Luigi Chinetti’s association with Ferrari, and the origins, formation and racing history of NART (North American Racing Team). A complex organisation, inextricably linked to Luigi Chinetti Motors Inc, NART enjoyed success on the race tracks of the US and Europe for three decades – as well as financial difficulties and arguments with organisers – to rightly become a legend.
Most people with an interest in motor sport will be familiar with the acronym N.A.R.T., yet few people profess to know too much about the North American Racing Team.
Starting in the the second half of the 1950s, NART existed for three decades, during which it experienced successes on the tracks of America and Europe. It also suffered financial difficulties, and arguments with track organisers.
This book explains what NART was, how it was formed, and what it achieved over three decades of competition. It wasn’t just sports cars that were entered into races, NART entered Formula One cars and Formula Junior cars as well.
Never as financially stable as his rival team owners, Chinetti did deals with Ferrari to purchase the latest specification sports cars at the end of a season, in order to attract the best drivers to drive for NART. It was also an opportunity to lease the cars on a race-by-race basis, an arrangement that appealed to some of Chinetti’s clientele.
Whilst success on the track was significant, problems were never far away. Working on the cars with a limited number of staff, and not receiving spares from Ferrari on time, NART always appeared to be in a state of crisis.
No matter … despite the difficulties, the formula worked well for Luigi Chinetti, and the acronym N.A.R.T. has rightly become legendary.
Describes Luigi Chinetti’s achievements prior to the formation of NART
Chinetti’s unique relationship with Enzo Ferrari
The formation of the North American Racing Team
An insight into how NART functioned
Why and how NART was involved in Formula One
The fall-out with the Le Mans organisers and subsequent consequences
The question of who drove the NART car to victory at Le Mans
Examples of vehicle purchase documents from Ferrari
Reveals the payments made to drivers for their services
Includes details of NART entries to races in America and Europe
