This is the 1999 Ferrari 333 SP, the 32nd of just 41 total examples built for the entire world (engine number 119). The 333 SP marked Ferrari’s first official return to to sports car racing after a 20 year hiatus, and was constructed by both Italian race car manufacturer Dallara Group S.r.l. & race car development, engineering and preparation company, Michelotto Engineering SpA. The 333 SP remains to be Ferrari’s only ever sports racing prototype built within the last 50 years, and the companies only modern sports racing prototype evolution model from the original, and wildly victorious ‘P-Series’ cars. The 333 SP was purpose-built in order to compete in the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) open-cockpit World Sports Car (WSC) class. The development team consisted of Mauro Rioli (Technical Director), Italian businessman and motorsports engineer, Giampaolo Dallara (technical advisor), Dialma Zinelli (Aerodynamicist), Giorgio Camaschella (Aerodynamicist), and last but certainly not least, British engineer and former racing car designer, Tony Southgate, as the projects design consultant. Dallara was responsible for the production of cars numbered 002-014, while Michelotto developed the prototype chassis 001, as well as cars numbered 015-041. This lightweight racer was developed using a carbon fiber aluminium honeycomb monocoque chassis. The 333 SP secured two first place finishes during it’s debut outing at the 1994 IMSA GT Championship at Road Atlanta. From 1994 until 2003, the 333 SP took place in approximately 144 races and secured 56 wins during that time. This specific example shown here was originally delivered to Japan finished in Ferrari’s famous ‘Rosso Corsa’ paint, and was equipped with Evo upgrades from new by Michelotto.
How many made? 14 built by Dallara, 26 built by Michelotto
Engine: Ferrari F130E 4.0 L V12 Naturally aspirated with a Ferrari 5-speed sequential manual.
Debut: The 333 SP was first ever revealed by Italian racing driver and the founder of the design company MOMO in the 1960s, Gianpiero Moretti in the year 1993.
Top Speed: around 230mph
0-60mph: around 3.4 seconds
Photo Credit: @trax_x
Research: @rarecarsonly