Ferrari Corse Clienti: Where Passion Meets Precision on the World’s Greatest Circuits

A behind-the-scenes look at how Ferrari turns ownership into a lifelong motorsport experience

Few programs in motorsport blend passion, performance, and pedigree quite like Ferrari’s Corse Clienti. It’s not just a racing department—it’s a world within Maranello’s walls where the most loyal clients become part of Ferrari’s competitive soul. From historic Formula One machines to the thundering FXX prototypes, Corse Clienti allows private owners to live the dream of driving Ferrari’s most advanced race cars with full factory support.

A Program Born from Passion

Established to bring Ferrari’s racing DNA closer to its customers, Corse Clienti—literally “Racing Clients”—is the official umbrella for every Ferrari-run customer track activity. The department oversees five distinct pillars: Ferrari Challenge, Club Challenge, XX Programmes, F1 Clienti, and Club Competizioni GT. Each offers a different way to experience the brand’s racing culture, from competitive wheel-to-wheel racing to private, non-competitive track testing.

Every element is organized and operated by the same Maranello team that services Ferrari’s factory racing efforts. The cars are maintained by Ferrari technicians, transported globally by dedicated logistics crews, and supported by data engineers, coaches, and even hospitality staff. For participants, it’s not just track time—it’s total immersion into the Ferrari ecosystem.

Ferrari Challenge: The Red Thread of Competition

The Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli remains the beating heart of Corse Clienti. Since its inception in 1993, it has become one of the most successful single-make championships in the world. Divided into regional series—Europe, North America, UK, and Japan—the Challenge offers factory-level competition with identical cars and equal conditions.

The current spec machine, the 296 Challenge, debuted for the 2024–25 season, replacing the venerable 488 Challenge Evo. With its turbocharged V6 hybrid engine and an all-new aerodynamic package, it reflects the technological evolution of Ferrari’s road and race cars. Backed by a bespoke Pirelli tire developed specifically for the model, the 296 Challenge delivers Formula One-inspired feedback to everyday drivers who can afford to race at this level.

The racing itself is intense yet gentlemanly—short, fierce sprint battles where driver skill is the ultimate differentiator. Each season culminates in Finali Mondiali, the world finals where regional champions face off and Ferrari unveils upcoming cars and programs.

Club Challenge: Precision over Position

For those who crave speed but not the stress of door-to-door combat, Ferrari Club Challenge offers a data-driven, time-attack environment. Instead of fighting for podiums, drivers focus on consistency and technique. Ferrari engineers analyze telemetry, offer one-on-one coaching, and track progression across circuits. It’s ideal for owners refining racecraft or seeking an exclusive, structured environment without the pressure of a stopwatch.

F1 Clienti: Owning History

If the Ferrari Challenge represents the brand’s present, F1 Clienti is pure motorsport nostalgia. Since 2003, Ferrari has allowed select clients to purchase and drive retired Formula One cars—from the V10 screamers of the early 2000s to the turbo-hybrid machines of recent years.

Every car remains under Ferrari’s care; the client never touches the setup alone. A dedicated team of mechanics accompanies the owner to each event, ensuring the car runs safely and authentically. Factory drivers—names like Marc Gené, Giancarlo Fisichella, and Davide Rigon—often coach owners on how to master their machines. It’s part ownership, part museum curation, and part adrenaline-soaked fantasy.

XX Programmes: Rolling Laboratories

Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of Corse Clienti is the XX Programmes, where Ferrari invites customers to act as test drivers for limited-run track hypercars such as the FXX, 599XX, and FXX K Evo. These machines are not street legal, nor are they used in racing—they exist solely to push boundaries.

Each XX event doubles as an R&D exercise. Ferrari gathers telemetry from clients’ laps to inform future road and race car development. The owners, in turn, enjoy unparalleled access to Ferrari’s engineering minds, often previewing technologies years before they reach production. It’s a symbiotic relationship—Ferrari gets data; the client gets bragging rights and a taste of the future.

Club Competizioni GT: The Gentleman’s Circuit

Created for owners of Ferrari’s GT race cars—from the F40 Competizione to the 296 GT3—Club Competizioni GT delivers curated non-competitive track events around the world. Participants receive full technical and logistical support, professional driver coaching, and access to exclusive venues. It’s less about racing for trophies and more about celebrating Ferrari’s long GT lineage in a modern, track-ready format.

A Legacy That Never Slows Down

In an era of customer racing programs from brands like Porsche and Lamborghini, Ferrari’s Corse Clienti stands apart in both exclusivity and execution. It’s a living museum, a research lab, and a proving ground—all powered by customer enthusiasm and Ferrari’s racing expertise.

For motorsport enthusiasts, it’s proof that Ferrari hasn’t just commercialized passion—it’s curated it. Every scream of a 2004 F1 car or flash of a 296 Challenge through Eau Rouge reinforces one truth: at Maranello, racing isn’t a pastime. It’s a heritage that never stops evolving, and Corse Clienti is how that legacy stays alive in private hands.