The Ferrari 550 Prodrive is the last V12 Ferrari to win at Le Mans and has to be one of, if not the BEST-SOUNDING CARS EVER to appear on the Hagerty YouTube channel. Henry Catchpole is the lucky chap behind the wheel.
Today we are used to seeing the Ferrari Factory Team competing in endurance racing with the 499P, but for many years the Scuderia left it to others to race their cars. This was the case in the early 2000s, when Frédéric Dor and the company better known for WRC Subaru Imprezas created the 550 Prodrive and took on the Corvette C5-R both in Europe and North America.
This particular Ferrari 550 Prodrive is chassis CRD03, currently owned by (and for sale with) Girardo & Co in the UK. It was raced at Le Mans no less than five times and finished on the podium in 2004 with Colin McRae, Darren Turner and Rickard Rydell behind the wheel. Yes, that Colin McRae, the 1995 World Rally Champion. Today chassis CRD03 is wearing its 2003 livery and the very good reason for those mountains is ski racer and Dakar winner, Luc Alphand.
With 600bhp from its 6-litre V12 engine and a weight of around 1100kg or 2425lb it feels incredibly quick and the ability to flat shift with the sequential ‘box only adds to the sensation. In period, the Ferrari 550 Prodrive was never quicker than in the hands of Thomáš Enge, who set pole position for the 24hrs of Le Mans three years in a row in 2002, 2003 and 2004, also taking the LMGTS class victory in 2003.
As such it was very special that Enge also joined us for the day at Dunsfold (perhaps better known as the Top Gear test track) to get reacquainted with the car that he put on pole in 2002. He also talked to us about his memories of racing the car and, to get a perspective from the rivals, we also talked to Oliver Gavin, who was racing the mighty Corvette C5-R at the time. His recollections of the sound are amazing!
Elsewhere in the film we also cover Alpinestars, Bonfire Billy and sit in a 333SP. A huge thank you to Girardo & Co for all their help in making the film as well as to Venture Racing for running the car on the day. The Fabulous filming was done by Glenn Winhall and Benjamin Cornish.
What are your thoughts on the Ferrari 550 Prodrive? What do you think Henry should test drive next? Let us know in the comments below.
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