We sat down with Enzo Ferrari’s great-grandson to speak all issues Ferrari.
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari will not be solely the great-grandson of the legendary Enzo Ferrari and grandson of Piero Ferrari, however he’s additionally an entrepreneur with a robust 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 subjects.
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 he or she shared the concept of calling me Enzo along 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have been anticipating this actually emotional second, as you possibly can think about, as he was greater than 90 years outdated at this level. And he replied: ‘Sure, that’s a superb identify, very straightforward to recollect and quick.’ That’s it! That’s completely how he was!
dR: A person of motion however not so many phrases. What do you suppose really 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 highway automobiles as a result of he wanted the cash to fund the crew. He wished to race. There’s the shaggy dog story 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 automobiles. I’m promoting automobiles to race. I’ll be again on high.’ 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 automobiles and the remainder is historical past. Now it’s price greater than every other OEM, even ones who tried to purchase it, like Ford, which is unimaginable.
dR: And on the racing aspect, Ferrari nonetheless does a whole lot of profitable whether or not it’s Formulation 1, and naturally profitable the Le Mans 24 Hours two occasions operating…
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari: The way of these Le Mans victories was unimaginable, like actually unbelievable. To win the a hundredth anniversary race at Le Mans after which get back-to-back wins. And in Formulation 1, Ferrari has been there because the 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 all the time 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: Conserving the authenticity, preserving the racing, sustaining the heritage. Just remember to’re capable of share with the brand new era about the place we come from. And make nice merchandise. With out the merchandise, you’re promoting nothing. That’s the actual key.
dR: Just lately you’ve taken up the position of President of Cavallino, by means of your position 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 all the time beloved automobiles, whatever the model. I’m no collector, however I race some occasions with classic automobiles. After all, because the President of Cavallino I’m going to all of the occasions plus many others. Should you ask me, ‘Was your loved ones pushing you to have that type of ardour for automobiles?’ Actually talking, no, I’ve real ardour for automobiles. Enzo mentioned that automobiles are the last word freedom, they provide the freedom to go wherever you need, and to boost your self to push the boundaries, and you concentrate on the know-how round automobiles prior to now hundred or so years, it’s unbelievable the place it’s proper now, when it comes to security and when it comes to efficiency.
dR: Cavallino hosts some superb Ferrari occasions all over the world, are you able to clarify extra about that?
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari: I keep in mind after I was first going to Palm Seaside in Florida as a child with my grandfather at Cavallino Traditional. This yr was the thirty fourth version of Cavallino in Palm Seaside. I additionally love the Cavallino journal, I’d all the time learn it and I really like the occasion. I believe there’s a possible in rising the occasion one way or the other, in attracting additionally a brand new era, and with the ability to groom the prevailing collectors, and with the ability to increase 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 per 30 days. I believe that it wants that shortage of the occasions.
dR: Inform us immediately 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 the intention to obtain continuity all through many years, and possibly centuries, and be capable to management our shares of Ferrari. My grandfather owns the ten% since 1969, not lots of people know that, and the concept is to have a perpetuity of the shares within the household for the long run, that’s the entire concept. By way of the Ferrari Household Investments, the concept is to have a diversification, so not simply on the automotive aspect but additionally in different areas of investments.
dR: What do you suppose Enzo Ferrari would have fabricated from the automotive world immediately?
Enzo Mattioli Ferrari: Fascinating query. To suppose that Ford is now truly price half of what Ferrari is price, I believe Enzo would have mentioned ‘You’re loopy!’ He would have been on the sting, in search of new applied sciences, making automobiles much more enjoyable to drive, rising the efficiency, rising the protection. He would have beloved that steadiness of security and with the ability to actually benefit from the automobiles, as a result of proper now they go actually quick! Should you take like a 296 Problem automotive, for instance, it’s a loopy quick automotive! He would have beloved that one, for positive.
dR: As regards to your nice grandfather, do you could have a favourite reminiscence or story that you just’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 type 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 figuring out this character, additionally as a human being when he was at residence, 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: Nicely, congratulations on the primary 40 years, I in fact hope there’s gonna be greater than 40 years to return. Luxurious automobiles is simply a tremendous world, and all of the readers they’re so keen about that, they should move this ardour on to the era to return for positive. That’s the mission for all automotive lovers, it’s additionally true for readers of Cavallino in addition to duPont REGISTRY journal.
This text appeared in our June 2025 Concern.
Introducing the June 2025 subject of duPont REGISTRY, #481, starring the brand new Rolls-Royce Spectre Black Badge. To get your palms on a replica, both purchase a single subject or subscribe.
