Ferrari has appointed noted yachtsman Giovanni Soldini as team principal
Ferrari is diving headfirst into the world of yachting.
The Prancing Horse announced that it is preparing to enter the world of competitive sailing, with noted yachtsman Giovanni Soldini serving as team principal.
“We are about to embark on an exciting journey that will expand our racing soul,” Ferrari chairman John Elkann said in a statement. “With this new competitive challenge, motivated by our innovative capacity and commitment to sustainability, we will push beyond current boundaries.”
Ferrari has competed in Formula 1 every season since the world championship began in 1950. It also made a successful return to endurance racing last year, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time in nearly 60 years. With such racing chops, Ferrari seems well-placed to expand from tracks and circuits to the high seas.
It helps that Soldini is an expert in the field. The Italian has more than 30 years of experience in ocean racing, competing in both solo and crewed events. He even has two round-the-world races under his belt.
“I am thrilled to start this new adventure with Ferrari,” adds Soldini. “We are working on an important and cutting-edge project with an amazing technological potential that brings together different worlds and skills of the highest level.”
Ferrari did not release any details regarding the yacht itself. It may not be surprising if the marque designed a high-speed foiling yacht for the America’s Cup, though. Prominent teams in the prestigious sailing competition have already partnered with powerhouse F1 brands: Alinghi with Red Bull Racing, Luna Rossa with Pirelli, and INEOS with Mercedes-AMG Petronas.
The Prancing Horse clearly has the engineering prowess required to build an AC75 for the America’s Cup. Considered the most complex racing yachts on the water, the 75-foot monohulled foilers “fly” across the water at speeds of up to 50 knots (93 mph). The marque could also be working on an F50 race boat for SailGP. Described as a hot-rod version of Cup racers, the 50-foot catamaran has thinner carbon-fiber “L” foils than the AC75 and is thus faster. It can also soar to 52 knots (96.5 mph).
That certainly sounds like a Ferrari.
This story was first published on Robb Report USA
