Known as the most successful manufacturer ever to race in Formula One->ke662, Ferrari->ke252 is also famous for its glorious sports car->ke506 racing years. The Italians gathered no less than nine outright Le Mans wins and 13 World Sportscar Championships between the late 1940 and the early 1970s, being surpassed by very few companies in that department. Ferrari's golden age of endurance racing came to a halt in 1974, when Enzo stopped all development of sports cars->ke506 prototypes in order to focus on Formula One. Maranello lied dormant for nearly two decades until 1994, when the 333 SP, built at the request of amateur racer Giampiero Moretti, hit the track marking the brand's return to sports prototype racing. Designed by famed Italian chassis manufacturer Dallara, the 333 SP was offered to privateers who raced it with great success until 2003. The open-top race car->ke148 not only managed to give Ferrari a triumphant return to sports car racing, it also became the only Ferrari to win the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring.

Click past the jump to read more about the Ferrari 333 SP

1998 Ferrari 333 SP

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 1998 Ferrari 333 SP
  • Engine/Motor: V12
  • Horsepower: 650
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

Very few manufacturers have managed to build race cars that have performed while looking downright gorgeous, and Ferrari is definitely one of them. Granted, the 333 SP is not the most attractive race car the Italians have produced, but its designers focused on nothing more than aerodynamics and downforce.

The shell is incredibly flat, with only the rear air intake, fin and large wing disturbing the otherwise toneless landscape. The sloping nose sits as close as possible to the ground, while the no-nonsense rear end is dominated by the large, fixed wing, the fat tires and the exposed chassis and lower engine bits.

Campaigned by Momo founder Giampiero Moretti, the version depicted here is finished in the company's iconic red and orange livery, previously seen on famous Porsche racers such as the 935 Turbo and the 911 RSR.

Interior

The interior hosts nothing more than racing gear. An electronic display sits right behind the flat-bottomed, Momo steering wheel, while the remainder of the dashboard is covered with all the necessary switches, buttons and indicators. The two-seat cockpit is fitted with a bolstered driver's seat with multi-point harness, while the gear shifter resides near the right body panel.

The open cabin is packed with carbon-fiber, which can be seen on anything from the dashboard and the seats to the floor. No wonder the 333 SP tips the scales at only 1,900 pounds.

Drivetrain

With its career spanning over eight years, the Ferrari 333 SP raced with more than one engine under its hood. Initially, Ferrari fitted the race car with a version of the V-12 unit used in the F92A Formula One car. The powerplant had its displacement increased from 3.5 to 4.0 liters, while output was set at around 600 horsepower.

When it joined the IMSA GT Championship, the Italians switched the F1 engine for the five-valve-per-cylinder V-12 found in the F50 supercar. The 4.7-liter, mid-mounted mill was modified to displace the IMSA-required 4.0 liters and has its redline increased to nearly 12,000 rpm. Output now stood at no less than 650 horsepower and it used a sequential, five-speed gearbox.

The 333 SP was capable of speeds of up to 230 mph, while its lightning-fast acceleration stood at three seconds to 60 mph..

Type

4.0-liter V-12

Output

650 HP @ 11,750 RPM

0 to 60 mph

3 seconds (est.)

Top Speed

230 mph (est.)

Transmission

Sequential five-speed


Suspension

The 333 SP had its body bolted on a lightweight, state-of-the-art chassis fitted with double wishbone, independent suspension front and rear and pushrod-operated coil-spring and damper units. Stopping duties were handled by ventilated Brembo disc brakes and calipers on all four corners.

Pricing

Pricing a nearly 20-year-old race cars is obviously reserved to experienced car specialists and auction companies, but auction events provide useful information as to how much a Ferrari 333 SP could be worth. For instance, the 1998 model shown above attracted a high bid of $3.4 million during a RM Auction sale at Pebble Beach in August 2014. The race car didn't meet its reserve, meaning it could be worth more than that. The figure is far from shocking, as chassis no. 19 is the only Ferrari to win the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring and the winningest 333 SP.

When launched, the Ferrari 333 SP was sold to privateers for nearly $1 million. Only 40 units were built.

Competition

Porsche 911 GT1

The Ferrari 333 SP and the Porsche 911 GT1 clashed many times during the late 1990s. Their most important encounters occurred in 1998, when the two battled for supremacy in both Europe and the United States. While the 333 SP beat the Porsche at the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring, the Germans went on to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Unlike the 333 SP, which was fitted with a V-12 powerplant, the 911 GT1 carried a flat-six twin-turbo under its huge hood. The mill displaced 3.2 liters and generated 592 horsepower. The GT1 was capable of speeds in excess of 200 mph at Le Mans in its initial configuration, but Porsche's focus on downforce for 1998 reduced its top speed to 193 mph.

Between 1996 and 2003, the Porsche 911 GT1 scored 47 outright wins and 10 additional class victories from 245 entries. By comparison, the Ferrari 333 SP won 49 races and six class wins between 1994 and 2003.

Conclusion

The 333 SP is certainly not the first Ferrari that comes to mind when thinking about Maranello's past racing success. It wouldn't make it in our top-10 greatest Ferrari racers ever built, bu the 333 SP holds an important place in the automaker's track history, most notably for winning at Daytona and Sebring. And although it lacks the beauty of the 250 GTO, it will likely become a classic over a couple of decades.