Page 51 - Demo

51Ferrari doesn’t do anything halfway. When the company releases a new model, almost inevitably the state of the sports car art is advanced. Each new Ferrari calls to mind past glories while setting the stage for new ones.A perfect example is the 2017 Ferrari F12 TDF shown here, offered with No Reserve at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale Auction, January 20-28, 2024. Finished in Bianco Fuji with Livrea Nero Stellato stripes, this Ferrari is a striking and purposeful balance of Grand Touring and competition influences.The “TDF” in this case stands for Tour de France, an automotive endurance race held over several days across France, much like its bike-racing namesake. The origin of the race dates to 1899, although the race was held only intermittently in the early years. The race enjoyed a postwar revival starting in 1951, with a Ferrari 212 Export taking the victory. The following 13 years proved to be a golden age for sports car racing at the Tour de France, with Scuderia Ferrari usually taking the checkered flag. The 250 GT Berlinetta and 250 GTO were the dominant cars from 1956-64. Lucien Bianchi, a future 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, won the race three times in Ferraris during that span with his co-driver Olivier Gendebien, and a fourth time with co-driver Georges Berger.It’s a rich part of Ferrari history worth remembering, and the F12 TDF pays proper homage. In keeping with that racing heritage, the F12 TDF has several performance enhancements over the F12 Berlinetta on which it is based. Aerodynamics are improved with a competition-inspired front splitter, as well as a longer and higher rear spoiler. Racing-derived strakes on the underbody channel air. Louvres on the quarter-panels extract air from the wheelwell, improving efficiency, and the rear diffuser incorporates active flaps to aid stability at speed. The F12 TDF saw the debut of Ferrari’s Virtual Short Wheelbase system, which utilizes an active rear axle to allow the wheels to pivot around a vertical axis. As Ferrari explained it, “The Virtual Short Wheelbase improves the car’s responsiveness to make it feel more agile, with instantaneous turn-in that can be best appreciated on twisty roads and on more technically challenging tracks while, at the same time, improving stability at high speed.”