The Ferrari Daytona SP3 – The most beautiful supercar 2022
Earlier in the year the Ferrari Daytona SP3 was awarded the ‘Grand Prize: Most Beautiful Supercar 2022’ by a panel of expert judges at the 37th Paris Automobile International. This prestigious annual award is held to pay tribute to the sports car chosen by a panel of influential personalities from the world of motoring for its design and aesthetic beauty.
The design of the Ferrari Daytona SP3, a limited-edition car that joins the ‘Icona’ series, is a harmonious interplay of contrasts, sublimely sculptural, voluptuous surfaces alternating with the kind of sharper lines that revealed the burgeoning importance of aerodynamics in the design of ‘60s and ‘70s racers such as the 330 P4, 350 Can-Am and 512 S. The bold choice of a ‘Targa’ body with a removable hard top was also inspired by the sports prototype world: consequently, the Ferrari Daytona SP3 not only delivers exhilarating driving pleasure but also usable performance.
Ferrari Icona
The Ferrari ‘Icona’ series was launched in 2018 with the Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2, which were inspired by the competition barchettas of the 1950s that helped earn the marque its legendary status in motorsport with a string of prestigious victories. The ‘Icona’ series celebrates Ferrari history by reinterpreting the timeless styling of the marque’s most iconic cars to radically modern effect using the most innovative materials and technologies available today.
The idea of taking inspiration from a particular time in history, which lies at the core of the Icona concept, goes much further than merely reusing styling cues from the past. Rather the aim is to distil the very essence of an era and using it as a spring board to create new concepts that themselves are unique enough to become icons for future generations. The ‘Icona’ cars all boast exclusive solutions not seen in the rest of the range and are aimed solely at Ferrari’s top clients and collectors, proud ambassadors for the Prancing Horse marque.
Inspired by the legendary victories of Maranello’s sports prototypes
On February 6th 1967, Ferrari pulled off one of the most spectacular feats in its entire history when it took the top three places at the 24 Hours of Daytona in the first round of that year’s International World Sports Car Championship. The three cars that shot past the chequered flag in that legendary side-by-side finish on Ford’s home turf – in first place a 330 P3/4, in second a 330 P4 and in third a 412 P – represented the pinnacle of development of the Ferrari 330 P3, a model that chief engineer Mauro Forghieri had significantly improved in each of the three racing car fundamentals: engine, chassis and aerodynamics. The 330 P3/4 perfectly encapsulated the spirit of the sports prototypes of the 1960s, a decade now considered the golden era of closed wheel racing and an enduring reference point for generations of engineers and designers.
The name of the new Icona evokes that legendary 1−2−3 finish and pays homage to the Ferrari sports prototypes that helped earn the marque its unparalleled motor sport status.
The Ferrari Daytona SP3 sports a naturally-aspirated V12, mid-rear-mounted in typical racing car style. Undisputedly the most iconic of all Maranello’s engines, this power unit delivers 840 cv – making it the most powerful engine ever built by Ferrari – along with 697 Nm of torque and maximum revs of 9500 rpm. The chassis is built entirely from composite materials using Formula 1 technologies that have not been seen in a road car since the LaFerrari, Maranello’s last supercar. The seat is an integral part of the chassis to reduce weight and guarantee the driver a driving position similar to that of a competition car.
Lastly, just like the cars that inspired it, the aerodynamic research and design focused on achieving maximum efficiency purely using passive aero solutions. Thanks to unprecedented features, such as chimneys that extract low-pressure air from the underbody, the Ferrari Daytona SP3 is the most aerodynamically efficient car ever built by Ferrari without resorting to active aero devices. Because of the clever integration of these technical innovations, the car can accelerate from zero to 100km/h in 2.85s and from zero to 200km/h in just 7.4s: exhilarating performance, an extreme set-up, and the intoxicating V12 soundtrack deliver completely unparalleled driving pleasure.
