Ferrari 857S. The remarkable history of 0578M, Hardback

Description

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.

Ferraro 857S

• 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 sports car 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.
• Features 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.

Freelance journalist Ian Wagstaff won the Mercedes Benz Montagu of Beaulieu Trophy for his book, The British at Le Mans. He wrote for Autosport and Motoring News before becoming press and promotions manager at Silverstone in the late 1970s. His current work for Racecar Engineering, Race Engine Technology, Performance Racing Industry, The Paddock, The Red Bulletin and Auto Technology takes him to races throughout Europe and the USA, including the Indianapolis 500.