Mauro Forghieri, born January 1935, one of the great names in Ferrari history and an engineer genius, passed away, aged 87. RIP. Marcel Massini
What a life, what achievements! R.I.P. Ingegnere. https://sfcriga.com/mauro-forghieri-the-last-of-the-total-engineers
A real genius, a true contributor to Ferrari’s success, RIP Ingeniere. I am reading his book, written with Daniele Buzzonetti, Forghieri on Ferrari, 1947 to Present. It is filled with anecdotes, blueprints… A must read if you want to fully comprehend the legacy he has left at Ferrari but also in Motorsport in general!
A fantastic engineer and a great interviewee, spent hours with him in 2007 at Oral Engineering for an FML article. It was a major honor to have that opportunity. One of the absolute key people in the saga. RIP Sir.
I was fortunate to see the evolution of all of his 312 designs race in person, in period - 312B series all, 312T series all, 312PB. Brilliant designs both technically and aesthetically. A fine engineering mind, conceptually thoughtful, and, reading his interviews, a principled man. Ferrari legend - to be fondly remembered with great respect.
Very sad news. Ing. Mauro Forghieri was a wonderful, charismatic genius of a man who contributed massively to Ferrari's success over very many years. Such a gentleman too. He will be missed by many. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/63484290
I am just one of his many fans. I started writing to him with technical questions years ago about some of the fantastic Ferraris he designed, and oversaw the design of, and he always replied. How amazing is that! Each and every reply from him was so exciting and satisfying to receive.Thank you, Ing. Forghieri for all your great help. As well as the genius he was, he really was such a nice, helpful and likeable man. RIP, Ing. Forghieri.
Sad News. RIP Ingeniere. https://www.gazzettadimodena.it/modena/cronaca/2022/11/02/news/modena-addio-a-mauro-forghieri-aveva-87-anni-1.100131983
I remember reading in a book (I can’t find which one) that Ingeniere Forghieri had the idea of the « angled rear wing » on the 312T2 while having lunch. He saw the tail of the fish in his plate and thought that must be an aerodynamic shape. Does this story ring a bell to anyone ? Image Unavailable, Please Login
What is little known is that around 1961 when Dallara was briefly at Ferrari they shared an office: two young geniuses: talk about IQ through the roof! I also interviewed Dallara in the spring of 2007 at his company headquarters in Varano. He had TWO trains of though running parallel in his mind. One slow one for the pen pusher across the desk (Moi) and another, mumbled, talking to himself, like a high speed train, which seemed to exist between his hands in his lap. Well Forghieri was like that, poly everything. At a dinner of the circolo Della biella in Early 2006 just south of Modena, Adolfo Orsi junior very kindly arranged for me to sit next to Ingegnere Forghieri. Well my Italian back then was nearly non existent but near the end of the dinner he said one more glass of Lambrusco and you'll speak perfect Italian. That is when I knew he would be an outstanding interviewee! A year later it was arranged.
Was lucky enough to pick up a signed copy. It will go next to Dal Monte's signed biography of Enzo. He brought Ferrari out of the doldrums and returned them to technical prominence and winning.
The day I interviewed him, mid September 2007 at Oral Engineering his company near Modena. A day I will never forget. Photos copyright me. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Sad news indeed - though not unexpected. 'Furia' was a complex man - alternately frenzied, friendly, straightforward, outspoken, sometimes manipulative, formidable, entertaining, aggressive, sometimes very humorous, offputting, engaging, then dismissive - above all one of the most significant technicians of automotive history, and especially so of motor racing history...a truly colourful, charismatic, often hugely impressive man. Unpredictable to the last. Prof Gordon Murray tells a lovely story of accepting an invitation to judge a concours, I think at the Villa d'Este, Como, in Italy, in part because Forghieri would be a fellow judge there. A Ferrari Dino 20SP (one of Gordon's all-time favourite cars) was entered, and when they reached this little jewel Gordon turned to Mauro, professed his love of the design, and said "...you must be very proud of it". But Mauro just turned his nose up, and growled "Noooo - there was no time, only eight or ten weeks" then added, pointing at each item in turn "Engine - not good enough!" - "Gearbox - not good enough!" - "Chassis! Was sheet!" - "Sospensione! Was sheet!...". On the other hand - as he told me with a modest shrug - he was to the end of his jam-packed life proud of the Ferrari 330P4, of the 312PBs, and of the 312T. I last saw him in January 2019 when our mutual friend Franco Lombardi and I visited him at his home in the village of Magreta (just outside Modena) and spent several hours with him there that morning before driving the 4 miles or so to the Ca' del Rio restaurant in Casinalbo, for lunch. Then back to Mauro's house within its extensive grounds at Magreta. When we first sat down at our restaurant table, a very pretty waitress delivered the lunch menus. While Franco and I were studying them, Mauro was having an animated conversation, punctuated by much laughter and smiles, with this charming girl. Their conversation and banter went on for several minutes before Franco said "Errr, Ingegnere...perhaps we should order?". At which Mauro just spread his hands wide, and replied "Aaaah no hurry..." - indicating our waitress, standing there with one hand on her hip, smiling at what was evidently a daily encounter, while patiently shaking her head ever so slightly - "Let's just relax - and admire the view". Genuinely - a charmer, and clearly welcomed as one of the resident restaurant family's regulars. Actually a heart warming memory. RIP. Addio Ingegnere - e molto grazie! DCN
