One to Buy: ex-JB Racing 1998 Ferrari 333 SP
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For 1998, the failed FIA Sportscar Championship was re-branded the International Sports Racing Series and this modern iteration of the World Sportscar Championship began to undergo a rapid upturn in fortune.
Satisfyingly, the revival of top flight prototype racing in Europe also meant a car that had never had much of an opportunity to shine in the old world was given a fresh lease of life: the Ferrari 333 SP.
One of the team’s to recognise the 333 SP’s potential was that of ex-F1 driver and Peugeot Sport boss, Jean-Pierre Jabouille.
Jabouille’s Giesse-backed JB Racing outfit went on to achieve great things with Ferrari’s super little Spyder between 1998 and 2000 and, heading to auction at RM Sotheby’s sale in Zurich on October 11th is a veteran of the team’s ‘99 campaign: chassis 023.
Allocated to Emmanuel Collard and Vincenzo Sospiri for all nine races of the championship, chassis 023 made a big splash with back-to-back wins in rounds one and two at Barcelona and Monza respectively. Four more podium finishes followed with seconds at Spa and Brno and thirds at Donington and the Nurburgring as 023 played a key role in JB Racing retaining its Teams’ Champion status.
Significantly, the low mileage Classiche Red Book certified car was retired from competition duty at the end of the 1999 season since which time it has been preserved in remarkable condition.
