Bizzarrini has made further senior appointments to the executive team: Ian Fenton joins as Chief Executive Officer, Chris Porritt as Chief Technical Officer and Julian Jenkins as Chief Commercial Officer. Ian, Chris and Julian arrive at an exciting time for Bizzarrini, with production and first customer deliveries of the 5300 GT Corsa Revival underway and development of the future Bizzarrini product line-up well advanced.
Ian joins the Bizzarrini team bringing a wealth of international experience gained from an international career spanning over 30 years working with high profile brands within the automotive industry. With 17 years at Ford Motor Company, in a series of senior roles in Europe and China, also including assignments at Mazda and Jaguar Land Rover, Ian held a number of Director positions at Aston Martin Lagonda in the UK and Europe. More recently Ian has utilized this experience in an advisory capacity supporting new automotive brands, specializing in the luxury and EV sectors. Ian will be overseeing Bizzarrini as it prepares to launch its first all new vehicle in almost 60 years.
Ian will be working closely with new Bizzarrini Chief Technical Officer, Chris Porritt on the development and delivery of future Bizzarrini product. With a career spanning more than three decades, Chris has been instrumental in the development of a number of highly bespoke performance and luxury vehicles. During his 16 years at Aston Martin, Chris was Chief Engineer for the hand-built, limited production One-77 hypercar and the V12 Zagato. In 2013, he was appointed Vice President of Vehicle Engineering at Tesla, overseeing the launch of the Model X and the development of the Model 3 platform. Subsequent roles included leading Apple’s Special Projects Group and most recently in a CTO capacity with Rimac Automobili, responsible for the rollout of the world’s fastest accelerating production car. Chris is regarded as one of the most gifted automotive engineers in the industry; a polymath much like Giotto Bizzarrini himself.
With responsibility for all commercial aspects for Bizzarrini, Julian joins the team following a successful career, again spanning over 30 years in the luxury automotive sector. Prior to his most recent position as Sales Director for BMW UK, Julian held positions with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars including Regional Director for UK, Europe, Russia and Central Asia and as Global Sales Manager overseeing the expansive growth of the brand. A series of prior international roles included Regional Director for Aston Martin North America and as Regional Director for Bentley Motors, Asia Pacific, complimenting prior senior roles with Porsche and Jaguar Cars.
Julian’s extensive operational experience and understanding of the ultra-luxury sector, along with his appreciation of the expectations of its clients, will be significant in underpinning the global ambitions of Bizzarrini.
The journey is already well advanced with deliveries of the twenty-four editions of the 5300 GT Corsa Revival, the most authentic interpretation of the 5300 GT available and the first car to bear the Bizzarri name in over 15 years. Being built using original blueprints, utilising materials from original suppliers and with the input of engineers and craftspeople involved in the Le Mans class winning 5300 GT Corsa, the Revival seamlessly blends original intent with the use of current technology and precision, to offer quality, consistency and compliance with modern FIA safety regulations.
In addition to overseeing the Revival project the team will pioneer the development of a range of future Bizzarrini models, the first being a modern-day Bizzarrini supercar. In doing so, they will translate the enduring genius of Giotto Bizzarrini – one of the greatest automotive engineers of his generation – into beautiful hand built, powerful, evocative and exclusive performance cars for the modern era.
Ian Fenton, Bizzarrini CEO, said: “Bizzarrini is a marque with genius, technical innovation and passion at its heart. Inspired by the man who gave this brand his name, we have a vision to craft inspiringly beautiful performance cars that are created for true aficionados. In partnership with the senior management team, and the incredible talents of Chris Porritt, Julian Jenkins and the existing Bizzarrini team, I look forward to turning those ambitious plans into a successful reality.”
Chris Porritt, Bizzarrini Chief Technical Officer, said: “The Bizzarrini team has already established incredible foundations for the reborn brand, with a clear identity and a seriously impressive product in the Corsa Revival Edition. Plans are well advanced for the evolution of the Bizzarrini brand, the first step of which will be revealed shortly. The goal is to build a car that is pure, sensually engaging. The art of engineering used to create enormously fast and capable – but extraordinary – cars.”
Julian Jenkins, Bizzarrini Chief Commercial Officer, said: “As a car and brand enthusiast, I have been fascinated with the legend of Bizzarrini for many years and congratulate the team for their achievements to-date, including the revival of the iconic 5300 GT Corsa. I am delighted to join at this exciting time as we develop new models and shape the future of this incredible brand. With the team, I look forward to increasing the awareness of Bizzarrini and expanding our exclusive and loyal client base”.
Simon Busby, Bizzarrini CMO said, “We are delighted to welcome Ian, Chris and Julian as we enter the next important chapter for Bizzarrini, the development and launch of our new supercar. We have rekindled a cherished, decades-old relationship with Giugiaro to deliver a design which, underpinned with serious engineering prowess, will allow us deliver a car befitting of the Bizzarrini marque. We look forward to sharing images of our first new model very shortly.”
Giotto Bizzarrini initially made his name as controller of experimental, Sports and GT car development at Ferrari and played the key role in the development of the iconic Ferrari 250 GTO, latterly developing the advanced aerodynamics for the legendary Ferrari 250-based ‘bread van’.
Giotto is also renowned for his work in building the famous Lamborghini V12 engine, first used on Lamborghini’s debut model, the 350 GT. The engine proved such a compelling design that aspects of this engine were used by Lamborghini right up until 2010.
Each car in the Revival series of 24 vehicles is a hand built continuation, authentically based on the car that won its class at Le Mans in 1965. With a lightweight single piece composite body, over a steel frame. Inside, the two seats are protected by a more comprehensive six-point roll cage and safety fuel cell, meeting FIA Appendix K regulations. Test drives of the Revival revealed a car that feels subtly more rigid than original examples. With a front-mid engine, independent rear suspension to Giotto’s Corsa specification and all-round disc brakes are paired with a period-specific 5,300 cubic centimeter V8 developing over 400 horsepower and 525Nm (387ft-lb) of torque. With a front-mid engine and 50:50 weight distribution, at just 1250 kg, the Bizzarrini 5300 GT Revival Corsa has a power to weight ratio comparable to a modern-day supercar.