Andretti to be reunited with two Ferraris

Mario Andretti will be reunited with two Ferrari cars which helped shape his career when he plays a central role in the inaugural GPlive event at Donington Park in May.

In addition to getting behind the wheel of the Ferrari 312B, which gave him his first grand prix victory in 1971, the US legend will also meet up with the car which started his passion for grand prix racing over 50 years ago.

The 1971 Ferrari 312B and the ex-Alberto Ascari 1953 Ferrari 500 racers will form part of a stunning display of cars from the Donington Grand Prix Collection which will be demonstrated on track during the weekend-long celebration of grand prix racing. No fewer than seven of the rarest cars from the Museum will be in action, with a further six on display in the GPlive paddock, which will allow Andretti – and fans – a close-up view of the Scuderia's history. In the case of the ex-Ascari car, it will be a machine Andretti has not seen for 54 years.

The two Ferraris both mark important milestones of the incredible Andretti story. Born on the Italian-Yugoslav border in 1940, Mario and twin brother Aldo were penniless refugees when they climbed the fence at Monza in 1953 to watch their hero Ascari win the Italian Grand Prix. After his family emigrated to America in 1955, Andretti made his name in oval racing, before switching to Formula One with the Lotus and STP March teams. He was then invited by Enzo Ferrari to drive for the Scuderia in 1971.

He won the first grand prix of the season, at Kyalami in South Africa, in a three-liter flat-12 Ferrari 312B identical to the car he will demonstrate at GPlive. It was the first of twelve GP victories Andretti scored in the course of his F1 career, culminating in the 1978 world title, which he won with Lotus. He also notched victories in the Indianapolis and Daytona 500s as part of an amazing record that 111 wins in all categories.