Ferrari 857S - The remarkable history of 0578M

Ferrari 857S chassis number 0578M personifies, if an inanimate object can personify anything, Italian road racing. During its first season the car mainly competed in its natural habitat, travelling abroad once and, while its first race was on the purpose built circuit of Monza, it is on the open roads, blasting through Sicilian villages or up spectator-lined mountains in the Valle d’Aosta region that one pictures this four-cylinder engined, evocatively shaped two seater. Driven by some of the greatest sportscar drivers of the period including Hawthorn, Castellotti, Gendebien, Maglioli, de Portago, Trintignant and Phil Hill, 0578M was rebuilt as part of Ferrari’s attempt to challenge Mercedes-Benz in 1955, competing in the Tourist Trophy and Targa Florio before racing at Buenos Aires and Sebring the following season, finishing second in Argentina.

• Records a significant, yet unusual, period in which Ferrari used four-cylinder engines, not only to win the World Drivers’ Championship but also in an attempt to remain competitive in sportscar racing.
• Chronicles the full racing history of 0578M including its time as a factory entry and subsequent seasons when it competed in privateer hands both ‘Down Under’ and in Scandinavia.
• Handsomely illustrated with evocative, period photos, plus a gallery of superb photographs of the car today, restored as it was at the 1956 12-hours of Sebring.
• Includes profiles of all those who raced it, from serial Le Mans 24-hours winners to enthusiastic independents.

Specification

ISBN: 978-1-913089-08-5

The author – Ian Wagstaff

Ian Wagstaff began his career in the offices of Motor Sport and Motoring News before becoming Press and Promotions Manager at Silverstone Circuit. He went on to be an editor in the trade press. He has been working freelance since 1986, writing for the motor-racing press, plus automotive trade and business publications. Ian has won a number of awards for his work and is twice winner of the Guild of Motoring Writers Montagu of Beaulieu Trophy for his books. He is also a past winner of the Motorworld Book Prize (Motorsport category) for his first book in the Porter Press Great Cars series which covered the story of the 1970 Le Mans-winning Porsche 917.