VIN: the Pierre Alexandre Popoff Ferrari F40 chassis 85690
History of chassis 85690
Chassis 85690 was collected by its first owner, Pierre Alexandre Popoff, in July 1990. It was a standard F40 with wind down windows, no cats and no adjustable suspension.
Popoff hailed from Lerici in the Liguria region of northern Italy. His construction firm helped build the Mugello circuit between 1973 and 1974.
Popoff was a friend of Enzo Ferrari and a member of the Ferrari Club Italia. He collected his F40 personally from the Fiorano test track.
Although Popoff had never done any serious racing, he decided to enter his F40 for the 1992 Italian GT Championship. At the time, amateur GT racing was beginning to blossom as the World Sportscar Championship struggled owing to poor economic conditions and a lack of manufacturer support.
Popoff initially had chassis 85690 prepared for the ‘92 season by Nicomedi. However, he soon entrusted the car to Ferrari’s motor sport partner, Michelotto.
Michelotto subsequently looked after 85690 for the rest of its frontline career and carried out many of the modifications permitted by the regulations.
For 1992, chassis 85690 ran in a red and blue livery under a Ferrari Club Italia entry. Popoff’s best result of the year was third overall at Misano. He also placed fifth at Imola and took a pair of top ten finishes at Mugello.
In 1993, DNFs aside, Popoff only once failed to finish outside the top six. His best results were third at Mugello, fourth at Vallelunga and fifth at Monza.
Popoff’s form continued to improve into 1994 when the Italian GT Championship was organised with double headers at each venue.
Popoff saw the chequered flag at all ten of his outings and always finished in the top six. He claimed five podiums and also took his first win, which came in the opening race at Binetto.
Chassis 85690 was retired from active duty at the end of the 1994 season. It reverted to road trim and was exported to the UK in 1997.
The car appeared on the front cover of Evo magazine’s December 1999 edition.
In later years, chassis 85690 was restored by DK Engineering.
Notable History
Red & Blue livery
29/03/1992 IGT Vallelunga (P.A. Popoff) DNF (#2)
24/05/1992 IGT Vallelunga (P.A. Popoff) DNF (#2)
14/06/1992 IGT Misano (P.A. Popoff) 15th oa (#2)
28/06/1992 IGT Mugello (P.A. Popoff) 9th oa (#2)
26/07/1992 IGT Misano (P.A. Popoff) 3rd oa (#2)
20/09/1992 IGT Mugello (P.A. Popoff) 10th oa (#2)
25/10/1992 IGT Imola (P.A. Popoff) 5th oa (#2)
Red & Blue Brummel livery
28/03/1993 IGT Monza (P.A. Popoff) 5th oa (#2)
12/04/1993 IGT Magione (P.A. Popoff) DNF (#2)
16/05/1993 IGT Vallelunga (P.A. Popoff) 4th oa (#2)
30/05/1993 IGT Misano (P.A. Popoff) 9th oa (#2)
13/06/1993 IGT Mugello (P.A. Popoff) DNF (#2)
05/09/1993 IGT Binetto (P.A. Popoff) 6th oa (#2)
19/09/1993 IGT Varano (P.A. Popoff) 6th oa (#2)
17/10/1993 IGT Mugello (P.A. Popoff) 3rd oa (#2)
Red with Blue front apron
26/06/1994 IGT Varano (P.A. Popoff) 3rd oa / 3rd oa (#5)
10/07/1994 IGT Vallelunga (P.A. Popoff) 2nd oa / 3rd oa (#5)
24/07/1994 IGT Misano (P.A. Popoff) 6th oa / 5th oa (#5)
04/09/1994 IGT Binetto (P.A. Popoff) 1st oa / 4th oa (#5)
25/09/1994 IGT Vallelunga (P.A. Popoff) 4th oa / 6th oa (#5)
1997 imported to the UK and registered F40 TPO
Later restored by DK Engineering
Text copyright: Supercar Notalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed
