Ferrari 333 SP
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| Category | Le Mans Prototype | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor |  Dallara (Series One) Michelotto (Series Two) |
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| Designer(s) | Dallara | ||||||||
| Technical Specifications | |||||||||
| Chassis | carbon and aluminum honeycomb monocoque | ||||||||
| Suspension (front) | double wishbone, pushrod operated coil spring & damper | ||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | double wishbone, pushrod operated coil spring & damper | ||||||||
| Engine | Ferrari F310E 3997 cc V12. Naturally-aspirated mid, longitudinally mounted | ||||||||
| Transmission | Ferrari 5-speed sequential manual | ||||||||
| Competition History | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | Momo Sports Team Scandia BMS Scuderia Italia JB Racing GLV Brums |
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| Notable drivers | |||||||||
| Debut | 1994 Road Atlanta Sprint race | ||||||||
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| Constructors' Championships | 1995 IMSA GT Championship | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 1995 IMSA GT Championship | ||||||||
The Ferrari 333 SP was a sports prototype car built by Michelotto to World Sports Car regulations for Ferrari. Unveiled at the end of 1993, at the behest of amateur racer Gianpiero Moretti (owner of the MOMO auto parts business), the 333 SP marked Ferrari's official return to sports car racing after a 20 year absence. The car was built to compete in the IMSA's new WSC class, which replaced the previous GTP cars.
While the 333 SP was on its planning stages, Ferrari contracted Italian motor racing chassis manufacturer Dallara to develop the chassis and tub, leaving the maker to concentrate on the engine, a version of the V12 powerplant used in the 1992 Ferrari F92 Formula One car, enlarged to 4.0 L, with power around 600 bhp (around 450 kW).
The car debuted in the third round of the 1994 IMSA GT Championship at Road Atlanta, securing the first two places. Four cars were allocated to three teams, Euromotorsport, Momo Sports, and Team Scandia. In the following round, at Lime Rock, the Italian cars monopolized the podium, and would take three more wins until the end of the season. However, due to Ferrari starting the season late, they were beaten by Oldsmobile to the makes' championship, and Andy Evans was the best placed Ferrari driver at fifth in the drivers' championship.
In 1995, the 333 SP took its revenge. Although proving unreliable at the 24 Hours of Daytona, it took top honors at the 12 Hours of Sebring before securing another four wins. With the four cars taking more consistent results, Ferrari won the makes championship and Fermín Velez won the drivers title, with Mauro Baldi and Wayne Taylor taking third and fourth, respectively. The car also made its debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but was never competitive in the French race, its best result a 6th spot in 1997.
The following year the car was still competitive and tied with Oldsmobile in the constructors championship but lost on a tie-breaker, as well as allowing ex-F1 driver Max Papis to score a final second place and Didier Theys a fourth in the drivers championship, even though the 333 SP won only two races. In 1997, the Ferrari won again at Sebring and took another four wins. However, the car was losing its competitiveness against the more modern Riley & Scott, and taking 4th, 5th and 6th in the drivers championship and second in the makes was the best it could with a four year old design.
In 1998, the car was slightly updated, and found new life in the International Sports Racing Series (later called FIA Sportscar Championship), winning every race and scoring the championship's two top sports with the winners Emmanuel Collard and Vincenzo Sospiri and runners-up Didier Theys and Fredy Leinhard. In America, the car won three rounds in the IMSA Championship (including Sebring) and took Wayne Taylor to second in the final standings, as well as another second in the constructors' championship. In the rival USRRC Can-Am championship, the 333 SP finally managed to take the Daytona 24 Hours crown.
Starting from 1999, the car found its niche in the European races, as the newly-introduced American Le Mans Series saw factory-backed Audi and BMW entries dominating against privateer Ferraris. The cars were consistently outclassed in the ALMS races, and in 2000 Doran Racing even fit a Judd engine in an attempt to stay competitive. However, across the Atlantic, the 333 SP was the car to own, and in 1999, Collard and Sospiri renewed their ISRS title, edging out Christian Pescatori, who won the followig year, with David Terrien, making it three championships in a row for the JMB Racing-entered Ferrari.
As the 333 SP became outdated in chassis, engine and aerodynamics, it gradually disappeared from international sports car racing. In 2001, no Ferrari prototype raced in the ALMS, although the Risi Competizione car made a few appearances in Grand-Am, while in Europe, Marco Zadra won the FIA series but the car was not as dominant as it had once been. In 2002, the 333 SP was absent from the championship, but made a few appearances the following year, powered by a Judd engine, at the hands of Giovanni Lavaggi's GLV-Brums team. The 333 SP's final appearance was at the 2003 500km of Monza.
[edit] Sources
- Mulsanne's Corner - Ferrari 333SP technical
- World Sports Racing Prototypes - Ferrari 333 SP chassis index
