Ferrari needs no introduction, nor does the "Horse Rampant" insignia which their cars sport. The company started by Enzo Ferrari in 1948 and now based at Maranello, Italy makes the most sought after cars on the planet. Their road cars are all based on and backed by Formula 1 racing experience, making them unique. The racing team "Scuderia Ferrari" has the dedicated fan base in Italy named the Tifosi, who passionately support the team. The red colour associated with Ferrari cars is a throwback to the early parts of this century, it being assigned to Italian cars racing in Grand Prix by the International Automobile Federation. In 1981 the Formula 1 racing team moved to a dedicated plant next to the Fiorano test track, previously being based at the Maranello factory. Some racing car components are however still manufactured at Maranello.

The current Chairman of Ferrari is Italian Luca di Montezemolo while the Racing Management Director is Frenchman Jean Todt. When Schumacher moved from Benetton to Ferrari in 1996, Englishmen Technical Director Ross Brawn and Chief Designer Rory Byrne followed.

The driver line up for the team had until this year, since 1996 been German Michael Schumacher and Irishman Eddie Irvine. Schumacher was the number 1 team driver and Irvine the number 2. This was contractually stipulated and Irvine had to defer to Schumacher in a race should the situation arise (and it has on several occasions). Although Irvine started out publically stating his happiness for this situation and supporting it, during 1999 in particular he has been outspoken against both it and at times Schumacher.

In 2000 Rubens Barrichello swapped from the Stewart team (now Jaguar) with Irvine at Ferrari, to partner Michael. This was an inevitable move, not least because Irvine had, during Michael's absence due to injury in 1999, made some disparaging remarks about him. Barrichello came to the team announcing that he was not a number two to Schuey, which many people found this hard to believe. In confident style Michael stated that the driver who proved fastest would be team number one. Di Montezemolo clarified the situation by stating that the team had a number "1A" and a number "1B" driver.

The most successful of Formula 1 teams, they have won constructor's championships in the folowing years: 1961, 1964, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1982 and 1983. They have won driver's championships with Alberto Ascari in 1952 & 1953, Juan Manuel Fangio in 1956, Mike Hawthorn in 1958, Phil Hill in 1961, John Surtees in 1964 and Niki Lauda in 1975 & 1977. They last won the championship in 1979 with Jody Scheckter and are desperately trying to regain it once again.

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1999
The 1999 car was the 45th racing car built by Ferrari to race in the championship. It was named the F399 by virtue of the fact it had a 3 litre displacement and that the year was 1999. For some years up until 1996 they had been using a V12 engine, but regulation changes in 1996 restricted maximum engine displacement to 3000cc, down form 3500cc. The V10 layout is proven to be optimum for this size and all teams including Ferrari now use 10 cylinder engines.

1999 Car (Ferrari F399)
Chassis: Carbon fibre composite monocoque
Drive: Rear
Transmission: Ferrari electronically controlled semi-automatic sequential
Gears: 7 forward, 1 reverse
Suspension: Double wishbone pushrod activated inboard torsion spring
Brakes: Ventialted carbon discs
Wheels: BBS 13" diameter magnesium alloy
Tyres: Bridgestone

Engine
Model: Ferrari 048
Displacement: 2997cc
Cylinders: 10 in 80 degree V layout
Valves: 40 (4 per cylinder, 2 inlet, 2 exhaust)
Power: Over 800bhp
Fuel System: Magnetti Marelli digital electronic injection
Ignition System: Magnetti Marelli static electronic ignition

Dimensions
Length: 4387mm
Width: 1795mm
Height: 961mm
Wheelbase: 3000mm
Front track: 1490mm
Rear Track: 1405mm
Gross Weight: 600kg (includes driver, water and lubricant)

Luca Di Montezemolo (left)
Chairman
Ferrari

Jean Todt (right)
Racing Management Director
Ferrari

Ross Brawn
Technical Director
Ferrari F1 Team