Based in Maranello in Italy, and founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1939, Ferrari creates vehicles that have long been considered status symbols and signs of achievement – not to mention being one of the most desirable and aesthetically pleasing performance car marques around. However, when a Ferrari zooms by, most people still assume a man will be driving it.

One group of female Ferrari owners challenged this stereotype, by joining Ferrari’s first-ever women’s-only GT Tour at the end of September this year, which saw a total of 13 Ferraris and 26 female guests from different parts of Europe come together to take part in an exhilarating and picturesque three-day road trip in Ibiza.

Indeed, it was the assumption she was driving her husband’s Ferrari (at the time, she was) that prompted entrepreneur Silvia Venturelli, who attended the Women’s Tour driving her own F8 model with her daughter Alice in the passenger seat, to have a Ferrari of her own.

‘I decided I wanted my own Ferrari when I drove my husband’s Ferrari one day, and I got stopped by the police for a check,’ Venturelli says. ‘They said: “This belongs to your husband, right?” and I had to say yes. But in my mind, I had the idea that one day I would say “No, it’s mine”. And now, I’m proud to say I do have my own Ferrari.’

Venturelli particularly enjoyed sharing the trip with her 17-year-old daughter and describes the amazing feeling they had with their Ferrari being part of this special event: ‘We are mother and daughter, and driving our Ferrari F8 in Ibiza was perfect. We’ve never visited Ibiza before, and we really enjoyed exploring the island, not only seeing the coastal roads, but also driving up into the mountains. The organisation of the tour was amazing, as was the setting.’

Alice echoes her mother’s enthusiasm for the trip: ‘Sharing the thrill of a Ferrari with my family is incredible. You can really feel the adrenaline when you’re in the car, and I feel very powerful when I’m in the Ferrari. Not only because of the power of the car, but I myself feel empowered.’

The sense of being part of the Ferrari family, and enjoying the Ferrari experience with their families, is a recurring sentiment among the female owners. As well as being a mum of two teenagers, Linda Sicotte does marketing and supports the Mimosa Foundation, and although she and her husband participate in many Ferrari events together each year, the women’s-only tour was a totally new experience for her. 

‘It’s the first women’s-only Ferrari tour, and finally we can drive the cars the same way without men!’ she explains. ‘I was driving the Ferrari Roma on the trip, which is a very nice car. It’s easy to drive and it handled the winding roads of Ibiza very well.’

Based at the Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay, the tour included dramatic coastal routes with stunning sea views, and inland roads weaving through scenic Ibizan countryside and forests. Every destination on the itinerary was unforgettably unique, with highlights including visiting Los Enamorados, located in the idyllic fishing cove of Portinatx on Ibiza’s northernmost point; lunch at Atzaró beach restaurant, overlooking the sparkling shores of Cala Nova; and exploring Fincadelica, a magical 300-year-old renovated farmstead, designed by Carmen Straatsma as a paradise of nature and tranquillity. The tour also gained ISO 20121 certification – the international standard for sustainable event management – from TÜV NORD Italia, for Ferrari’s commitment to minimising its environmental and social impact.

Each stop enabled guests to relax in the company of their fellow drivers, and after action-packed days of driving in an impressive convoy, group dinners in the evening provided a chance for the women to get to know each other away from their cars.

For Marijke from the Netherlands, her favourite part of the trip was meeting so many inspiring Ferrari women drivers, and she describes the feeling of finally owning her own 488 Pista Spider as ‘insane’.

Another guest, Isabella, knew the all-women guest list was going to make this female-only tour very special: ‘When you are only with women, it is always inspiring. This trip was just fantastic, because as women, we all share the same passion for Ferrari, but we all drive different models, and we talk about different topics.’

And she is a shining example of how hard work, determination and believing in her goal of one day owning a Ferrari have helped her to achieve it: ‘I’ve loved Ferrari since I was 20 years old. I’ve always loved fast cars, and a few years ago I was finally able to buy my own Ferrari. My first Ferrari model was a California, but when I discovered driving on a circuit, I realised the California wasn’t the best car for the circuit. That’s when I got my yellow 488. It’s an amazing car.’

One thing’s for sure – all these women love living life in the fast lane, and whole-heartedly encourage more women to set their sights on owning their own prancing horse and to join future Ferrari female tours.

ferrari.com