www.QV500.com - Ferrari F40 Part 4: F40 LM - 1995 BPR GT Championship
 

74045, Montlhery 1000km
After the BPR GT Championship's successful inauguration year in 1994, several top teams were attracted by the prospect of quality GT racing for 1995. With several high profile customers convincing McLaren to build a limited run of F1 GTR's and several Ferrari's set to take part, GT racing looked like it was heading for a return to greatness. After one of Michelotto's F40 GT's had run well in 1994 (chassis 90001), the RFR Sport outfit were convinced that Ferrari's ageing F40 LM could prove itself a competitive entry - even against state of the art McLaren's.
   

Run under the Pilot Aldix banner throughout 1995, chassis 74045 had originally been one of Ferrari's F40 prototypes (explaining its very early chassis number) and was later rebuilt by Michelotto to LM specification for Rene Herzog. Delivery took place in May 1992 but the car wasn't subsequently raced until RFR bought it from Herzog in anticipation of contesting a full seasons racing in BPR. However, difficulty sourcing enough spares meant the team were forced to miss Round 1 of the championship in Jerez. Paul Ricard hosted Round 2 where Michel Ferte unfortunately retired after just six laps having qualified an impressive sixth. At Monza, Ferte went even quicker, putting 74045 third on the grid behind Ferrari Club Italia's pole-starting F40 GTE and the West Competition McLaren. Reliability problems prevented the Ferrari from making the finish, a broken fuel pump starving its engine of fuel. Ferte then qualified fourth for the Jarama 4 Hours, only to be disqualified.

After starting second at the Nurburgring, 74045 once again retired in what was fast becoming a frustrating season for the all-French team. Absent from Donington, the results didn't improve at Montlhery's 1000km race where crash damage and engine woes again forced them out of the running. Things came good at Sweden's Anderstorp 4 Hours though where, having started from pole, Ferte and Thevenin took a historic victory from the McLaren's of West Competition and Gulf Racing. Normal service was resumed at Suzuka for the 1000km race where after qualifying a fine third, 74045 went out with electrical problems. Silverstone's Empire Trophy yielded another grand result after the RFR car started way back on the grid. Ferte and Thevenin were joined by Italian Onofrio Russo, the trio recovering to place second overall. This was the cars final hurrah for 1995 as the Nogaro 4 Hours ended in disappointment, the RFR LM retiring after starting seventh.

 
Rd. Race Drivers Team Chassis Result
2 Paul Ricard 4 Hours Ferte / Thevenin Pilot Aldix Racing 74045 DNF
3 Monza 4 Hours Ferte / Thevenin Pilot Aldix Racing 74045 DNF
4 Jarama 4 Hours Ferte / Thevenin Pilot Aldix Racing 74045 DSQ
5 Nurburgring 4 Hours Ferte / Thevenin Pilot Aldix Racing 74045 DNF
7 Montlhery 1000km Ferte / Thevenin Pilot Aldix Racing 74045 DNF
8 Anderstorp 4 Hours Ferte / Thevenin Pilot Aldix Racing 74045 1st
9 Suzuka 1000km Ferte / Thevenin Pilot Aldix Racing 74045 DNF
10 Silverstone 4 Hours Ferte / Thevenin / Russo Pilot Aldix Racing 74045 2nd
11 Nogaro 4 Hours Ferte / Thevenin / Mondini Pilot Aldix Racing 74045 DNF