24h Le Mans
As Ferrari has just presented the race version of its new 488 and remains in the running for the FIA World Endurance GT Constructors Cup in the 2015 World Endurance Championship (WEC) with the 458 Italia, a look back at a great line of GTs that has marked the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the endurance revival of the last 15 years.
Released in 1999, the 360 Modena not only marked the beginning of a new chapter in Ferrari's history at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but also the start of the marque reclaiming its own heritage, at the time led by Luca di Montezemolo. The name of the model is a reference to Modena, Enzo Ferrari's (1898-1988) hometown. Equipped with a 3.6-liter V8 rear engine, it succeeded the F355.
The 360 Modena made its first appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2002, after Ferrari's last appearance at Le Mans dated back to 1999, with JP Racing's 333 SP prototype. None of the three cars entered made their way to the finish, but two cars did in 2003 thanks to JMB Racing and Risi Competizione. The Ferrari 360 Modena achieved its best result at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2004 with the 19th place finish of Frank Mountain-Rob Wilson-Hans Hugenholtz at the wheel of Cirtek Motorsport's car. Three months later, Ferrari presented the F430 at the Paris Motor Show. In 2006 at Le Mans it succeeded the 360 Modena, the road version production of which came to an end in 2005.
Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO
Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SATURDAY & SUNDAY JUNE 14-15 2003. French team JMB Racing scored the first result of the Ferrari 360 Modena, with 25th place for David Terrien, Fabrizio de Simone and Fabio Babini.
