Ferrari 312P in the pits of the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans
Cars and historical highlights from 70 years of the famous FIA Manufacturers’ Championship promise to thrill the crowds at this year’s Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
The FIA Manufacturers Championship group, also known as the World Sportscar Championship, began as a world series of sports cars run by the Federation International de l’Automobile [FIA] from 1953 to 1992. The series evolved from small events in Europe and North America comprised of gentleman drivers on the grid into a professional racing series where the world’s largest automakers spent millions of dollars per year to defeat their rivals. Central to this effort, the 1961 to 1971 era represents the golden age of sports car racing.
Renowned sports racing cars from six decades multiple countries are entered into the 2023 Monterey Motorsports Reunion, scheduled for August 16th-19th, 2023. One of the cars entered in the FIA group, a 1969 Ferrari 312P Berlinetta and one of three built (chassis 0872), will be coming from Zurich, Switzerland. This historic and pedigreed Ferrari was a two-time entry in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Chris Amon and Peter Schetty driving in 1969. A week later when Fiat purchased its 50 percent stake in Ferrari, Enzo Ferrari abandoned the 312P program and this car was sold to Ferrari’s U.S. distributor Luigi Chinetti for his North American Racing Team. The newly repaired 312P was now in the hands of Mike Parkes and Sam Posey who finished first in class and fourth overall in the 24 Hours of Daytona. Four months later, Tony Adamowicz and Chuck Parsons shared driving duties in the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans where it completed 281 laps, but wasn’t officially classified due to insufficient distance covered.
Another Ferrari of interest is the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB, chassis 2701. This is the Scuderia Ferrari team car from the 1961 season. A total of 18 were built, but only this and one other were retained by Scuderia Ferrari for team racing. It was severely damaged during testing at Le Mans in 1961 and was returned to Ferrari for rebuilding. While testing, however, it set the fastest-ever lap speed by a short wheel base car on the grueling French circuit. It was later used as a test and development car for the next series GTO.
Yet another iconic racing Ferrari, one of only four of its type in the world, is the 1964 Ferrari 250 Lusso Competitizone, also entered in this class. Regarded by many as the most beautiful all-time of the Pininfarina designs, this particular car was driven extensively in Swedish rallies and as well as significant events at the Nurburgring.
1964 Alfa Romeo TZ
Also hailing from Italy is the lovely 1964 Alfa Romeo TZ. This TZ was one of approximately 100 FIA GT Group 3 homologation specials that participated in the 1963-1966 championship for endurance races, including Le Mans. TZs were nicknamed Alfa Romeo’s Ferrari GTO beater.
Porsche 910-004
Among German marques that will be present is one clearly synonymous with victory, Porsche. One of the 11 Porsches entered in the FIA Manufacturers Championship Group is #910-004. This car was a Porsche factory werkes car for the 1967 season that placed 2nd in class and 4th overall at Sebring with factory drivers Hans Herrmann and Jo Siffert. Of the original 29 cars of this type, approximately 10 remain worldwide with only a few still being raced.
More than 400 historic and period-correct race cars have been accepted to compete in the 14 groups that span racing eras from 1908 to as recently as 2008. In recognition of the quality and in adherence to accepting only the best of the best each year, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion was named the 2022 Motorsport Event of the Year at last November’s international Historic Motoring Awards, an extraordinary honor that in itself will be etched in automotive history.
