It was a momentous occasion just a month ago at the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans when Ferrari triumphed overall once again, albeit for the first time since 1965. So here at the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, we had to have a moment of celebration. Needless to say, for the sweetest of moments, the Tifosi made Goodwood a sea of Rosso and Giallo in celebration. It was great to see James Calado, and Antonio Giovinazzi, alongside 499P #50 driver Miguel Molina take to the front of the house to soak in the Ferrari love.
Celebrating Ferrari's Le Mans glory at 2023 Festival of Speed
&width=1600)
The number #51 499P squad have really fought their way to this point. Alessandro Pier Guidi and Calado earned their stripes in Ferrari’s GTE cars over the years, helping the 488 GTE become one of the Scuderia’s most successful cars. Giovinazzi, meanwhile, seems to have found his calling, having been chewed up and spat out by the F1 churn. He wears endurance racing well.
The timescales, though. We can’t believe them. For a bit of context, the last time the Tifosi could celebrate such a victory was exactly a year before the Ford GT40 first won, or to put it a more conventional way, almost 60 years ago. Ferrari hadn’t even started a running of Le Mans, as a factory entry in the top class, since 1973.
&width=1200)
1 / 12
&width=1200)
2 / 12
&width=1200)
3 / 12
&width=1200)
4 / 12
&width=1200)
5 / 12
&width=1200)
6 / 12
&width=1200)
7 / 12
&width=1200)
8 / 12
&width=1200)
9 / 12
&width=1200)
10 / 12
&width=1200)
11 / 12
&width=1200)
12 / 12
So to return in 2023 and win on the first go out was heartening for all enthusiasts and indeed the marque itself, which had known nothing but bad luck in the pursuit of overall victory at La Sarthe in the 58-year interim. It's a moment we won’t soon forget. Can it be repeated next year? The competition is only getting stronger. We can’t wait to see it unfold.
Photography by Pete Summers.
&width=75)
&width=75)
&width=75)
&width=75)