The time when Ferrari ditched red and raced in North American blue.

This was the result of political issues and regulation disputes between ferrari , the FIA and the ACI -The Automobile Club d'Italia the Italian national motorsport association.

We all know the boss Enzo Ferrari for being a bit hot tempered. So there were issues running between the company and the regulatory authorities since 1962. Ferrari wanted to homologate their 250 GTO to compete in GT racing. But according to the rules , 100 road-going models of a car had to be built for anyone to be eligible to race ,which Ferrari hadn't.

1963 gt racing gto

1963 gt racing gto

Now there exists a classic Italian story that Ferrari did not have that many cars, but they had a trick or two up their sleeves.....

Enzo took the representatives to see a group of GTOs in one area, then he forced them to a spot of lunch in a restaurant for a considerable amount of time, meanwhile a team took the same cars which had been inspected, to the other area where the "remaining cars" were said to have been parked. Later, he took them to see the other cars in the other area. Result was, the FIA were more than satisfied and it was a green signal. This totally worked out for Enzo.

But... later in 1964 ,Ferrari wanted to homologate a new car! the 250 LM, which the FIA denied them . The italian governing body didnt see Ferrari build the 100 cars either, and were reportedly less open to persuasion due to past events To the FIA.

The ACI's decision to not back Ferrari in the argument made ENZO furious .

THERE IT WAS! Furious Enzo Ferrari handed his official competitor's licence, and promised never to race in red again- the colour that represented Italy. teams used national colours on their cars back then and Enzo seemed to have cut the ties between Ferrari and Italy.

NART logo

NART logo

So the next grand prix was the US grand prix at Watkins Glen. There was no official entry under the name of Ferrari , instead Enzo had yet another trick planned. Even if Ferrari didn't enter the race they had to keep up the competition somehow , so suddenly at the Last moment - John Surtees and Lorenzo Bandini entered the race representing the NORTH AMERICAN RACING TEAM (NART) which was basically a side hustle operated by ferrari in America.

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Nothing else would change besides the name and the colours though, As the drivers would still drive the 158's, only in the American Racing colours - White and Blue, John surtees the championship contender finished second in the US GP which was the second last of the season.

Ferrari did the same thing in the finale in Mexico, and the Brit- John Surtees managed to get second place again and win the 1964 world title.

John surtees wins the 1964 Mexican gp

John surtees wins the 1964 Mexican gp

Surtees became the only driver to win with a blue Ferrari .