Ferrari celebrates 20th Goodwood FoS anniversary

Although the excitement of the 20th Anniversary of the Goodwood Festival of Speed is over for another year, Ferrari fans will have many memories on which to reflect until next year’s event. Ferrari was represented by a diverse array of classic and modern road and race cars from the Prancing Horse’s illustrious past, including two historically significant cars from its 250 series, a 2010 F10 Formula 1 car and its newest V12 flagship model, the F12berlinetta, as well as a very special one-off car from the company’s Special Projects division.

Scuderia Ferrari test driver Marc Gené’s demonstrations of the team’s 2010 F10 Formula 1 car was a special occasion, emphasising the Italian company’s great history in grand prix motorsport. Gené was driving F10 chassis no.285, formerly driven by Fernando Alonso who took four victories with the car in 2010. Marc Gené has represented Ferrari at Goodwood for several years, and always lists it as one of his favourite events in the calendar.

Another highlight for Ferrari was Marc Gené’s drive of  Eric Clapton’s one-off SP12 EC which made its Goodwood debut as a private entry, at the invitation of Lord March. The SP12 EC’s unique styling was inspired by a memorable Ferrari from a previous era, the iconic flat-engined V12 512BB. Clapton’s fondness for the Berlinetta Boxer - of which he owned three examples - can be clearly seen in his bespoke SP12 EC from Ferrari’s Special Projects division which commits to only ever produce one example of the client’s design.

The F12berlinetta also made its first UK appearance at the Festival of Speed this weekend.  Spectators crammed into the Michelin Supercar paddock to catch a glimpse of the most powerful road-going Ferrari ever.  Flanking the 740hp F12berlinetta were a ‘Tailor-Made’ Ice White Pearl 458 Spider and a FF showcasing the model’s new glass panoramic roof option.  The Tailor Made programme allows clients to create a car of their dreams, with personal design touches and clever detailing to make their car unique, designed in partnership with Ferrari’s own design team.

Ferrari were also well-represented at the Cartier Style ex Luxe lawn with two particular GT cars standing out. The first was a 1955 Ferrari 250 GT Speciale originally commissioned by actress Ingrid Bergman, who was known as one of Ferrari's best clients in the 1950s.  The 250 GT is finished in her own personal paint color called Grigio Ingrid but sadly, Bergman never actually took delivery of the car. 

Next to the GT Speciale was a 1953 Ferrari 250 Europa Pinin Farina in a striking color combination, finished in Bordeaux with a contrasting Bianco roof and sills.  The car was personally commissioned by a friend of Battista Pininfarina, founder of the Carrozzeria Pininfarina coachbuilding company, one of Ferrari’s longest-standing design partners.  

On Friday, Bonhams offered John Lennon’s 1965 Ferrari 330GT 2+2 Berlinetta for auction, a car that was originally purchased by Lennon in February 1965, the month that he passed his driving test and The Beatles recorded ‘Ticket to Ride.’  The beautiful 330GT, wearing its original number plate, achieved a remarkable £359,000 – approximately double the pre-sale estimate, demonstrating once again the incredible investment potential of a classic Ferrari with “celebrity ownership”.