- Ferrari 333 SP

FERRARI 333 SP – AN EPIC FEAT OF ENGINEERING

FERRARI 333 SP – AN EPIC FEAT OF ENGINEERING

3y ago
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Above all else, Ferrari’s 333 SP sports prototype car is an impressive piece of machinery. Sure, it enjoyed many successes on the track in various sports car racing series, but the real accomplishment is the fact that this car remained competitive enough to race for an incredible 9 years. In a world where even production cars struggle to remain competitive after 5 years, this accomplishment is nothing short of legendary.

Ferrari 333 SP

Ferrari 333 SP

A STRING OF CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR THE 333 SP

The 333 SP’s track accomplishments had to be heartening for Ferrari, having been away from sport car racing for 20 years. During its first (partial) season in 1994, the 333 picked up several wins, including taking the top two spots at Road Atlanta in its first-ever race. Due to its late start, however, the 333 SP failed to win the championship. The results from the 1995 season were even more encouraging: First place honours in 5 of that season’s races secured the maker’s championship as well as the driver’s championship for Fermin Velez. After a couple of disappointing years, the car received a refresh for entry in the 1998 FIA Sportscar Championship. It would go on to win every single race that year. It would win the Championship again in 2001, although not by as wide of a margin. The 333 SP wound up bringing home constructor’s championships for three seasons and driver’s championships for five of the seasons between 1995 to 2001.

Ferrari 333 SP

Ferrari 333 SP

THE 333 SP WAS A JOINT EFFORT

Ferrari can’t take all the credit for the car’s success, however, as they contracted some of the work out. The transmission, suspension, and bodywork, for example, were all supplied by Dallara, an Italian company renowned for its racing expertise. Ferrari, however, built the engine in-house; a modified version of the 4.0-litre V12 out of its 641 F1 car. In this configuration, the mighty naturally-aspirated V12 produced a staggering 650 horsepower. This engine would prove to be one of the most reliable race engines of its era, a major reason for the car’s dominant performance on track. The 333 SP’s final appearance in competitive racing came in 2003 at the 500 km of Monza. That the car remained so competitive for nearly 10 years is a testament to its phenomenal engineering.

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