2016 Ferrari F12 TDF

Ferrari SpA revived the moniker Tour de France (TdF) in 2016, the ultimate development of the F12 model as the next generation of limited production track inspired front engine V12 Supercars.

The Tour de France gets its name from the famous ten-day motor race which took place from 1899, interrupted by World War II, rejoined in 1951 and then running through 1986, until ultimately races of this sort were cost prohibitive to run and deemed as unsafe by the FIA.

The character of the Tour de France was like that of Italian cousin events, the Targa Florio and Millie Miglia, very much in the mode of traditional European town to town stage racing around the country.

The route of the race went from Nice to Clermont, to Nancy, into Belgium and then back to Rouen, Le Mans and Pau before doubling back to Nice. A portion of the race even took place in traffic before heading to Corsica for the finish.

From the beginning, the Tour de France featured sports cars, chiefly among them Ferrari which won the event overall no less than thirteen times with models such as the 212 Export, 250 GT, 365 GTB/4 and later in the early 1980s when rules changes mandated the event be run to FIA Group B rally rules (and) 308 GTBs won two consecutive years, 1981 and 1982.
Ferrari was so happy with these results, he went so far as to name one of their brilliant and successful 250 GT Berlinetta models the “Tour de France”. Seventy-seven original Pininfarina designed 250 GT TdFs were built from 1956 through 1959. These were extraordinary limited production 250 GT models featuring well known pontoon fenders and a longer wheel base built mainly to compete in GT category sports car racing around the world. Series I TdFs featured non-louvre models and Series II “14 Louvre” models were built by Scaglietti. More on that later.

Today, the original Ferrari 250 GT “Tour de France” models are among the most highly sought-after collectible Ferraris, fetching well into the tens of millions of dollars at auction and in private sales. So, there you have the history.

Fast forwarding to 2012, Ferrari introduced the fabulous F12 to replace the outgoing 599 GTO model, as the flagship V12 front engined touring coupe. The F12 Berlinlettas were among the first cars to appear that were designed entirely in-house in Maranello utilizing Ferrari’s wind tunnel, computation fluid dynamics (CFD) and co-designed by Pininfarina.

True to Ferrari’s nature and not resting on their laurels, developments and updates were added to the F12. Power was increased to 769BHP and aero aides culminating with the F12 Tour d’France which was introduced as a track car to favored Ferrari clients in 2015 with four-wheel steering, lightened considerably with aluminum bonded frame and chassis with enough carbon fiber composite components inside and out to keep even Kimi Raikkonen happy.

All of the carbon fiber infused tweaks to the F12 resulted in huge gains in the aero department. At 125MPH, for example, the TDF makes double the downforce of a standard F12, no small deal.

The aero changes designed into the car by the Ferrari Styling Center include a larger splitter, dive planes and floor wings and the more prominent Aerobridge, one of the most prominent physical aerodynamic characteristics which channels air off the front bonnet, down the side exiting ahead of the doors in a very sculpted carbon fiber treatment, a hallmark of the F12 series cars.

The traditional tell-tale louvres are more like shark gills atop the rear wheel wells adding to the car’s already menacing looks and a nod to its 1950s predecessor.

After driving the cars, superlatives from journalists and TV presenters ensued. Adjectives that describe the car include “violent”, “intense”, “relentless”, “fighter jet on wheels”, “rocket”. You get the point, it’s fast topping out at 211MPH, only a tick less than the La Ferrari on the Fiorano test track.

We use the expression “racing car for the street” around here a lot and this TdF definitely fits that bill. These cars in the hands of skilled drivers are weapons best used on the race track. The car looks like a carbon fiber sculpture on wheels.