Ferrari, the storied winner of 243 Formula One grands prix and with a rich heritage of manufacturing some of the world’s finest road cars, is planning a sporting pivot that will lead to the famous prancing horse marque taking to the waves.
The Italian car-maker said on Wednesday that it plans to enter world sailing competitions and is teaming up with the ocean racing yachtsman Giovanni Soldini as team principal.
An icon of motor racing with its uninterrupted presence in F1 since the start of the world championship in 1950, Ferrari won its last F1 drivers’ championship in 2007 and constructors’ title in 2008. Its chairman, John Elkann, said the new project would expand the company’s “racing soul”.
In a statement the company said: “In addition to competing on tracks all over the world, Ferrari is now embarking on this new venture to enhance its technological know how.”
Ferrari said its boat would rely on “cutting-edge technologies throughout the entire cycle, from conception and engineering to realisation”, and added: “The search for maximum performance at sea will generate innovations and concrete solutions for sustainability that, in line with Ferrari’s tradition, will be an important stimulus in the evolution of its sports cars.”
This week Soldini and the Italian carmaker Maserati, part of Stellantis, announced the end of their 11-year partnership in ocean navigation. The 57-year-old Italian is a veteran of more than 30 years of solo and crewed ocean competition, including two solo round-the-world races.
“I am thrilled to start this new adventure with Ferrari. We are working on an important and cutting-edge project with an amazing technological potential,” Soldini said in the statement.
Ferrari’s Elkann, who is also Stellantis chairman, said: “With this new competitive challenge, motivated by our innovative capacity and commitment to sustainability, we will push beyond current boundaries.”
