It was the ultimate battle of horse power, a sporting contest like you’ve never seen before.
Billed as a clash of ancient against modern, a Ferrari raced against a two-horse chariot in Castel Romana, Italy and, unsurprisingly, it was the car that motored to victory.
In a contemporary twist on the ancient chariot races, Ferrari driver Fabio Barone gave the horses a half-lap headstart. He was also driving in a wider lane without the aid of traction-control.
But despite these handicaps, Barone’s Ferrari 458 still surged to victory, kicking up clouds of dust as it passed the galloping horses.
“A Ferrari launched in a straight line on sand is a bit like launching a car on a greasy piste,” Barone told AFP.
“When you get to the bend it’s very difficult to turn. The main problem was keeping my car straight. From the first lap I no longer had any brakes.”
The race was staged on the track used in the 2016 Hollywood film “Ben-Hur” — a remake of the highly-acclaimed 1959 film — at Cinecitta Studios, just outside Rome.