We sat down with Enzo Ferrari’s great-grandson to speak all issues Ferrari.
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari will not be 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 automotive fanatic, and an knowledgeable within the classic automotive business. On this unique interview, we ask him about a variety of Ferrari-centric subjects.
dR: Enzo, as a direct descendant of Ferrari’s founding father, what does it imply to hold on his title 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 concept of calling me Enzo together with her grandfather. They usually have been anticipating this actually emotional second, as you possibly can think about, as he was greater than 90 years outdated at this level. And he replied: ‘Sure, that’s a very good title, very straightforward 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 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 staff. He wished to race. There’s the joke 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 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 price greater than another OEM, even ones who tried to purchase it, like Ford, which is unimaginable.
dR: And on the racing aspect, Ferrari nonetheless does loads of profitable whether or not it’s Formulation 1, and naturally profitable 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 Formulation 1, Ferrari has been there for the reason that starting of the World Championship. Formulation 1 is Ferrari, by some means. Final yr, it was preventing again to the highest and our object is to all the time be there to combat 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: Holding the authenticity, holding the racing, sustaining the heritage. Just be sure you’re capable of 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 actual key.
dR: Lately you’ve taken up the function of President of Cavallino, by means of your function 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 all the time 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’m going to all of the occasions plus many others. Should you 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 last word freedom, they provide the freedom to go wherever you need, and to lift your self to push the boundaries, and you concentrate on the know-how round automobiles previously 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 wonderful 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 Seashore in Florida as a child with my grandfather at Cavallino Basic. This yr was the thirty fourth version of Cavallino in Palm Seashore. I additionally love the Cavallino journal, I might all the time learn it and I really like the occasion. I feel there’s a possible in rising the occasion by some means, in attracting additionally a brand new era, and having the ability to groom the present collectors, and having the ability to increase the Cavallino occasion in different international locations, akin 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 monthly. I feel that it wants that shortage of the occasions.
dR: Inform us at the 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 concept is to have a perpetuity of the shares within the household for the longer term, that’s the entire concept. When it comes to the Ferrari Household Investments, the concept 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 fabricated from the automotive world at the moment?
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari: Fascinating query. To assume that Ford is now really price half of what Ferrari is price, 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 protection. He would have cherished that steadiness of security and having the ability to actually benefit from the automobiles, as a result of proper now they go actually quick! Should you take like a 296 Problem automotive, for instance, it’s a loopy quick automotive! He would have cherished that one, for certain.
dR: As regards to your nice grandfather, do you might have a favourite reminiscence or story that you just’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 properly, I’ve been extensively studying his biographies, so I form of can say that I do know Enzo Ferrari, particularly by means of 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 yr it’s DuPont Registry’s fortieth anniversary, what message would you prefer to share with our readers?
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari: Properly, 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 enthusiastic about that, they should move this ardour on to the era to come back for certain. That’s the mission for all automotive fanatics, 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 challenge of duPont REGISTRY, #481, starring the brand new Rolls-Royce Spectre Black Badge. To get your arms on a replica, both purchase a single challenge or subscribe.
