At 70, This Man Is Creating A Car In His Name

When race champions turn to car makers there is generally a feeling that they can share a piece of their experiences with ordinary folks.

Legendary two-time F1 champion and 2 time Indianapolis 500 champion Emerson Fittipaldi are putting together a car that will not only carry his legacy by bearing his name but one that also promises great road performance. Named the Fittipaldi EF7 Vision Gran Turismo, the car has the shark as its motif.

This car made its debut at the 2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed and the former champion revealed that it was a dream he held for close to 50 years. The seventy-year-old made history by becoming the youngest man to win the Formula One world championship at 26.

He would follow this with five more wins in 1972 with a special Lotus 72. And now, this man aims to make only 39 of the EF7 cars and he says that they will be so simple that anyone can drive.

“I wanted to make a car that was forgiving and fun to drive for the lady and gentleman driver,” Says the former champion. “I like a big cabin with lots of visibility and I prefer naturally aspirated engines to turbocharging. In a long fast corner, you can control it better on the throttle.”

With a 4.8-liter, V8 engine the bespoke car delivers 600 horsepower. Fittipaldi has engaged the services of renowned racing engineering companies to help deliver this epic vehicle.

Among them is Pininfarina who worked with McLaren on its Formula One participants. These strides will obviously introduce a difference in motor racing by allowing ordinary folks to own cars with super speeds and have some fun on the road.