Description

The Ferrari 625 Formula Tasman was a derivative of Ferrari’s mid-1950s single-seaters, adapted for use in the Tasman Series, a championship that ran in Australia and New Zealand during the 1960s. The Tasman Series was created to attract top drivers and teams from Europe during the northern winter months, and its regulations allowed engines of up to 2.5 liters, making it an appealing arena for slightly older Formula One machinery that no longer fit contemporary Grand Prix rules. Ferrari saw an opportunity to adapt some of its proven designs to compete in this increasingly prestigious competition.

The Ferrari 625 originally appeared as a Formula One car in 1954, powered by a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine designed by Aurelio Lampredi. This engine, derived from the earlier 500 F2 unit, produced around 250 horsepower at 7,500 rpm and was known for its reliability and torque. It had been Ferrari’s response to the new 2.5-liter Formula One regulations introduced in 1954, and while it achieved moderate success in Europe, its main impact came later when adapted for other uses.

For the Tasman Series, the Ferrari 625 was modified to meet the specific conditions of racing in Australasia. Circuits in the Tasman championship were often fast, undulating road courses, demanding both durability and strong mid-range power. The 2.5-liter engine capacity was a natural fit for the regulations, and Ferrari’s simple yet robust inline-four was well-suited to the task. Chassis and suspension updates were sometimes made to tailor the cars to local competition, though the overall design remained very similar to the original Formula One configuration.

Ferrari 625s competing in the Tasman Series were often entered by privateers rather than as factory efforts. Local drivers in Australia and New Zealand, as well as some international stars, made use of the cars, which by the early 1960s were no longer competitive in Formula One but remained fast and reliable against the field of machinery in the Tasman races. The cars faced strong opposition from Coopers, Brabhams, and Lotus entries, which tended to be more modern and nimble, but the Ferrari’s pedigree and engine power kept it competitive on certain circuits.

The 625 Formula Tasman is remembered today as an example of Ferrari’s adaptability and the global reach of its racing program during the 1950s and 1960s. While it did not dominate the Tasman Series, it carried the Ferrari name into another corner of the racing world and added to the prestige of a championship that regularly attracted world-class talent. Surviving examples of the Ferrari 625 that were converted for Tasman use are rare and highly prized, representing both the golden age of Ferrari’s front-engined racing cars and the international expansion of motorsport during the postwar decades.