Ferrari 857S chassis number 0578M personifies, if an inanimate object can personify anything, Italian road racing. Just once during its first season did it compete abroad and, while its first race was on the purpose built circuit of Monza, it is on the open roads, blasting through Sicilian villages or up spectator-lined mountains in the Valle d'Aosta region that one pictures the four-cylinder engined, evocatively shaped two seater. Driven by some of the greatest sportscar drivers of the period including Castellotti, Gendebien, Maglioli, de Portago, Trintignant and Phil Hill, 0578M was rebuilt as part of Ferrari's attempt to challenge Mercedes-Benz in 1955, competing in the Tourist Trophy and Targa Florio before racing at Buenos Aires and Sebring the following season, finishing second in Argentina. Ian Wagstaff began writing motor racing reports in the early 1970s, having started work in the production department of 'Motor Sport' magazine. He went on to become Press Officer at Silverstone circuit towards the end of that decade. He has been a freelance journalist since 1986, writing for The Economist Intelligence Unit and Financial Times Automotive Division as well as the motor racing press.