Simpson-Ferrari V12 GTR

On offer here is an extremely interesting, one-off opportunity to acquire a car with a fascinating story to tell, born out of the strong relationship between UK-based Simpson Motorsport and the Ferrari factory in the 1990s/early 2000s. The car is featured in Keith Bluemel’s well-researched tome ‘Ferrari F40: a comprehensive look at one of Ferrari’s greatest and most revered cars’. We quote a couple of paragraphs taken from page 123 and some of Stefano Sebastiani’s personal recollections explaining the history of the car and how it came about:

“In the UK, a chassis tub was radically modified by Simpson Motorsport for a client, Stefano Sebastiani, in 2001. This project has an interesting history starting when Simpson Motorsport ran for Stefano Sebastiani his Ferrari 348 LM, chassis 95450, in endurance races between 1993 and 1995, including two Le Mans 24 Hours entries in 1993 and 1994. Through its racing with the 348 LM, Simpson and Sebastiani formed a strong relationship with Mr. Felisa of the Ferrari Factory and it wouldn’t be unreasonable to say that probably led to the production of the Michelotto-built 348 Competizione and 348 GTC/LM models during 1994.”

“Stefano Sebastiani had a very strong racing relation with Robin Simpson Smith since the early eighties when he moved to England from Italy. Robin ran and drove for Sebastiani his Chevron B36 ex-Randaccio, his Simpson Group 6 Cosworth, his March 81/7 ex-Danny Sullivan and Teo Fabi, the 348 LM and finally the Simpson Ferrari F40 V12.

The opportunity to build up the Simpson-Ferrari V12 came to Robin and Stefano, after Sebastiani was offered in Maranello by his friend Silvano Toni, to buy an original, post crash-test, F40 chassis.

This was financially a very costly operation but Sebastiani managed to do it and through this amicable working relationship with Robin Smith of Simpsons, they built up a unique race car, but rather than follow the V8 twin-turbo route of the standard car, they installed a normally-aspirated type F133 V12 Ferrari 550 Maranello engine, mated to a Hewland transmission. Apart from this departure from the original design, the project featured, amongst other things, much-lightened F40 GTE-style bodywork, a full FIA roll-cage, 11in-width x 18in-diameter front wheels, 12.5in-width x 18in-diameter rear wheels, and custom-made suspension. The car was further upgraded in 2005 with the fitment of a Hewland NLT six-speed sequential transmission.”

World Champion Mauro Baldi, who drove the car at the 6 Hours of Vallelunga with Richard Jones and Fabio Montani said, “What a nice and quick car to drive. Much better than the turbo original car!”

Once built, the V12 GTR was subsequently campaigned at various events in the UK and Europe (see period results below). After these years of competition, the car has been dry stored and well looked after and, in 2023, it was removed from storage and shaken down at Turweston Airfield, subsequently being fully checked and gone through by Simpson Motorsport. Having been to see the car recently, we can confirm that it sounds as good as it looks and the car is potentially eligible for various high-profile events around the world including Masters, CSCC, HSR etc. Simpson Motorsport have confirmed that they are happy to provide technical assistance to the new buyer if required.

Accompanying the car is a history file containing drawings and specification details relating to its original build, a number of relevant invoices, and its UK V5C confirming that it’s road-registered as a ‘Simpson Ferrari GTR’ with the UK registration number, ‘J848 JUY’. According to the aforementioned reference work ‘Ferrari F40’ “The car was registered as a Simpson Ferrari GTR, with a Simpson chassis number – SEoGL1576AD45659. The ‘SE’ part of this VIN code refers to Simpson Engineering, whilst the ‘GL15’ is part of the company’s postcode.”

Offered at a fraction of the likely asking price for an F40 LM, this remarkable V12 GTR is eligible for some of the most prestigious motorsport events across the globe, is road registered, featured in Keith Blumel’s F40 ‘bible’, and has the distinction of being the only V12 example, as well as providing serious performance and an addictive soundtrack.

This is an unrepeatable opportunity and we welcome and encourage your earliest enquiry and to come and see the car in the metal at Silverstone during The Festival.