Imagine that you are handed the keys to four iconic, “modern classic” Ferraris, then given the run of the marque’s private Fiorano racetrack in Modena on which to test their mettle—and yours. As unlikely as it might sound, this is no mere pipe dream, but the essence of Ferrari’s Corso Pilota Classiche program. On offer is professional instruction in the art of driving iconic Ferraris from the 1960s to the 1990s, which many enthusiasts have now come to see as a golden age of manual transmissions, raw power, and visceral driving thrills.
Experiencing them firsthand on the same track where they were originally tested and perfected is beyond compare. Even more so because the Corso Pilota Classiche program is operated by Ferrari’s own highly-esteemed Classiche division, which protects the heritage of classic Ferraris by offering exclusive services for owners including restoration, maintenance, and a highly coveted, official Certificate of Authenticity that both verifies a Ferrari’s originality and “enhances its economic and historical value.”
With Corso Pilota Classiche, “The idea is that, like entering into a time machine, we go back a few decades in order to experience how much Ferrari has always been at the peak of automotive technology, in the past as well as today,” says Ferrari Classiche head Andrea Modena. Each of the cars in the program—the 365 GTB4 “Daytona,” 308 GTB, 3.2 Mondial and 550 Maranello, all from Ferrari Classiche’s own collection and maintained in like-new condition—represents a pivotal moment in the brand’s evolution.
Prior to the establishment of Corso Pilota Classiche, you had to own one of these glorious machines in order to get behind the wheel. In fact, many owners do sign up for the program to get an education in how to drive them properly, with the backdrop of Fiorano lending the occasion an almost sacred feel. Modena offers a unique perspective on Ferrari ownership, explaining that Ferrari owners are more like “custodians,” “because the life of their car will last more than the life of the owner.” Ferrari Classiche plays a pivotal role in keeping historic models on the road forever.
Interestingly, Modena reveals that “Ferrari Classiche is more focused on the future than on the past. Why? Because every single Ferrari produced today will be a classic 20 years from now. [And] maybe in the future, classic cars will become classic earlier because the technology is changing a lot and very, very quickly.” Modern automotive technology has transformed the driving experience with sophisticated electronic aids, advanced automatic transmissions, and myriad computer-controlled systems.
However, historic Ferraris operate on fundamentally different principles, demanding a more engaged and skilled approach from their drivers. As the program emphasizes, “A historic Ferrari is designed in a different way to contemporary ones, and driving it on a track requires decision, sensitivity, and specific techniques.”
During the intensive two-day course, the limited group of Corso Pilota Classiche participants must acquaint themselves with driving techniques that were once considered essential skills due to manual gearboxes, analog controls, and carburetor engines, which “require a level of mechanical sympathy and driving finesse that has largely disappeared from modern motoring. Techniques such as heel-and-toe downshifting and double de-clutching become not merely recommended practices but necessary skills for extracting the full potential from these mechanical masterpieces.”
Professional instructors, many with extensive racing backgrounds, guide drivers through the intricacies of handling classic Ferraris on the fabled Fiorano track. The 365 GTB4 (1968-73), affectionately known by its unofficial “Daytona” moniker, is the most historic of the group, with its front-mounted V12 engine fed by six Weber twin-choke carburetors. The 308 GTB, presented at the Paris and London Motor Shows in 1975 and designed by the legendary Pininfarina, features a naturally aspirated V8 engine and then-revolutionary fiberglass bodywork.
The 3.2 Mondial (1985-89)—with its larger and more powerful 3.2-liter V8, 5-speed manual synchromesh gearbox, and mechanical steering—is becoming ever more highly prized by collectors. As is the 550 Maranello, introduced in 1996, which, with a longitudinal-front V12 engine and rear-wheel drive configuration, hits a top speed of 199 mph, an impressive feat to this day.
Classiche program takes place. (Ferrari)
The Fiorano Circuit, as any Ferraristi can tell you, serves as more than merely a test track; it represents a hallowed location in Italian automotive history, having been personally commissioned by Enzo Ferrari in 1971 to wind through the fields surrounding his private residence. More than 50 years later, all Ferrari models continue to undergo development and testing there, and as you can imagine, access is strictly controlled.
As well as the actual driving experience, the Corso Pilota Classiche program includes a guided tour of the Ferrari factory in nearby Maranello, including the Classiche department, its restoration workshop, and the impeccable, important historical archive that preserves original drawings, assembly sheets, manuals, manufacturing specifications, and detailed drawings for every Ferrari ever built.
The treasure trove enables the Classiche department to preserve Ferrari design heritage across decades, providing an invaluable resource with numerous applications for both historical study and the future. And Ferrari Classiche is fittingly located on the site of Ferrari’s first foundry, where the company’s famous V12 engine first came into existence.
All of which adds up to Corso Pilota Classiche being the experience of a lifetime. For all those who’ve ever dreamed of driving a Prancing Horse as Enzo himself intended, this is your invitation to grab the wheel, shift gear, mash the accelerator, hear the engine roar, and truly step back in time.
This article originally appeared in Maxim’s Winter 2025 issue.
