We sat down with Enzo Ferrari’s great-grandson to speak all issues Ferrari.
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari is just not 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 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 she or he shared the thought of calling me Enzo together with her grandfather. And so they have been anticipating this actually emotional second, as you possibly can think about, as he was greater than 90 years previous at this level. And he replied: ‘Sure, that’s a great identify, 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 aside from all the opposite manufacturers on the market?
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari: For positive, it’s the authenticity. The truth that Enzo began Scuderia Ferrari in 1929, and later he began promoting street vehicles 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 mentioned, ‘Jaguar is racing to promote vehicles. I’m promoting vehicles to race. I’ll be again on prime.’ There was the well-known encounter between Enzo and Gianni Agnelli, whereby L’Avvocato [Fiat boss Agnelli’s nickname was ‘The Lawyer’] mentioned ‘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 vehicles and the remainder is historical past. Now it’s value greater than every other OEM, even ones who tried to purchase it, like Ford, which is unimaginable.
dR: And on the racing facet, Ferrari nonetheless does plenty of successful whether or not it’s Formulation 1, and naturally successful the Le Mans 24 Hours two instances working…
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari: The way 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, one way or the other. Final yr, it was combating again to the highest and our object is to at all times 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, protecting 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: Just 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 at all times cherished vehicles, whatever the model. I’m no collector, however I race some occasions with classic vehicles. In fact, because the President of Cavallino I am going to all of the occasions plus many others. For those who ask me, ‘Was your loved ones pushing you to have that sort of ardour for vehicles?’ Truthfully talking, no, I’ve real ardour for vehicles. Enzo mentioned that vehicles 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 expertise round vehicles up to now hundred or so years, it’s unbelievable the place it’s proper now, by way of security and by way of efficiency.
dR: Cavallino hosts some superb Ferrari occasions around the globe, 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 at all times 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 having the ability to groom the present collectors, and having the ability to broaden 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 believe that it wants that shortage of the occasions.
dR: Inform us right this 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 possibly 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 thought is to have a perpetuity of the shares within the household for the longer term, that’s the entire concept. By way of the Ferrari Household Investments, the thought is to have a diversification, so not simply on the automotive facet but in addition in different areas of investments.
dR: What do you assume Enzo Ferrari would have fabricated from the automotive world right this moment?
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari: Attention-grabbing query. To assume that Ford is now truly value half of what Ferrari is value, I believe Enzo would have mentioned ‘You’re loopy!’ He would have been on the sting, in search of new applied sciences, making vehicles 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 vehicles, as a result of proper now they go actually quick! For those who take like a 296 Problem automotive, for instance, it’s a loopy quick automotive! He would have cherished that one, for positive.
dR: With regards to your nice grandfather, do you’ve gotten 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 properly, I’ve been extensively studying his biographies, so I sort 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 realizing 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 after all hope there may be gonna be greater than 40 years to return. Luxurious vehicles is simply an incredible world, and all of the readers they’re so captivated with that, they should go this ardour on to the technology to return for positive. 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 Challenge.
Introducing the June 2025 problem of duPont REGISTRY, #481, starring the brand new Rolls-Royce Spectre Black Badge. To get your palms on a duplicate, both purchase a single problem or subscribe.
