Stunning Ferrari GTs at 2023 Revival | Lavant Cup

09th September 2023

Adam Wilkins

There will never be another race like the 2023 Lavant Cup presented by Sky Cinema. One hundred and ninety two cylinders power the entirety of grid. Yet there are only 16 cars. That's because they're all '60s Ferrari GTs, using a derivation of the legendary Colombo V12 engine. So when they all took to the circuit to duke it out and get their bearings, cars that are rarely seen racing these days contributing to a near-unmatched V12 chorus.

You needed eyes everywhere to make the most of the spectacle for a grid that included a brace of 250 SWBs, a Drogo-bodied special, a couple of LMs, the iconic Breadvan and a select few GTOs. They were joined by a Tour de France and an original 340MM.

Seeing them at speed was a very special spectactle indeed, and the drivers didn't hold back in their quest for glory. Rob Hall got his 250 LM into an early lead before a first-lap spin saw him brush the tyre wall. In the post-race interview, he was still trying to compute exactly what went wrong, commenting "That was the worst two seconds of my life!" He recovered to regain the lead from from Emanuele Pirro, who was having his first ever drive in a 250 GTO. Another one to watch was the 'Breadvan' of Alexander Ames. He started from the back, passed no fewer than eleven cars on a single lap and clawed his way to a podium place.

We also need to give mention to 250 GTO pilot Karun Chandhok. An oil leak caused a flash fire and a spin, but he recovered the car and got it out of harm's way with lightning-quick reactions. He may have lost his chance of a podium finish, but he more than confirmed his mettle in that moment.

To stand out in this field, a car needs to exceptionally special. How about a 250 GT Lusso? Designed as the luxurious grand touring member of the 250 family (lusso being Italian for luxury), it was never intended for competition use. That said, Ferrari did enter the model into the Targa Florio and Tour de France in period. Consequently, seeing one of the elegant grand tourers racing is a rare treat the Revival-goers will enjoy.

Another stand-out member of the grid is the one-off 250 GT SWB ‘Breadvan’, its nickname reflecting its extreme Kamm-tailed bodywork. It was built in 1962 on the basis of a 250 GT Berlinetta SWB, the enhanced aerodynamics intended to aid it chances at the same year’s Le Mans 24 Hours. Sadly driveshaft failure curtailed its assault on the classic endurance race, but the ‘Breadvan’ chalked up class victories at smaller events later the same year.

If we’re asked to pick a favourite car from the 2023 Lavant Cup, it would be the ‘Breadvan’, but we’d understand if you came to a different conclusion.