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 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 along with her grandfather. And so they had been anticipating this actually emotional second, as you’ll be able to think about, as he was greater than 90 years previous at this level. And he replied: ‘Sure, that’s an excellent title, very straightforward 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 suppose really units Ferrari aside from 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 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 remaining is historical past. Now it’s price greater than some other OEM, even ones who tried to purchase it, like Ford, which is unbelievable.
dR: And on the racing aspect, Ferrari nonetheless does loads of successful whether or not it’s Method 1, and naturally successful the Le Mans 24 Hours two instances operating…
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari: The way of these Le Mans victories was unbelievable, like actually unbelievable. To win the one centesimal 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, one way or the other. Final yr, it was combating 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: Retaining the authenticity, preserving the racing, sustaining the heritage. Just be sure you’re capable of 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 actual key.
dR: Not too long ago you’ve taken up the position of President of Cavallino, by means 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 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 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?’ 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 boost your self to push the boundaries, and you concentrate on 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 all over the world, are you able to clarify extra about that?
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari: I keep in mind after I was first going to Palm Seaside in Florida as a child with my grandfather at Cavallino Basic. This yr 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 like the occasion. I believe there’s a possible in rising the occasion one way or the other, in attracting additionally a brand new technology, and with the ability to groom the present collectors, and with the ability to increase 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 received’t see a Cavallino per thirty 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 as a way to obtain continuity all through many years, and perhaps centuries, and have the ability 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 thought. By way of the Ferrari Household Investments, the concept is to have a diversification, so not simply on the automotive aspect but in addition in different areas of investments.
dR: What do you suppose Enzo Ferrari would have made from the automotive world as we speak?
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari: Fascinating query. To suppose that Ford is now really price half of what Ferrari is price, 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, rising the efficiency, rising the security. He would have cherished that stability of security and with 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 certain.
dR: With reference to your nice grandfather, do you’ve 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 effectively, 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 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 prefer to share with our readers?
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari: Effectively, congratulations on the primary 40 years, I in fact hope there may be 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 go this ardour on to the technology to come back for certain. That’s the mission for all automotive fans, 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 problem of duPont REGISTRY, #481, starring the brand new Rolls-Royce Spectre Black Badge. To get your fingers on a duplicate, both purchase a single problem or subscribe.
