355 Mandarina Duck F355 - “First Race Win for Ferrari 355 in the World?”

1994 Macau Supercar Grand Prix (Nov. 20 1994.)


https://www.f1grandprixdriversclub.com/the-three-musketeers-in-hong-kong/




“Charles also created a ripple in the Ferrari ranks when he ran one of the first Ferrari 355’s at the Macau GT race in 1994 and won the race outright.

It was the first race win for a Ferrari 355 anywhere in the World.”



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Kwan leading the GT race at Macau in 1994. Note how tight the Melco Hairpin was that caught out many drivers
“Charles Kwan was invited to Europe to thanks to his success in the Asian Porsche Cup series and drove at Hockenheim before returning to Hong Kong.

 

Probably not what the 964 guys wanted to hear .



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Ferrari 355 mentioned by announcer @5:00 min mark.

 

Would love to know the VIN. It is also a RHD car.


I also believe it is mistakenly misidentified as a challenge car. It’s a bit too early to be a legitimate 355 challenge. To my eyes, it is a standard Berlinetta fitted with certain challenge parts found primarily in 348 Michelotto prepped cars. Shop (Italian Motors Hong Kong) who prepped the car probably contacted Michelotto for a few go-fast parts.

*Super early version Challenge Speedline wheels (rare.) mostly seen on 348 GT competiziones built by Michelotto.
* 348 Challenge roll cage
* F40 LM brakes

* No challenge OMP seats
* No challenge bumpers
* No challenge tow hook

 

https://www.the-spin-off.com/news/stories/The-Brands-How-Mandarina-Duck-continues-to-think-ahead-of-time-18036#:~:text=Mandarina%2520is%2520entirely%2520designed%2520and,to%2520%E2%82%AC160%2520at%2520retail.



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If there’s footage of the 355, it would be here:

https://www.dukevideo.com/prd5560DA/Macau-GP-1994-Duke-Archive-DVD


Didn’t see anything in the trailer. Just remember, there were different classes/races that day … touring, Supercar, F3 … etc..

 

I downloaded the vid .


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Apparently, that’s a Ruf Yellowbird.


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… or maybe it isn’t?

 

Upon closer inspection, the rear quarter does have Naca ducts, but it’s not a RuF Yellowbird. I looked into further and it’s a high-end build by Jun Auto in Japan. Probably just as formidable though. Jun Auto is right up there with HKS. 500ps with an additional 50ps boost button.



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Kevin Wong did in fact use a RuF Yellowbird the following year (1995) against the Ferrari F50, hence the association and common misidentification.

 

Jun Auto’s signature color is yellow as well, so the car wasn’t trying to be a fake yellowbird. Mere coincidence.

 

Jun Auto wasn’t playin’ around in the 90’s.




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For those who don’t want to bother downloading the vid, it was a close race between the F355 and Jun Auto 964 with a couple of lead changes. Second (911 RSR) and third place (NSX) weren’t even close.

How the 355 managed to keep pace with a 500ps car at god knows how much less weight is a feat in itself. Jun Auto 964 ended up crashing, hence it did not place.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v6tVUbowB5Af4KqOhYEc_owZEUCgN6ZP/view?usp=drivesdk