Ferrari 333 SP: the prototype that brought Ferrari back to sports car racing

The Ferrari 333 SP is a sports prototype designed by Ferrari and built by Dallara and later Michelotto, unveiled at the end of 1993. It marked Ferrari’s official return to sports car racing since 1973, and 40 chassis were built.

Ferrari 333 SP at a glance

based on one source (English Wikipedia).

History of the Ferrari 333 SP

The 333 SP was built at the request of the amateur racer Giampiero Moretti, owner of the MOMO components business, to compete in the new IMSA WSC class that replaced the GTP cars. Of the 40 chassis built, the first four were made by Ferrari, eleven by Dallara and the remaining 26 by Michelotto, and it is believed that 27 were raced between 1994 and 2003. Ferrari contracted Dallara to help with development: the Italian firm provided the transmission and suspension and was responsible for the aerodynamics and bodywork, with Hewland internals in a Dallara gearbox casing, while Ferrari developed the chassis tub and engine in-house. The British engineering consultant Tony Southgate joined in early 1994 and helped design and run the cars until the end of 1995.

Engine

The Tipo F130E was a modified version of the 65° V12 used in the 1990 Ferrari 641 Formula One car, enlarged from 3.5 to 4.0 litres and producing 641 hp at 11,000 rpm — still 40 to 70 hp down on the original Formula One engine. Southgate later described it as “one of the most reliable race engines I have ever worked with”.

1994 and 1995

The car debuted in the third round of the 1994 IMSA GT Championship at Road Atlanta on 17 April and took the first two places. Four cars went to three teams: Euromotorsport with chassis 002 built by Ferrari and 005 by Dallara, Momo Corse with chassis 004, and Team Scandia with chassis 003. At Lime Rock the Italian cars swept the podium and took three more wins before the season ended. Because Ferrari missed the first two rounds at Daytona and Sebring, Oldsmobile beat it to the makes’ championship, and Andy Evans was the best-placed Ferrari driver in fifth.

Later seasons

In 1995 the 333 SP took its revenge: although unreliable at the 24 Hours of Daytona, it won the 12 Hours of Sebring and another four races, with Ferrari taking the makes’ championship and Fermín Velez the drivers’ title. The car also debuted at Le Mans but was not competitive that year, its best result there being sixth in 1997; the following season a Risi Competizione car won the LMP1 class at its first Le Mans. In 1996 it tied with Oldsmobile in the constructors’ championship but lost on a tie-breaker. Ferrari won at Sebring again in 1997 with four more victories, though the design was ageing against the Riley & Scott. In 1998 a slightly updated car won every race in the International Sports Racing Series, taking the top two championship places with Emmanuel Collard and Vincenzo Sospiri ahead of Didier Theys and Fredy Lienhard, and also won three IMSA rounds including Sebring.

Design and features

• F1-derived V12: the 641’s 3.5-litre engine enlarged to four litres, 641 hp at 11,000 rpm.
• Dallara engineering: transmission, suspension, aerodynamics and bodywork came from the Italian constructor.
• Reliability: Southgate rated the F130E among the most reliable race engines he had worked with.
• Long career: raced from 1994 to 2003, winning in IMSA, at Sebring and in the ISRS.

Ferrari 333 SP versions

• Ferrari-built chassis (1994): the first four cars, including 002, 003 and 004.
• Dallara-built chassis: eleven cars, including 005.
• Michelotto-built chassis: the remaining 26 cars.
• 1998 update: revised car that won every ISRS race that season.

The 333 SP’s engine came from the Ferrari 641 Formula One car. More Ferrari racing cars are in the Ferrari collection.

Video: Ferrari 333 SP — VERY LOUD

Video by alexsmolik on YouTube.

Sources

• Ferrari 333 SP, English Wikipedia: development, engine, chassis numbers, racing career