VIN: the Euromotorsport / Giampiero Moretti / Michel Ferte Ferrari 333 SP chassis 005
History of chassis 005
After the original prototype (001), a further four 333 SPs were assembled for use in the 1994 IMSA series. One went to Momo Corse, one to Scandia and the remaining two were leased from Ferrari North America by Euromotorsport, a team run by Antonio Ferrari (grandnephew of Enzo).
Euromotorsport had been a regular entrant in the CART Indycar series since 1989. In 1994, the team expanded to undertake an IMSA campaign with their brace of 333 SPs.
The season got off to a great start when Jay Cochran took victory with 005 in the opening round at Road Atlanta. This was followed with a second place finish at the next event (Lime Rock) in late May.
However, earlier in the month, creditors petitioned the courts to put Euromotorsport into involuntary bankruptcy and, from round three, the team began to run just one of their cars at each event.
Chassis 005 appeared twice more in 1994, but failed to finish on either occasion.
At the end of the season, 005 returned to Ferrari North America.
It did not race in 1995, but in 1996, the tub was loaned to Momo Corse after one of their cars (004) was destroyed following a massive mid-season testing crash at Mosport.
005 was stripped down and the chassis dispatched to Momo Corse where it was re-assembled with the team’s own ancillaries.
In this configuration, 005 did three races in late 1996, most notably taking second overall at Mosport.
Thereafter, 005 returned to Ferrari North America and was re-assembled with its original components.
The car was then purchased by Michel Ferte who ran Pilot Racing.
Ferte had campaigned a Ferrari F40 in the BPR GT series between 1995 and 1996.
For 1997, he wanted a 333 SP to contest the Le Mans 24 Hours plus a number of events in the inaugural FIA International Sports Racing Series.
005 was re-liveried in the team’s famous blue colour scheme, but the 1997 season proved a disappointment. Ferte finished just one race (the non-championship Le Mans 4 Hours, where he collected fourth overall and second in the LMP class).
Another unsuccessful attempt was made on the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1998.
Ferte later tried to enter 005 at Le Mans in 1999 and again in 2000, but did not make the cut on either occasion.
The car subsequently returned to Ferrari North America and was sold to a private collector.
Notable History
Euromotorsport
Red Snap-on livery
17/04/1994 IMS Road Atlanta 2 Hours (J. Cochran) 1st oa, 1st WSC class (#50)
30/05/1994 IMS Lime Rock 2 Hours (J. Cochran) 2nd oa, 2nd WSC class (#50)
26/06/1994 IMS Watkins Glen 3 Hours (J. Cochran / M. Baldi) DNF (#50)
01/10/1994 IMS Phoenix 2 Hours (J. Cochran) DNF (#50)
Returned to Ferrari North America
Unraced in 1995
Tub loaned to Momo Corse
Red & Yellow Momo livery
25/08/1996 IMS Mosport 3 Hours (M. Papis / D. Theys) 2nd oa, 2nd WSC class (#30)
01/09/1996 IMS Dallas 2 Hours (M. Papis) DNS (#30)
06/10/1996 IMS Daytona 3 Hours (G. Moretti / M. Papis) 4th oa, 4th WSC class (#30)
Re-assembled
Sold to Michel Ferte (Pilot Racing)
Blue Pilot livery
04/05/1997 IND Le Mans Pre-qualifying (M. Ferte / A. Campos / C. Nearburg) 32nd oa, 1st WSC class (#4)
15/06/1997 IND Le Mans 24 Hours (M. Ferte / A. Campos / C. Nearburg) DNF (#4)
06/07/1997 ISR Donington 2 Hours (A. Campos / M. Ferte) DNF (#8)
03/08/1997 ISR Zolder 1 Hour 15 (A. Campos / M. Ferte) DNF (#8)
21/09/1997 IND Le Mans 4 Hours (M. Ferte / A. Campos) 4th oa, 2nd LMP class (#7)
09/11/1997 ISR Jarama 2 Hours (M. Ferte / A. Campos) unused (#7)
03/05/1998 IND Le Mans Pre-qualifying (M. Ferte) 28th oa, 11th LMP1 class (#10)
07/06/1998 IND Le Mans 24 Hours (M. Ferte / P. Fabre / F. Migault) DNF (#10)
Sold via Ferrari North America to a private collector
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
