22 July 2022
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Top Marques Ferrari 333SP 'Momo' - Daytona 24 Hours 1998
PRICE: £105.99
REF NO: TOP 4324D
SCALE: 1/43
There will always be a special place in my heart (and my model collection) for examples of Ferrari's 1990s prototype. First raced in 1994, the 333SP was originally built by Dallara (later by Michelotto) and used Ferrari's then current V12 F1 engine, slightly detuned for endurance racing. Usually described as the marque's most recent sports car racing protoype, this phrase is now redundant with the recent sighting at Fiorana of the new Le Mans Hypercar during its first test for the 2023 season.
So, now onto Ferrari's last top-flight win - the 1998 Daytona 24 Hours, in the hands of the late Gianpiero Moretti's famous Momo-sponsored team. The unmistakable red and yellow livery has been much-admired at all the big endurance races over many years, but this was its finest hour.
Having come heart-breakingly close in 1996 (less than a minute behind the winning Riley & Scott prototype), the team of four drivers, including Moretti himself, finally took the flag in first place two years later, chased home by four Porsche 911s (a mix of GT1s and GT2s), albeit all several laps behind. The form couldn't be repeated at Le Mans a few months later, but the 333SP's place in sports car racing history was assured with the performances in Florida.
Top Marques resincast replica is a true masterpiece and compares very favourably against the cheaper diecast in my collection (see the March 2021 issue, pages 38 and 39). The detailing is excellent with a beautiful finish, to that glorious, red paintwork, and the decal replication is fabulous, with the team's famous yellow flashes superbly applied, as well as the myriad of sponsor logos.
Limited to just 500 pieces worldwide, this is really a truly gorgeous replica and certainly deserves a place in your collection.