Gianpiero Moretti who died on the 14th of January 2012, never won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but twenty years ago he brought Ferrari back to La Sarthe with a prototype.

Gianpiero Moretti was far from a stranger, to Le Mans or Modena when he embarked on his sportscar project. In addition to two appearances at the 24 Hours in 1970 and 1990, his car accessories company (wheels, rims, etc) Momo was a privileged partner of Ferrari, both on the road and in Formula 1. He was therefore listened to attentively, by Luca di Montezemolo and also by Jean Todt, newly arrived at the head of the Sports Management after two consecutive victories in La Sarthe with Peugeot. And most importantly, he had the support of Piero Ferrari, son of the Commendatore. But a formal commitment was out of the question, because the first priority was to rebuild the Scuderia F1. Thus was born the SP 333 for the exclusive use of private competitors, and powered by a 4 litre V12 derived from the F92A, an engine also destined for the F50, designed for the fiftieth anniversary of the Prancing Horse, which was launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 1995 .

Also in 1995, 21 years after the last appearance of a Ferrari prototype (a PB 312 entred by NART), the 333 SP raced its first 24 Hours of Le Mans. Gianpiero Moretti did not enter his until 1997. That year, the race was won by the TWR-Porsche of Michele Alboreto, Stefan Johansson and Tom Kristensen, pursued by a pack of GT cars. The Ferrari of Moretti Didier Theys and Max Papis was the second placed prototype: and sixth overall at Le Mans, the best result of the SP 333. A well-deserved reward for the Italian gentleman driver. He also won the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring in early 1998, before finishing fourth for his fourth in his last 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 2013, AF Corse be will present on the 22nd and 23rd June defending their LM GTE Pro title with the 458 Italia. Since 1999, there has not been a Ferrari prototype in La Sarthe.

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO

Photo: CIRCUIT OF 24 HOURS (Le Mans, Sarthe), 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, 14 & 15 June 1997. Sixth overall the car of Moretti-Papis Theys was the highest ranked of the two Ferrari 333 SP entered in 1997.