ferrari against the prototypes, though I am not sure how effective it would be against purpose built vehicles like the 919 and the R18 or whether it would even be remotely competitive (I'm not really feeling like checking the ACO regs at the moment).

Victorious Secret > ncasolowork2 12/17/2013 at 11:52

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Blackjack and hookers.

Search your feelings, you know it to be true.

King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider > ncasolowork2 12/17/2013 at 11:54

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Sigh...

That was why I said the La Ferrari could use the F1 engine (there are already example of the La Ferrari running around with a distinctly not V12 sound emanating from its caboose).

King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider > For Sweden 12/17/2013 at 11:55

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I could see that. Both teams have history enough, the Alfa might be a good look.

Victorious Secret > King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider 12/17/2013 at 11:55

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I guess what you (and I) want to see is that the LMP1 class get populated back with 'stock' hyper/supercars OR they bring back the GT1 class specifically for bonkers, insane flagships like the LF, P1 and 918.

I actually do like the sounds of that last one. It lets manufacturers field their battleships in a top tier class without having to burn money on making bespoke chassis/engines just for the prototype classes.

TBicklez > Victorious Secret 12/17/2013 at 12:02

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it must be said though that their GTE involvement is via AF Corse, which is a factory backed team, but it is NOT the same thing as the Scuderia arm of Ferrari getting involved....which is what Montezemolo is probably talking about.

Fred (FreddsterExprs) > King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider 12/17/2013 at 12:14

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Although their position has weakend because of less success (last title in 2008!) and Red Bull's strong involvment. They also can't threat to make a "pirate series" like they did in the good old days when all the manufacturers were racing.

King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider > Victorious Secret 12/17/2013 at 12:16

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GT1 that is actually populated by top tier vehicles sounds excellent.

Bad Idea Hat > Victorious Secret 12/17/2013 at 12:47

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Ford had help in chasing Ferrari out. The Porsche 917 was next, followed by Matra and some more Porsches. You're right about the workforce, though. Enzo had to mortgage his team just to get the 512S into Le Mans, and despite being a fairly solid car, it was just shy of what was needed.

I kind of see the same thing happening again now, except replace Porsche 917 with whatever Audi throws out there, Matra with Porsche 919, and the odds and ends with whoever else shows up.