We sat down with Enzo Ferrari’s great-grandson to speak all issues Ferrari.
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari just isn’t solely the great-grandson of the legendary Enzo Ferrari and grandson of Piero Ferrari, however he’s additionally an entrepreneur with a robust dedication to enhancing Italian heritage, a passionate automotive fanatic, and an skilled within the classic automotive trade. On this unique interview, we ask him about a variety of Ferrari-centric matters.
dR: Enzo, as a direct descendant of Ferrari’s founding father, what does it imply to hold on his identify fairly actually?
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari: I’ll share a narrative with you. It was 1988, and my mother was pregnant with me, and she or he shared the thought of calling me Enzo together with her grandfather. They usually had been anticipating this actually emotional second, as you may think about, as he was greater than 90 years outdated at this level. And he replied: ‘Sure, that’s a very good identify, very simple to recollect and brief.’ That’s it! That’s completely how he was!
dR: A person of motion however not so many phrases. What do you suppose actually units Ferrari other than all the opposite manufacturers on the market?
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari: For positive, it’s the authenticity. The truth that Enzo began Scuderia Ferrari in 1929, and later he began promoting highway automobiles as a result of he wanted the cash to fund the group. He wished to race. There’s the shaggy dog story from 1956, when he misplaced the 24 Hours of Le Mans to Jaguar, and he was requested what’s gonna occur subsequent yr? And he stated, ‘Jaguar is racing to promote automobiles. I’m promoting automobiles to race. I’ll be again on prime.’ There was the well-known encounter between Enzo and Gianni Agnelli, whereby L’Avvocato [Fiat boss Agnelli’s nickname was ‘The Lawyer’] stated ‘You understand how to win?’ and Enzo’s reply was ‘I’m educated to win’. It’s like giving all of your self to one thing. And that’s the important thing, that’s the authenticity. Then he began constructing automobiles and the remainder is historical past. Now it’s value greater than some other OEM, even ones who tried to purchase it, like Ford, which is unimaginable.
dR: And on the racing facet, Ferrari nonetheless does plenty of successful whether or not it’s Method 1, and naturally successful the Le Mans 24 Hours two occasions working…
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari: The way of these Le Mans victories was unimaginable, like actually unbelievable. To win the a hundredth anniversary race at Le Mans after which get back-to-back wins. And in Method 1, Ferrari has been there because the starting of the World Championship. Method 1 is Ferrari, in some way. Final yr, it was preventing again to the highest and our object is to at all times be there to struggle for the win, each single yr.
dR: Ferrari is synonymous with luxurious and efficiency, how do you see the model evolving because the years go by?
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari: Conserving the authenticity, maintaining the racing, sustaining the heritage. Just be sure you’re in a position to share with the brand new era about the place we come from. And make nice merchandise. With out the merchandise, you’re promoting nothing. That’s the true key.
dR: Not too long ago you’ve taken up the position of President of Cavallino, by way of your position as CEO of Ferrari Household Investments, inform us why…
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari: Personally talking, I’m a automotive fanatic. I used to be rising up with Ferrari, however I at all times cherished automobiles, whatever the model. I’m no collector, however I race some occasions with classic automobiles. After all, because the President of Cavallino I am going to all of the occasions plus many others. If you happen to ask me, ‘Was your loved ones pushing you to have that form of ardour for automobiles?’ Truthfully talking, no, I’ve real ardour for automobiles. Enzo stated that automobiles are the final word freedom, they provide the freedom to go wherever you need, and to boost your self to push the boundaries, and you concentrate on the expertise round automobiles previously hundred or so years, it’s unbelievable the place it’s proper now, by way of security and by way of efficiency.
dR: Cavallino hosts some wonderful Ferrari occasions all over the world, are you able to clarify extra about that?
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari: I bear in mind after I was first going to Palm Seaside in Florida as a child with my grandfather at Cavallino Traditional. This yr was the thirty fourth version of Cavallino in Palm Seaside. I additionally love the Cavallino journal, I might at all times learn it and I like the occasion. I feel there’s a possible in rising the occasion in some way, in attracting additionally a brand new era, and having the ability to groom the present collectors, and having the ability to develop the Cavallino occasion in different international locations, corresponding to we’re doing this now in Abu Dhabi, in Modena in Italy, with out diluting it, so that you gained’t see a Cavallino per thirty days. I feel that it wants that shortage of the occasions.
dR: Inform us right this moment about Ferrari Household Investments, and what it means to be a Trustee of the Piero Ferrari Belief?
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari: So, two various things. With the Belief, we constructed that with a view to obtain continuity all through a long time, and perhaps centuries, and be capable to management our shares of Ferrari. My grandfather owns the ten% since 1969, not lots of people know that, and the thought is to have a perpetuity of the shares within the household for the longer term, that’s the entire thought. By way of the Ferrari Household Investments, the thought is to have a diversification, so not simply on the automotive facet but additionally in different areas of investments.
dR: What do you suppose Enzo Ferrari would have made from the automotive world right this moment?
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari: Fascinating query. To suppose that Ford is now truly value half of what Ferrari is value, I feel Enzo would have stated ‘You’re loopy!’ He would have been on the sting, searching for new applied sciences, making automobiles much more enjoyable to drive, rising the efficiency, rising the security. He would have cherished that stability of security and having the ability to actually benefit from the automobiles, as a result of proper now they go actually quick! If you happen to take like a 296 Problem automotive, for instance, it’s a loopy quick automotive! He would have cherished that one, for positive.
dR: As regards to your nice grandfather, do you have got a favourite reminiscence or story that you simply’d wish to share?
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari: I used to be born in February 1988, and he handed away in August 1988, and there’s just one image of myself on his lap. Though we didn’t actually have an opportunity to know one another very nicely, I’ve been extensively studying his biographies, so I form of can say that I do know Enzo Ferrari, particularly by way of tales and the phrases of my grandfather [Piero Ferrari]. That’s the important thing to figuring out this character, additionally as a human being when he was at dwelling, let’s say he was very distinctive, I’ve to inform you that.
dR: This yr it’s DuPont Registry’s fortieth anniversary, what message would you wish to share with our readers?
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari: Properly, congratulations on the primary 40 years, I after all hope there may be gonna be greater than 40 years to return. Luxurious automobiles is simply a tremendous world, and all of the readers they’re so keen about that, they should move this ardour on to the era to return for positive. That’s the mission for all automotive lovers, it’s additionally true for readers of Cavallino in addition to duPont REGISTRY journal.
This text appeared in our June 2025 Subject.
Introducing the June 2025 difficulty of duPont REGISTRY, #481, starring the brand new Rolls-Royce Spectre Black Badge. To get your arms on a replica, both purchase a single difficulty or subscribe.
