After 28 years UK police find stolen £350,000 Ferrari belonging to Gerhard Berger

The Metropolitan Police in London announced on Monday that a Ferrari stolen from former Austrian racing driver Gerhard Berger after the San Marino Grand Prix in 1995 has finally been recovered.

Gerhard Berger, along with fellow Formula 1 star and Ferrari teammate Jean Alesi, fell victim to car thieves operating near the Imola circuit in Italy, losing their private cars on the same day in April 1995.

The Austrian recounted that his red F512M Testarossa had vanished from outside his hotel. The revised version of the original 512, a two-seater car, made its debut in late 1994. Featuring a powerful five-liter, 12-cylinder engine generating 440bhp, this vehicle boasts a remarkable top speed of 315kph. Gerhard Berger’s F512M holds an estimated value of £350,000.

In January, an investigation was launched by London’s Metropolitan Police following a report from Ferrari. The luxury carmaker, conducting checks on a vehicle being purchased by a US buyer through a UK broker in 2023, revealed that the car was stolen. Within four days, officers traced the car’s history, discovering that it had been shipped to Japan shortly after being stolen from the Ferrari driver and then brought to the UK in late 2023.

To prevent its export from the UK, the British Metropolitan Police took possession of the vehicle.

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“The stolen Ferrari – close to the value of £350 000 – was missing for more than 28 years before we managed to track it down in just four days,” explained officer Mike Pilbeam, who was in charge of leading the investigation – “We worked quickly with partners including the National Crime Agency, as well as Ferrari and international car dealerships, and this collaboration was instrumental in understanding the vehicle’s background and stopping it from leaving the country,” he concluded.

Gerhard Berger, a beloved figure in Formula One, enjoyed a distinguished 14-season career from 1984 to 1997. During this period, he claimed victory in 10 Grand Prix races and secured third place in the championship twice while representing Scuderia Ferrari.

Known for his playful personality, Gerhard Berger became notorious for his pranks during his time at McLaren alongside his Brazilian teammate Ayrton Senna. One memorable incident involved filling Ayrton Senna’s bed with frogs, showcasing the camaraderie and lighthearted spirit within the team.