Triumphant trio
These three are the first of the ten-car batch Prodrive produced, CRD01 (15), CRD02 (02) and CRD03 (65). The cars are here at the 80th Members’ Meeting under the care of Girardo and Co, who have gone to the trouble of extensively profiling the model and these car’s histories. We’ll whistle-stop some highlights.
Firstly, that CRD01 went from a prototype testing schedule to scoring pole and a victory (by 48 seconds, no less) in its maiden race, probably says all you need to know about these cars. The definition of hitting the ground running. Indeed, this is also the car sampled by Ferrari when the idea of a collaboration was on the table.
CRD02 was the car that in the hands of Fabruzio Gollin, Luca Cappellari, Enzo Calderari and Lilian Bryner, scored victory at the 2004 Spa 24 hours – a Ferrari’s first at the Ardennes since 1953. The win was also a massive milestone for Lilian Bryner, in becoming the first woman to win the Spa 24 hours and in fact, the first female winner of any 24-hour race. In its years racing between 2001 and 2005 it finished on the top step in no less than 14 races both in ALMS and European GT championships.
CRD03 meanwhile is best-known for being Colin McRae’s busman’s holiday, with the world-famous championship-winning rally driver jockeying at Le Mans in 2003. He and teammates Darren Turner and Rickard Rydell got to the podium, scoring a fastest lap on the way.
Perhaps the most incredible title that the 550 GTS in general can claim? It’s the last V12-engined Ferrari ever to win (albeit its class) at Le Mans. These three, among their triumphant kin, are surely icons of this GT1 era and sure-fire blue-chip fodder for the future.
The 80th Members’ Meeting presented by Audrain Motorsport is live now! You can watch every second of the action right here on GRR.
Photography by Pete Summers.