Arturo Merzario to be honored with the 2027 Mauro Forghieri Award
A fitting and well-deserved tribute awaits Arturo Merzario. The former Ferrari driver, who at 83 years of age still regularly puts on his racing suit and helmet, has been selected as the recipient of the 2027 Mauro Forghieri Award. The prestigious recognition will be presented during next year’s edition of the Motor Valley Fest in Formigine.
The announcement was made last Saturday during an event dedicated to celebrating the memory of Mauro Forghieri, one of the most influential and respected figures in the history of international motorsport. Mario Vecchi, who created the award together with the late Giulio Ciceri, officially confirmed that the 2027 honor will go to Arturo Merzario, a driver who shared both a professional relationship and a deep friendship with the legendary Italian engineer.
A tribute to the legacy of Mauro Forghieri
The Mauro Forghieri Award was established following the passing of the renowned Modena-born engineer to preserve his memory and highlight the extraordinary professional and personal legacy he left behind.
Previous recipients have included renowned Formula 1 photographer Ercole Colombo, legendary engineer Giampaolo Dallara, and Franco Antoniazzi, who partnered with Mauro Forghieri at Oral Engineering after their shared experiences at Ferrari and Lamborghini.
Formigine continues to strengthen its role within the Motor Valley Fest as the city most closely associated with the memory of what many consider the “Leonardo da Vinci of Motorsport.” Mauro Forghieri earned that reputation because he was one of the rare engineers capable of designing an entire racing car from start to finish, down to the smallest mechanical detail.
The special bond between Merzario and Forghieri
Throughout their careers, Arturo Merzario and Mauro Forghieri shared countless memorable experiences, many of which have become part of Formula 1 folklore.
One of the most famous stories dates back to 1973. At the time, the original Ferrari 312 B3 designed by Sandro Colombo, featuring the first monocoque chassis built in Great Britain by Thompson, had proven to be a major disappointment. Dissatisfied with the project, Enzo Ferrari turned to Mauro Forghieri, who had effectively been sidelined from the main design department, and asked him to create a completely new car.
What followed has since become one of the most celebrated episodes in Ferrari’s history.
Forghieri, Merzario and a pair of mechanics set off from Modena in a Fiat 131, towing a Formula 1 car on a trailer. Their destination was Zeltweg, the Austrian circuit that would soon host the Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Before their departure, Enzo Ferrari delivered a clear and uncompromising message to Mauro Forghieri.
“I will be waiting for a phone call,” said the Commendatore to Forghieri. “Only if the car achieves a certain lap time. Otherwise, I do not want to see it back in Maranello, because it will never be a Ferrari.”
On the fast Austrian circuit nestled among the hills of Styria, Arturo Merzario needed only a handful of laps to meet the target set by Enzo Ferrari.
While Merzario relaxed in the pit lane enjoying yet another cigarette, Mauro Forghieri made the call that would change the future of the project.
“Engineer, we have a Ferrari…”
With that simple sentence, the fate of the new 312 B3 was sealed.
The two men returned to Maranello and began preparing the revised Ferrari for its competitive debut. That moment marked the beginning of a new chapter for the Scuderia, helping Ferrari regain the level of competitiveness and prestige that many felt the team deserved within the Formula 1 paddock.
A recognition that goes beyond racing results
The decision to award Arturo Merzario the 2027 Mauro Forghieri Award carries significance beyond statistics and race results. It celebrates a generation of drivers and engineers who helped shape Formula 1 through passion, ingenuity and determination.
Merzario’s name remains closely linked to some of the sport’s most remarkable stories, while his friendship with Mauro Forghieri represents one of the many human connections that contributed to Ferrari’s rich history.
When the award is presented in Formigine next year, it will not only honor Arturo Merzario’s career but also serve as another reminder of the enduring legacy left behind by Mauro Forghieri, one of the greatest engineering minds Formula 1 has ever known.
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