After applying the GTO moniker to the high-performance version of the 599 GTB, Ferrari chose to revive another storied name from its past for the track-focused development of the F12berlinetta: Tour de France. The nickname was originally given to the 250 GT Berlinetta Competizione in the late 1950s after its stunning streak of wins at the Tour de France Automobile.

Unveiled at the 2015 Finali Mondiali held at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, Ferrari’s VIP clients were treated to a car which at the time was the most powerful naturally aspirated Ferrari ever built. The more hardcore F12tdf featured many improvements over the already technologically advanced F12berlinetta. The 6.3-litre V-12 was tuned to produce a stated 769 horsepower, making it—with the exception of the hybrid LaFerrari—more powerful than any Ferrari that had come before.

Housing the powerplant was an aluminium space frame chassis co-developed with Scaglietti. Made up of 12 different alloys, the car was reportedly 20 per cent stiffer than the preceding 599 while also being some 65 kilograms lighter. This rigidity allowed engineers to lower the car’s centre of gravity for near-perfect front-to-rear weight distribution. Extensive use of carbon fibre on the F12tdf reportedly reduced the car’s weight by an additional 110 kilograms. Power was transferred to the wheels via a seven-speed, dual-clutch, paddle-shift automatic transmission that featured shorter gear ratios and quicker changes. To reign in the 6.3-litre V-12’s nearly 800 horses, carbon ceramic disc brakes with one-piece callipers were borrowed from the LaFerrari. The F12tdf was also the first Ferrari to feature four-wheel steering as standard equipment.

Externally, the F12tdf is a more visually aggressive machine with wider side sills and an “Aerobridge” directing airflow along the sides of the car. Thanks to a taller rear wing and active rear diffuser, the tdf boasts an 87 per cent increase in downforce compared with the standard F12berlinetta. These modifications made for one of the quickest cars to ever wear the Cavallino Rampante. Sporting a stunning 0-100 km/h time of just 2.9 seconds on its way to a reported 340 km/h top speed, the F12tdf could round Ferrari’s Fiorano test track only 1.3 seconds behind the flagship LaFerrari.

The original Tour de France Automobile race rewarded cars that combined maximum performance with drivability. The F12tdf is, appropriately, the ultimate expression of the concept of an extreme road car that is equally at home on the track.

With just 799 examples built between 2015 and 2017, any F12tdf is a rare machine. Presented here, from the middle of that limited production run, is chassis 219711. Built to European specification, this car was finished in the striking shade of Giallo Modena. This neatly contrasts with the 20-inch forged dark-painted wheels featuring composite centre caps and the extensive use of carbon fibre on the exterior. This emphasis on lightweight materials is most pronounced at the rear, with the sizable active diffuser, bodywork surrounds for the titanium exhaust pipes, and Formula 1-style fog light encased in gloss carbon. The front, meanwhile, was protected by the factory installation of anti-stone chipping protective film.

Although the interior is predominantly trimmed in Nero Alcantara, this is complemented by Charcoal Alcantara for the inner sections of the large-size carbon fibre racing seats equipped with four-point harnesses. Similarly, the headliner, lower dashboard, parcel shelf, and centre console have all been configured in Charcoal. To tie in with the exterior, the famous Cavallino stitched into the headrests and the rev counter are presented in yellow, while details such as the fascia inserts have been finished in carbon fibre.

Naturally, the focus of the F12tdf is performance, however this car is notably equipped with conveniences such as a suspension lifter, adaptive front headlight system, plus front and rear parking cameras.

The F12tdf is among the most potent, raw, and therefore charismatic entries into the much-loved linage of front-engined V-12 flagship Ferraris. This exquisitely specified example will accordingly appeal to marque and supercar enthusiasts seeking the ultimate thrill ride.