Ferrari plans massive new Formula One factory
New Maranello base should be ready prior to 2015 F1 season
By: Quentin Spurring on October 25, 2013
LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC - Ferrari and driver Fernando Alonso, shown here in practice on Friday, will have a new-look home base at Maranello in 2015.
Ferrari is preparing to build a new state-of-the-art Formula One factory at its Maranello headquarters near Bologna, Italy, according to a report in a German newspaper.
Bild reports that the dedicated factory will have three stories to accommodate about 700 staff working exclusively on F1. It will be ready for them several months before the start of the 2015 season.
Ferrari's Grand Prix racing operation is currently housed in three separate buildings, one including the administrative offices and design departments, another the chassis and powertrain manufacturing and race-car assembly functions, and the third the powertrain test benches. Ferrari recently completed a major renovation of its 15-year-old wind tunnel, and is commissioning a new driver simulator.
The new project has been revealed at a time when Ferrari's racing division is rumored to be looking at a Le Mans Prototype project to maximize use of the “hybrid” 1.6-liter turbocharged V6 powertrain it is developing for F1 next season.
Company founder Enzo Ferrari was granted planning permission to build a small workshop in Maranello back in 1942. The company's facility there now comprises 45 buildings, covering almost 3 million square feet and housing more than 3,000 workers in total.