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 powerful dedication to enhancing Italian heritage, a passionate automobile fanatic, and an knowledgeable 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 he or she shared the thought of calling me Enzo along with her grandfather. And so they have been anticipating this actually emotional second, as you may think about, as he was greater than 90 years previous at this level. And he replied: ‘Sure, that’s a very good identify, very simple to recollect and quick.’ That’s it! That’s completely how he was!
dR: A person of motion however not so many phrases. What do you assume actually units Ferrari other than all the opposite manufacturers on the market?
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari: For certain, it’s the authenticity. The truth that Enzo began Scuderia Ferrari in 1929, and later he began promoting street automobiles as a result of he wanted the cash to fund the crew. He wished to race. There’s the comic story from 1956, when he misplaced the 24 Hours of Le Mans to Jaguar, and he was requested what’s gonna occur subsequent 12 months? And he stated, ‘Jaguar is racing to promote automobiles. I’m promoting automobiles to race. I’ll be again on high.’ There was the well-known encounter between Enzo and Gianni Agnelli, whereby L’Avvocato [Fiat boss Agnelli’s nickname was ‘The Lawyer’] stated ‘You know the way 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 aspect, Ferrari nonetheless does lots of successful whether or not it’s Components 1, and naturally successful the Le Mans 24 Hours two occasions operating…
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari: The style of these Le Mans victories was unimaginable, like actually unbelievable. To win the a centesimal anniversary race at Le Mans after which get back-to-back wins. And in Components 1, Ferrari has been there for the reason that starting of the World Championship. Components 1 is Ferrari, in some way. Final 12 months, it was combating again to the highest and our object is to all the time be there to struggle for the win, each single 12 months.
dR: Ferrari is synonymous with luxurious and efficiency, how do you see the model evolving because the years go by?
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari: Maintaining the authenticity, preserving the racing, sustaining the heritage. Just remember to’re in a position to share with the brand new technology 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 your position as CEO of Ferrari Household Investments, inform us why…
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari: Personally talking, I’m a automobile fanatic. I used to be rising up with Ferrari, however I all the time cherished automobiles, whatever the model. I’m no collector, however I race some occasions with classic automobiles. In fact, because the President of Cavallino I’m going to all of the occasions plus many others. When you ask me, ‘Was your loved ones pushing you to have that form of ardour for automobiles?’ Actually talking, no, I’ve real ardour for automobiles. Enzo stated that automobiles are the last word freedom, they provide the freedom to go wherever you need, and to lift your self to push the boundaries, and you consider the know-how round automobiles prior to now hundred or so years, it’s unbelievable the place it’s proper now, when it comes to security and when it comes to efficiency.
dR: Cavallino hosts some superb Ferrari occasions world wide, 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 12 months was the thirty fourth version of Cavallino in Palm Seaside. I additionally love the Cavallino journal, I’d all the time learn it and I really like the occasion. I believe there’s a possible in rising the occasion in some way, in attracting additionally a brand new technology, and with the ability to groom the prevailing collectors, and with the ability to increase the Cavallino occasion in different international locations, equivalent to we’re doing this now in Abu Dhabi, in Modena in Italy, with out diluting it, so that you received’t see a Cavallino per 30 days. I believe that it wants that shortage of the occasions.
dR: Inform us as we speak 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 in an effort to obtain continuity all through a long time, and possibly centuries, and be capable of 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. When it comes to the Ferrari Household Investments, the thought is to have a diversification, so not simply on the automotive aspect but additionally in different areas of investments.
dR: What do you assume Enzo Ferrari would have made from the automotive world as we speak?
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari: Attention-grabbing query. To assume that Ford is now really value half of what Ferrari is value, I believe Enzo would have stated ‘You’re loopy!’ He would have been on the sting, in search of new applied sciences, making automobiles much more enjoyable to drive, growing the efficiency, growing the security. He would have cherished that steadiness of security and with the ability to actually benefit from the automobiles, as a result of proper now they go actually quick! When you take like a 296 Problem automobile, for instance, it’s a loopy quick automobile! He would have cherished that one, for certain.
dR: With regards to your nice grandfather, do you will have a favourite reminiscence or story that you simply’d prefer 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 tales and the phrases of my grandfather [Piero Ferrari]. That’s the important thing to understanding this character, additionally as a human being when he was at house, let’s say he was very distinctive, I’ve to inform you that.
dR: This 12 months it’s DuPont Registry’s fortieth anniversary, what message would you prefer to share with our readers?
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari: Nicely, congratulations on the primary 40 years, I in fact hope there’s gonna be greater than 40 years to come back. Luxurious automobiles is simply a tremendous world, and all of the readers they’re so obsessed with that, they should move this ardour on to the technology to come back for certain. That’s the mission for all automobile fanatics, it’s additionally true for readers of Cavallino in addition to duPont REGISTRY journal.
This text appeared in our June 2025 Difficulty.
Introducing the June 2025 difficulty of duPont REGISTRY, #481, starring the brand new Rolls-Royce Spectre Black Badge. To get your fingers on a duplicate, both purchase a single difficulty or subscribe.
