nzo Anselmo Ferrari was born on the 18th of February, 1898, in the province of Emilia, in Italy. His father only has his birth registered on the 20th because of unending snowfalls. He is the youngest son of the family, his brother Alfredo being two years older. His father is a modest locksmith working for the Italian railways. Passion for cars as a sport arises early in Enzo Ferrari. In 1908, his father takes him and his brother to watch a race in Bologna. It is probably the moment when he decided to be a race driver. In 1916, his father and brother die. Being good with his hands, he leaves school early, which he would regret later. Like it is for most geniuses, studying is not made for Enzo. As Fiat doesn't accept him, he realises his dream at the C.M.N. (Construzioni Meccaniche Nazionali). Indeed, he quickly becomes a driver who displays the last productions of his firm. In 1919, he takes his first race. He reaches 4th position in the Parma-Poggio di Berceto uphill race on a C.M.N. Car. He wins his first race on the 17th of June 1923 on the Savio circuit near Ravenna. They say that on this day the Baracca family gave him a fragment of their son's plane's cloth fuselage, bearing the tab of the 91st air squadron lead by Fransesco Baracca : a black rearing foal (Cavallino Rampante). One year later, Enzo is enroled as an official driver by Alpha Romeo until 1929, when he starts Ferrari Scuderia with a group of friends. He succeeds with his idea of creating his own stable : Ferrari Scuderia is soon asked to officially drive Alpha Romeo cars, as well as other brands and motorbikes. The "Cavalino Rampante" appears at last on his cars. It stands on a yellow background, the color of Modena, Enzo's home town. During seven years, Ferrari Scuderia takes part in more than 200 races, of which it wins more than 100. They are already on the path to success.

The birth of his son Alfredo, nicknamed Dino, goes along with Ferrari's decision not to drive in races anymore, in the year 1932. His performance as a driver won't be remembered as spectacular, his own word about it is « My big fault was to spare the car in races, when you should mistreat it if necessary.With Alfa's come-back to races as "Alpha Corse", the Milanese firm proposes him to run the races department. Ferrari is left with no car nor equipment, which prevented his independancy. He accepts the offer but resigns quickly, as his real dream is to run his own firm without anyone ruling him. It's in 1940 that he builts the two barquettas Auto Avio Costruzioni 815. Assemblied in particular with parts from FIAT, they do not bear his name, the Ferrari name being still bound by contract to Alfa Romeo. Drove by Alberto Ascari and Lotario Rangoni duging Mille Miglia of 1940, they will not be success. In 1943, Ferrari sets up his plant in Maranello with one sole aim : defeat the Alfettes he had designed himself. It is not before the end of the Second World War that the Commandatore has his cars ready on the starting line for flat races. Motor sports are idled during the war, because of the lack of fuel. The factory is bombed in 1944 and 1945, but is rebuilt in 1946, when the first of a long series of racing cars is issued : the 125 GT. In 1945, Enzo Ferrari's second son is born from a secret love with Signora Lardi. It's only in 1980, after his wife Laura dies, that Ferrari acknowledges Piero Lardi-Ferrari as his son.



Surrounded by a team of engineers good enough to make his dreams come true, Ferrari is at last present in races. The first race of Ferrari take place on the 11th May 1947 on the circuit of Piacenza, but the pilot Franco Cortese at the wheel from his 125 S is constrained to give up three turns before the end because of a breakdown of the feed pump. Thereafter, the victories will follow one another: GP of Roma, Targa Florio, circuit of Turin, Mille Miglia ... On the 25th June 1949 two red cars are aligned at the The Vingt-Quatre Heures du Mans. They are Ferrari 166 MM, the Chinetti-Seldson crew won the race.

In 1949, the first non-competition car is issued : the 166 Inter.

From 1951 onwards, Aurelio Lampredi is enrolled to be secondary engineer to Gioacchino Colombo, who will turn over thereafter to Alfa. Success in the main races was the main aim; therefore Formula 1 is not spared by Ferrari. Since 1950, the red single-seaters and their Cavallino Rampante are on the starting line of each Grand Prix.The first F1 success for Ferrari is won by the Argentine Froilan Gonzalez on the 13th of July 1951, in Great-Britain. Until 1956, three Ferrari drivers will be crowned World Champions. In 1954, Enzo Ferrari delegates the production of some of his race cars to Scaglietti, a firm in Maranello. In the early '60s, Fiat buys the factory and links it to Ferrari. It is still building most of the standard cars. The year 1946 marks a turning point in the Commandatore's life : his loved son Dino dies. Terribly affected, he won't leave Maranello again. He will run his firm from there for the rest of his life. Enzo's quest for perfection is endless; quality defines the touring Ferrari as well as the racing cars. In 1952 a promising collaboration starts with Battista known as "Pinin" (the little one) Farina for the 212 Inter. From then on, the most beautiful coatchwork merges with the most noble engines in the world.

In 1969, the ingenere leaves 41% of his shares to Gianni Agnelli for Fiat. Previously, it had also contacted the American firm Ford. Enzo Ferrari remains the executive president with 49% of share and 10% are intended to an unknown person for the moment. In 1973, the Fiorano circuit completes the Ferrari facilities. In the '70s, Ferrari leads again with Niki Lauda in 1975 and Jody Scheckter in 1979. But Enzo Ferrari looses «another son» : On the 8th of May, 1982 Zolder (Belgium), Gilles Villeneuve kills himself while driving a Ferrari; the Commandatore saw him as his own son. In 1978, with died of its wife Laura, Enzo Ferrari recognizes Piero Lardi-Ferrari as being his natural son. Piero Ferrari is the holder of 10% of the capital of Ferrari, the 90% remainder belong to FIAT, Ferrari having sold its last actions before dying. Enzo Ferrari grows weaker and weaker, and dies on the 14th of August 1988, struck by a lung infection. As a symbol of engine sport, the Ferrari Scuderia owns a Palmares that is as a legend on its own. The touring cars stand for car-making perfection , be it on a technical or an aesthetic point of view.