The project took place thanks to the management of Gian Luigi Buitoni, president of Ferrari in the USA, plus the participation of Giampiero Moretti, founder of the company MOMO. The Ferrari 333 SP was manufactured and evaluated in 1993, although publicly presented in January 1994 at the Palm Beach Cavallino Classic event. Three months later, he made his triumphant debut on track during the Road Atlanta competition.
The regulations of the IMSA category required the use of an engine used in standard street cars. For this reason, Ferrari approved a V12 derived from Formula 1 which would later be used in the Ferrari F50. This V12 of 4,700 cm3 and 5 valves per cylinder was reduced in displacement to 3,997 cm3 by the regulatory limit (4,000 cm3).
A total of 40 units of the Ferrari 333 SP were built between 1993 and 2000. The first 14 specimens were manufactured by Dallara, while the remaining 26 were in charge of Michelotto. Private teams bought the units and then made their own modifications and adaptations.
Most of the chassis and body design work was carried out in the wind tunnel and in the Dallara facility. The chassis was made of materials such as carbon fiber and other lightweight high-strength compounds. The body, also made of carbon fiber, made the whole form a very light monocoque with great structural rigidity.
The floor of the chassis was completely flat by regulation. This was intended to make vehicles safer, as the ground effect makes the vehicle more stable at high speeds. The chassis was designed with very similar criteria to those used in Formula 1.
While the teams modified their units and even Ferrari introduced some reforms to the 333 SP, this prototype always kept the same overall appearance on its exterior. Two factors identify the Ferrari 333 SP: its design and the sharp sound of its V12 engine, which exceeded 11,000 revolutions per minute.
In 1995 the Ferrari 333 SP front was redesigned and successes continued. Several races won, highlighting the victory in the legendary race of the 12 Hours of Sebring, secured the driver's championship for Fermín Velez and the brand championship for the Ferrari prototype.
The car was successful, but Ferrari failed in all its presentations with the 333 SP in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Poor results in 1995, the following year he set a lap record but the car left after an accident. The best result at Le Mans was a pale sixth place in 1997.
In 1996 the Ferrari 333 SP was competitive but lost its superiority, losing the brand championship to Oldsmobile. The best driver on board a Ferrari was ex-F1 Max Papis, who finished second in the championship. Didier Theys was fourth with another 333 SP.
By 1997, the car continued to lose ground despite winning five victories. The brand-new Riley & Scott prototypes surpassed them. Ferrari took second place in the brand championship and its drivers placed fourth, fifth and sixth place in the standings table.
In 1998 Ferrari's fortune took a 180 degree turn. The refurbished Ferrari 333 SP participated in the International Sports Racing Series (later named FIA Sportscar Championship) in Europe, winning victories in all races and the first two places of the championship. The top drivers were Emmanuel Collard and Vincenzo Sospiri.
Meanwhile, in the IMSA series in the USA the 333 SP won three races and again reached the runner-up of drivers and brands. In the same country but in the Can-Am series, Ferrari scored another victory in the 24 Hours of Daytona, something he had not achieved since 1967.
In 1999 USA saw the arrival of the new category “American Le Mans Series”, which did not allow the presence of Ferrari cars delivered to unofficial equipment. The Doran Racing team equipped a Ferrari 333 with a Judd engine to try to stay successfully against the new prototypes. But the Ferrari was almost confined to Europe, where he won three consecutive championships.
By the year 2000 this car was no longer competitive, it was totally out of date with respect to new rivals. In 2001, no Ferrari was presented in the American Le Mans Series, but in some Grand Am competitions. In Europe the rider Marco Zadra won the championship but on equal terms with other prototypes.
The last official appearance of the Ferrari 333 SP in competitions was at the Daytona 24 Hours 2002. The 333 SP ranked sixth but left the competition. Thus ended 8 years of success around the world.
Top speed: 368 km/h
Brembo disc brakes on 4 wheels
© Adrián Blanco 2006 — Prohibited the total or partial reproduction of text and/or images without explicit written consent of the author. —
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