Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 18 October 2023 –
A three-day exhibition at New York City’s Hudson Yards complex culminated in an
exclusive charity auction during the Ferrari Gala. The black-tie event at The
Shed performing arts center on October 17 saw a significant contribution to
Ferrari’s long-term commitment to supporting education. Strongly rooted in its
territory and regularly assisting international relief efforts, Ferrari has
long championed educational activities, and the resounding success of the New
York auction further underlined how Ferrari’s close-knit community generously
rallies together to contribute to the company’s philanthropic activities.
A total of eight lots representing the multi-faceted reality
that is today’s Ferrari - from sports cars and racing to lifestyle collections
- went under the hammer, with the star of the auction being the Tailor Made
Ferrari 812 Competizione with its striking custom yellow paintwork. One of just
999 examples to be built, its design captures the bold strokes, hatching and
handwritten notations inspired by the sketches of Ferrari Chief Design Officer
Flavio Manzoni in a fascinating 3-dimensional illusion, accentuating the
contours of the award-winning V12-powered Special Series model. This
one-of-a-kind car attracted spirited bidding that energized the room, reaching
an impressive $5.1 million. Other items, such as the Amalgam scale model of the
812 Competizione, the Montblanc Stilema SP3, a one-off lifestyle accessory, and
a unique Formula 1 experience, also exceeded their estimates.
The funds raised will be used to develop even further Ferrari’s
long-term commitment to education which began with Ferrari’s founder who
commissioned The Alfredo Ferrari Institute of Higher Education in Maranello
exactly 60 years ago. These dedicated projects have become more ambitious and
international in line with the company’s desire to provide students from all
walks of life with resources in local communities.
“Our evening in New York was very special for Ferrari,
reinforcing the love story between our company and America.,” commented Ferrari
Chairman John Elkann. “The passion of our clients and their knowledge of the
Prancing Horse and its history is second to none. We hold many shared values –
a love of innovation, a will to progress, and a competitive drive. We also have
in common a sense of community and we share our successes by giving back.”
Following the auction, 12-time Grammy®-winning artist John
Legend took the stage for a soulful performance in front of VIP clients,
special guests - such as Formula 1 drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz,
director Michael Mann and actors Adam Driver and Nicholas Hoult - and Ferrari
executives, including CEO Benedetto Vigna, Chief Design Officer Flavio Manzoni
and Ferrari Lifestyle Creative Director Rocco Iannone.
The New York event was also an opportunity to highlight the
Italian brand’s influence on sports cars, racing, lifestyle and beyond, with a
special display organized around The Vessel, the 16-story main feature of the
5-acre Hudson Yards Public Square. The display included a carefully-curated
selection of 14 significant Ferrari vehicles. Each car represented a pivotal
piece of Ferrari heritage, from the company’s early years to the present, from
a 1948 166 MM to the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning 499P Le Mans Hypercar.
Supercars like the F40, F50, Enzo and LaFerrari starred in a seamless timeline
of Ferrari achievement across the decades and paid homage to the American
metropolis and its vibrant spirit of innovation.
A private showroom was dedicated to the Ferrari Lifestyle
Collection, where clients received personalized style consultations by Creative
Director Rocco Iannone and exclusive access to one-of-a-kind pieces, each
featuring a special label celebrating this unique event.
Also on display at the Ferrari Gala venue was the legendary
factory-modified 1962 Ferrari 330 LM/250 GTO, a car with a unique competition
history, which will be sold at auction by RM Sotheby’s in New York on the 13th
of November. Often regarded by aficionados as among the most significant
automobiles ever made, this is the first 250 GTO to come to public auction
since 2018 when a similar car set a then world record of $48.4 million in
Monterey.