Not one, but two iconic Ferrari Formula One cars from the legendary turbocharged era of the 1980s are set to wow the crowds at the 2014 two weekend Ferrari Festival at Hampton Downs.

The 1000-plus horsepower flame-spitting machines – 1985 model Ferrari 156/85s – were driven in their day by the late Michele Alboreto and Stefan Johansson in that season’s Grands Prix, with Alboreto heading the points table for most of the year in his best season in F1.

He won the Canadian and German Grands Prix, and was on the podium eight times. Ferrari’s results faded badly in the second half of the season as other emerging drivers took the fight to Alain Prost – but the cars remain amongst the most iconic of the turbo era.

Organisers of the event – which takes place on back-to-back weekends at the Hampton Downs race track on January 17-19 and 24-26 – are hoping that the machines will be demonstrated on both weekends by owner Guido Belgiorno-Nettis and one special guest driver.

“The 1985 Formula One season is widely considered by the F1 community to be one of the best and most exciting of all time,” explained Ferrari Festival chairman Jim Barclay.

“It is the season which saw new names in Formula One really emerge – Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell were just two of the up and coming stars and the likes of Alain Prost, Nikki Lauda and Keke Rosberg were still out there winning. To have two of the most iconic cars from that era of Formula One set to run at an NZ track, and at our event, is obviously very exciting and something we and the fans will look forward to hugely.”

Nettis has owned both cars (chassis 079 and 082) for some time – and they get regular track work outs – as he explained.

“I purchased my first 1985 Ferrari 156/85, chassis number 079, in 1995. As a 1985 Ferrari ‘works’ car, chassis 079 was used in nine races. It was raced as Number  27 when Alboreto drove it and as Number 28 when Johansson drove it.”

The nine races, in chronological sequence, were as follows: – Alboreto drove 079 in the Brazilian GP (2^nd) and Portuguese GP (2^nd), Johansson in the San Marino GP (6^th) and Monaco GP (Retired), Alboreto in the French GP (Retired), Johansson in the British GP (Retired), German GP (9th), Austrian GP (4^th), Dutch GP (Retired).  The car then passed into the private collection of Alboreto’s supporter, Count Zanon, where it remained for ten years until Nettis purchased the car and took it to Australia.  Since then, he has demonstrated 079 at many Australian Historic meetings and now races in it Group R historic events in Australia.

“In 2006 when I bought chassis 082 it had done a Goodwood meeting in 1999 with Alboreto driving it, I believe,” he explained.  This was a new car in 1985 that Johansson drove in practice for the Belgian GP (that race was rescheduled) and at the Canadian GP (2^nd) and US GP (Detroit) (2^nd).

“Before I got 082 in 2006, the car had been mainly static for most of the time previously. When I got the car it carried number 27. I had my mechanics pull it down and prepare it for racing. Overall the car was in OK condition but not race ready. We re-numbered the car from 27 (Alboreto’s number in that season) to 28 which was the number that Stefan raced under.  Alboreto never raced this car so it would not have been 27 unless he was in it! This car has the original seat made by Ferrari with Stefan’s name engraved on it and to me it looks like it was moulded to his body shape. Conveniently it fits me very nicely as well.

“We have done a lot of racing in this car. It has a qualifying engine plus a different suspension package as well as a much bigger aero configuration than the # 27 car (chassis 079) that I also own. It is more set up for shorter tighter circuits and corners as it has more downforce overall. The fans will see this when they see the cars next to each other in 2014 at Hampton Downs.”

The two 1985 turbo cars are not the only Formula One cars organisers are hoping to secure for the event, and they expect to make further announcements in the lead up to the Ferrari Festival.  You can find out more about the Ferrari Festival on www.nzfmr.co.nz

Ferrari 156/85

CHASSIS

Construction:                                                                     Carbon fibre

Max length, width and height:                                   4292/2135/1080 mm

Wheelbase, front and rear:                                         2762/1781.7/1663 mm

Dry weight:                                                                         548 kg

Tyres:                                                                                    25.0-10.0-13 front – 26.0-15 0-13 rear

ENGINE

Cylinders:                                                                            6-cylinders-V- 1 200

Bore and stroke:                                                              81 x 48 4 mm

Displacement:                                                                   1496.4 cc

Crankcase and cylinder head materials:                 Light-alloy, treated aluminium cylinders liners

Compression ratio:                                                          7:.1

Max bhp race:                                                                   780 HP at 11000 rpm (race)

Max bhp qualifying:                                                        950+ HP at 11000 rpm (qualifying)

Distribution:                                                                       4 valves per cylinder, twin overhead

Fuel system:                                                                      Supercharged: 2 lateral KKK turbos

lgnition:                                                                                Single, electronic capacitive discharge