A Ferrari stolen from F1 legend Gerhard Berger during the San Marino Grand Prix in 1995 has been found 28 years after going missing.

The Testarossa F512M was stolen in April 1995 while the driver was getting ready to compete at the Grand Prix held in Imola, Italy. Worth an estimated £350,000, Berger tried to chase the thief down in a friend’s VW Golf but unfortunately, and predictably, was outrun by the Ferrari.

In January of this year, the Metropolitan Police received a report from Ferrari, who were carrying out checks on a car being bought by a US buyer via a UK dealer in 2023. These checks revealed it was Berger’s stolen car and led the Met to carry out extensive enquiries around the world.

After being taken in Italy, the car was quickly shipped to Japan until making its way to the UK in late 2023. The Ferrari is now in the possession of the Met who were able to verify the car after four days of investigation.

Fellow Formula 1 driver Jean Alesi also had his silver-grey Ferrari 355 stolen on the same weekend, however, it remains missing.

words: Mike Booth
pictures: Metropolitan Police