Luxury sports car maker Ferrari announced Wednesday that it will compete in sailing competitions, teaming up with Italian offshore racing sailor Giovanni Soldini as team principal.
An icon of motorsport with its uninterrupted presence in Formula 1 since the inception of this world championship in 1950, Ferrari also returned last year to the Hypercar elite of power racing and Le Mans.
“In addition to racing on circuits around the world, Ferrari is now embarking on this new adventure focused on its technological know-how,” the company said in a statement.
Ferrari won the Formula 1 drivers’ championship in 2007 and the constructors’ championship in 2008.
The company said it would rely on “cutting-edge technologies throughout the entire cycle, from conception and engineering to realisation” of the boat.
“The search for maximum performance at sea will generate innovations and concrete solutions for sustainability that, in line with Ferrari’s tradition, will be an important stimulus in the evolution of its sports cars,” it said in the statement.
Earlier this week, Soldini, 57, and Italian automaker Maserati from Stellantis announced the end of their 11-year collaboration in shipping.
Soldini is a veteran with more than 30 years of solo and crewed ocean racing, two solo round-the-world racing.
“I’m very happy to start this new adventure with Ferrari. We are executing a vital, cutting-edge task with incredible technological potential,” Soldini said in the statement.
The new assignment from Ferrari president John Elkann would expand Ferrari’s “racing soul. “
“With this new competitive challenge, driven by our ability to innovate and our commitment to sustainability, we will push the boundaries of existing boundaries,” said Elkann, who is also chairman of Stellantis.