Gerhard Berger's £350,000 Ferrari stolen in 1995 recovered by police 28 years later

4 March 2024, 10:30 | Updated: 4 March 2024, 10:34

Gerhard Berger's stolen Ferrari has been found nearly 30 years after it was stolen
Gerhard Berger's stolen Ferrari has been found nearly 30 years after it was stolen. Picture: Metropolitan Police

By Daniela Martins

A £350,000 Ferrari belonging to F1 driver Gerhard Berger has been recovered by police 28 years after it was stolen.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The red F512M Testarossa was one of two of the sports cars stolen from Berger and fellow driver Jean Alesi at the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola in 1995.

In dramatic fashion nearly 30 years ago, Berger reportedly caught a crook during the theft and gave chase in his friend’s Volkswagen Golf but they were unable to recover it.

Police said at the time they believed the cars had been stolen to order.

Read more: Michael McIntyre forced to cancel show after being rushed to hospital for emergency surgery

Read more: ‘Corrupt’ minority of police ‘using their position to do terrible things,’ former Home Sec Dame Priti Patel tells LBC

It is believed the car was stolen to order in 1995w
It is believed the car was stolen to order in 1995w. Picture: Metropolitan Police

After nearly three decades, one of the cars has now been recovered.

The Met Police said they had received a report from Ferrari after checks were carried out on a car being bought by a US buyer through a British broker last year.

Gerhard Berger gave chase after the car was stolen in 1995
Gerhard Berger gave chase after the car was stolen in 1995. Picture: Alamy

Officers from the Organised Vehicle Crime Unit discovered the car had been shipped to Japan shortly after the 1995 theft and then was brought back to the UK late last year.

It was seized to prevent it from being exported from the UK. No arrests have been made.

The Ferrari F512M is worth £350,000
The Ferrari F512M is worth £350,000. Picture: Metropolitan Police

Jean Alesi’s car remains missing.

PC Mike Pilbeam, who led the investigation, said: “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.

“Our enquiries were painstaking and included contacting authorities from around the world. 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.”

Only 501 F512 M cars were made between 1992 and 1996. The car has a top speed of 195 mph. Other well-known owners include Sir Elton John, Alain Delon and Michael Jordan.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

President Trump Hosts Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba At The White House

Donald Trump slams brakes on some China tariffs in third trade war U-turn

2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Radhika Jones - Roaming Arrivals

Calls for Kanye West to be removed from X after 'antisemitic rampage' online

Netlifx has hiked its subscription prices without adverts by £2, or 18%, to £12.99 a month for British users.

Netflix hikes prices for Brits after hitting record subscription figures

EL SALVADOR-RELIGION-WELBY

Justin Welby to live at Lambeth Palace despite quitting as archbishop after damning report into Church safeguarding failures

Retired PC Tim Bradshaw (left) and Andrew Newman, deputy chair of Sussex Police Federation, outside Portsmouth Crown Court

Retired police officer found not guilty after knocking two men off electric motorbike in order to 'protect life'

Detective Sergeant Richard Mills, aged 42, of Rochdale was sentenced to 18 months in prison at Liverpool Crown Court

Police detective jailed for 18 months after two sexual assaults on colleagues in workplace

A music teacher who appeared on a hit Channel 4 show has been accused of sexual assault and making indecent images of children.

Music teacher who appeared in hit Channel 4 show charged with making indecent images of children

Exclusive
A former prisoner who was pregnant while behind bars has called for childbearing women to get more support from the justice system.

‘I cried myself to sleep, covered in blood’: Former prisoner who was pregnant while jailed calls for justice system overhaul

Six-month old Sophia Kelemen was killed by a driverless car in a horror accident on January 2.

Baby girl dies in horror accident after driverless car smashes into pram on family holiday

Mohamed Al-Fayed's brother has denied sexual assault allegations brought forward by three former Harrods employees.

Mohamed Al Fayed's brother 'unequivocally' denies sexual assault allegations by three former Harrods employees

Kanye West, left, and Bianca Censori arrive at the 67th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Kanye West declares he’s a ‘Nazi,’ ‘loves Hitler’ and that he has ‘dominion’ over Bianca Censori in vile rant

A British man found dead with his wife inside their isolated French villa

British couple found dead in French villa named as fears former organised crime financial investigator was 'murdered'

TV chef Gino D'Acampo’s ITV shows have been pulled from schedules

Gino D’Acampo TV shows pulled from schedules amid investigation into ‘sexually inappropriate’ comments

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner as Labour has been accused of adding unnecessary costs on consumers

Fears more costs will pass to consumers as yet more taxes from Labour announced

A second woman, suspected of using wigs to disguise herself to sit the British citizenship test for other people, has been arrested.

Second woman arrested after wearing wigs to 'fake UK citizenship tests' as immigration officers find disguises and designer bags in raid

Charlie Roberts (l) was in the care of his mum's partner Christopher Stockton (r) when he suffered the fatal injury

Stepdad who shook baby to death then tried to blame biscuit jailed for life