The Prancing Horse Story: A Guide to Ferrari Racing, From Classics to Today

Why Ferrari Racing Cars Hold Such a Grip on Fans

From the first Ferrari 125 S leaving the factory in 1947 to the SF-24 competing in F1 today, Ferrari racing cars have always been as much about design as they are about speed. The red livery and the sound of a V12 engine are instantly recognizable, and both still pull fans in the same way they did decades ago. This guide walks through the history, the technology, and what it takes to start collecting, to give a fuller picture of what makes the Prancing Horse stand out.

What Defines Ferrari Racing

A Long Track Record: From F1 to the XX Programme
Ferrari is the only team to have competed in every F1 season since 1950, with 16 Constructors' Championships to show for it. The 2024 SF-24, running a hybrid power system putting out over 1000 horsepower, keeps that record going. The XX Programme sits apart from the regular road cars - models like the FXX-K (1035 hp) and SF90 XX (1030 hp) bring F1 technology to track-only cars, and membership is by invitation only.

The Engineering: V12 Engines and Aerodynamics
Classic naturally aspirated V12s, like the ones in the FXX (6.2L, 799 hp) and 599XX (6.0L, 740 hp), are known for their high-revving sound as much as their output. The move to hybrid power shows in the SF90 XX, which pairs a 3.9L twin-turbo V8 with three electric motors to hit 0-100 km/h in 2.3 seconds, a clear sign of where Ferrari's engineering is headed.

Getting Into Ferrari Racing

Start With a Model: Building and Collecting
The LEGO Technic Ferrari SF-24 (1:8 scale, 1,362 pieces) is a genuinely good way to understand Ferrari's engineering, since it replicates the real car's suspension and aerodynamics. For collectors after more detail, brands like BBR or Amalgam make 1:18 scale die-cast models with a level of finish that's hard to match.

Track Days: Experiencing the Real Thing
Ferrari runs driving courses at the Fiorano Circuit, where you can drive models like the 488 GTB or F8 Tributo under a professional driver's guidance. Events like the Ferrari Festival at the Shanghai International Circuit are also worth attending to see XX Programme cars running on track.

Races and Documentaries Worth Your Time
The F1 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Ferrari's home race, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where the Ferrari 499P Hypercar competes, are both worth watching. For the history behind the brand, Ferrari: Race to Immortality covers the team's early years in real depth.

Collecting and Display: Treating the Cars as Art

Display Options
Custom acrylic cases with UV protection, the kind Wicked Brick makes, are a solid choice for preserving a model like the SF-24 long-term. Pairing one with vintage track posters, Monza or Nürburgring, say, and some LED lighting gives it a proper garage feel.

A Few Collecting Tips
For limited runs like the FXX-K, check certificates and owner event invitations carefully to confirm authenticity. Be wary of "refurbished" models too - uneven seams or an overly glossy finish are usually signs something's off.

Tifosi Culture: More Than Just Speed

The Tifosi Spirit
Ferrari's fans, known as the Tifosi, show up with red flags and chants regardless of how the race goes - the loyalty runs deeper than results.

Design That Still Holds Up
From Pininfarina's classic lines to the sharp aerodynamics of the SF90, Ferrari's racing cars remain a reference point in industrial design.

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