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Ferrari prepared the 250 Sport as a factory racecar for the 1952 Season. The sole car debuted at the 1952 Mille Miglia where Giovanni Bracco and Alfonso Rolfo piloted it to outright victory.

During the Mille Miglia, Ferrari was up against the recently-released 300 SL from Mercedes-Benz. One driven by Karl Kling dominated nearly the entire race, but was passed on the Futa Pass by Braco near the end of the race. Braco was a regular hill-climb racer and could use the 250 Sport to its full potential.

Their car was a small sports coupe developed by Vignale for outright performance. Like other Berlinettas, it had a very low-set roof and canted front windscreen. Having a roof was particularly advantageous for the wet edition of the 1952 Mille Miglia.

The 250 Sport was largely based on the 225 Sport and both models were an evolution of the 212 Export racing models with slightly larger engines. The engine was enlarged from a bore of 70 to 73mm and this model became the first in a successful series of Ferrari 250s.

After the Mille Miglia, Ferrari used the car for Alberto Ascari and Villoresi to drive. Ascari said it was “the best car I have driven since I started racing!.”² He beat the lap record at an average speed of 107.59 mph, but failed just three hours into the race with clutch problems. For Le Mans the car was fitted with rear fender scoops to cool the differential and small rear wheel flares to satisfy the regulations.

Sources & Further Reading.

1. Marzotto, Giannino.Red Arrows Ferraris at the Mille Miglia. Giorgio Nada Editore: 2001.
2. Ludvigsen, Karl. Ferrari by Mailander. Dalton Watson: 2005.

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