The Ferrari 250 GTO model was the ultimate development of the company’s 250 GT series in competition form, whilst still being useable as a road car, so it was still able to be driven to the track, raced and driven home. It made its public debut at the annual pre-season Ferrari press conference in January 1962, and made its competition debut in the Sebring 12 Hour Race, driven by Phil Hill and Olivier Gendebien, where it finished 2^nd overall to a Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa sports racing car, and won the GT category in the process.