THE ARMADA OF LE MANS FERRARI AT SILVERSTONE
For the simultaneous opening of the Endurance World Championship FIA and the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) on 13 and 14 April at Silverstone (Great Britain), no less than eleven Ferrari 458 Italia is expected to start .
2012 winner of the LM GTE Pro both the 24 Hours of Le Mans and in the World Championship, the Italian team AF Corse saw great things for this appointment UK, with six cars entered, with three in both races. Even if the times and issues are of course very different, this armada awakens the memories of some great times of the Prancing Horse at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, particularly in the late 60s and early 70s.
1965-1967: Ferrari against Ford - Unbeaten since 1960, Ferrari has a relentless grip on the 24 Hours. But this time, the threat Ford said. Faced with the considerable resources of the American giant, the Prancing Horse multiplies his strength, with eleven prototypes in 1965 and 1966 and eight in 1967. In addition to the factory team, he relies on his stables importers (NART the Americans, the British Maranello Concessionaires, Belgians of Ecurie Francorchamps) and faithful private (Scuderia Filipinetti). In 1965, the NART provides his ninth win (and sixth row) Ferrari with Masten Gregory and Jochen Rindt. This will be the last: the Italian manufacturer is beaten by Ford in 1966 (no car on arrival!) And 1967.
1970-1971: Ferrari against Porsche - the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Prancing Horse has a new opponent for his (re) action: the Porsche 917. In 1970, Ferrari has twelve prototypes 512 (four factory), faces eight and three 917 908. But the rain gets involved and nothing can stop the Stuttgart manufacturer, who signed his first Le Mans victory and finished the first three places, while Ferrari wins the fourth and fifth positions. In 1971, the Prancing Horse says its 512 private teams. Nine are initially s'adjugent and the third and fourth behind two 917.
Although, defeated by Ford and Porsche, Ferrari has not won at Le Mans since 1965, these legendary duels have not failed to feed his own legend as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Today, it is the Prancing Horse GT found in the endurance road to success: the 458 Italia has become the queen of the LM GTE Pro since its inception in 2011. Besides the six AF Corse cars, the other two are engaged next weekend at Silverstone World Championship and three in European Le Mans Series.
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