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MATTER OF ENDURANCE

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Ferrari discovered a winning formula for glory in the world of endurance racing: Pair Belgian racing driver Olivier Gendebien with its newly developed Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa and chance of success is great – no matter the racetrack, no matter the distance. Add to that his American friend Phil Hill as a co-driver and you can be sure that the pair will return with a Le Mans victory – or several. The pair proved that victory was not solely measured by speed, but more importantly by resilience, strategy, and a shared vision.

Their first remarkable victory came in 1958 at the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans, when they piloted this magnificent Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, Chassis number 0728TR. It was a race that went down in history as one of the wettest Le Mans had ever seen with a torrential downpour that could have deterred even the bravest of competitors. But Gendebien and Hill weren't deterred; they were determined. Against all odds, they not only conquered the race but dominated their rivals, establishing a remarkable 12-lap lead over the second-placed Aston Martin DB3S. Artwork 012 / 050 stands as a tribute to this dominant display from one of the most iconic and successful partnerships in endurance racing history. Back in 1958, this was only Ferrari’s third victory around the circuit de la Sarthe and the first Belgian and first American overall victory.

Olivier Gendebien later won three consecutive races at Le Mans (60, 61, 62) in the Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa and stood at the top of the podium at virtually every race he competed at – from the Targa Florio (58, 61, 62) to Sebring (59, 60, 61) to the Tour de France (57, 58, 59) and even the infamous Nürburgring (62).

Enzo Ferrari was a great admirer of Gendebien’s noblesse and elegance at the wheel, describing him as “a true gentleman who drove without hurting the car, taking care of it and one could always count on him to drive with the precision of clock machinery”. It seemed as if Gendebien was born to be an endurance racer as his precise but gentle driving style perfectly matched the desired attributes of endurance racing at the time. To this day, Olivier Gendebien remains the most successful endurance racing driver in Ferrari’s storied history, while the Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa remains the Italian brand’s winningest sports car ever.

Whether you're an automotive connaisseur, a motorsport enthusiast, a lover of elegance and precision or someone who simply appreciates the timeless allure of vintage racecars, Artwork 012 / 050 invites you to relive a bygone era of grace, determination, relentless pursuit of excellence, and triumph in the face of adversity and celebrates the enduring spirit that defines us all.