“To build an exceptional product you need exceptional people, who are given an excellent environment in which to work,” maintained President Montezemolo. “This is what we have at Ferrari, where everyone works as part of the same team, in an atmosphere which merges culture and tradition with the future and innovation. This is what makes Ferrari one of the most prestigious companies in the world.

“In 1997, we put in hand the creation of a true Ferrari Village at Maranello. It’s aim was to give our staff the best possible working conditions. The best way to go about this was to put people at the very heart of the project, hence the name Formula Uomo. It is symbolised best by the tree lined road, via Enzo Ferrari, inside which runs the entire evolution of the site,” continued Montezemolo. “We decided to create a highly ecological environment with a perfect organisation, which would continually stimulate and motivate those who work here, making it the most innovative factory in this respect.

“We are very pleased with what we have done, because it is the result of unity, passion and determination, based on total innovation and with the maximum attention paid to the workplace, the product, marketing and trends.” Here is a quick glance at the figures: in 2001, the investment in research and development totalled 225 million Euro, equivalent to around 21% of turnover with an increase of 76% over the previous year and it is all self-financing.

“I wish to thank the architects, Visconti, Sturchio and Fuksas who have managed to capture our ideas perfectly,” said the President. “Ferrari communicates through its own products, its cars and not through amazing architectural creations. The project therefore had to stay true to our basic philosophy and I thank the architects for having stuck to that principle. By 2005, both Ferrari and Maserati will be completely new.”

What better occasions to present the next car which will leave the gates of Maranello to arrive in all 43 countries in which Ferrari operates? President Montezemolo actually allowed an early viewing of the Pinifarina designed “Enzo Ferrari,” currently known as the FX project. “Ferrari has already attributed the names Modena and Maranello to its cars, testifying to the Company’s close links to its home town. But we had a dream: to be able to give one of our cars the name of our founder, who had the courage to go out on his own and set up a company. That is also the reason why we decided to put a copy of Enzo Ferrari’s signature inside the car.

“So far we have spoken of the ability to work as a team, of creativity, passion and innovation. This is the basis on which we wish to present the “Enzo,” a car which is unique in the world from every point of view: a twelve cylinder engine which is new in every respect, weight, size, power, ecological credentials, driveability, made entirely from carbon fibre, a gearbox which is right up with the latest evolution in Formula 1, a steering wheel which can control several functions on the car, a car which can beat all 0-100 km/h acceleration figures and top speed records.”

Montezemolo specifically wanted to thank all those who had contributed to the birth of this new car. “First of all, Amedeo Felisa, the Managing Director of the Gestione Granturismo, who is the father of “Enzo,” then Piero Ferrari, who right from the start supported my decision to give the car this name. But also Todt who, along with his crew, above all Schumacher, spent many hours on the development of the car,” said Montezemolo. “I cannot leave out all our partners: Bridgestone who have produced an innovative limited edition tyre; Brembo who produced the brakes (the Enzo will be the first Ferrari fitted entirely with carbon brakes;) Magneti Marelli for the gearbox; OMR who perfected a pedal box which is adjustable to 16 different positions.”