Italian driver Fabio Barone attempts to break his own speed record on a ship, at the wheel of a Ferrari SF 90, on the flight deck of the Italian Navy aircraft carrier Nave Trieste, docked at the port of Civitavecchia, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Italian driver Fabio Barone attempts to break his own speed record on a ship, at the wheel of a Ferrari SF 90, on the flight deck of the Italian Navy aircraft carrier Nave Trieste, docked at the port of Civitavecchia, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Italian driver Fabio Barone talks to journalists after breaking his own speed record on a ship, at the wheel of a Ferrari SF 90, on the flight deck of the Italian Navy aircraft carrier Nave Trieste, docked at the port of Civitavecchia, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Italian driver Fabio Barone attempts to break his own speed record on a ship, at the wheel of a Ferrari SF 90, on the flight deck of the Italian Navy aircraft carrier Nave Trieste, docked at the port of Civitavecchia, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Italian driver Fabio Barone wipes his forehead after breaking his own speed record on a ship, at the wheel of a Ferrari SF 90, on the flight deck of the Italian Navy aircraft carrier Nave Trieste, docked at the port of Civitavecchia, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
One man in an Italian supercar atop an aircraft carrier. And a record in his sights
CIVITAVECCHIA, Italy (AP) 鈥 Along Italy鈥檚 Mediterranean coast on Thursday, driver Fabio Barone raced across the flight deck of a navy ship while chasing a world record: the fastest car on a boat.
Italian driver Fabio Barone attempts to break his own speed record on a ship, at the wheel of a Ferrari SF 90, on the flight deck of the Italian Navy aircraft carrier Nave Trieste, docked at the port of Civitavecchia, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
CIVITAVECCHIA, Italy (AP) 鈥 Along Italy鈥檚 Mediterranean coast on Thursday, driver Fabio Barone raced across the flight deck of a navy ship while chasing a world record: the fastest car on a boat.
Last year, Barone set the Italian Timekeepers Federation鈥檚 record on another aircraft carrier in southern Italy, hitting 152 kilometers per hour (94.4 mph). In Civitavecchia, on the coast near Rome, he aimed to reach 160 kph and then hit the brakes before launching off the deck鈥檚 so-called 鈥渟ki jump鈥 and smashing into the cruise ship stationed just fore.
Race engineer Alessandro Tedino told The Associated Press that he wasn鈥檛 sure the record was attainable. The ship had been out at sea overnight, and the crew emerged in the early morning to find its flight deck wet. They immediately set to drying it, with the job finished by late summer sunbeams.
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鈥淚f it remained wet, then of course it鈥檚 impossible to have the maximum speed and best brakes. It can be very, very dangerous,鈥 he said.
As the 鈥淭op Gun鈥 theme song rang out from speakers, the carrier鈥檚 portside elevator lifted Barone鈥檚 team to the deck where journalists, naval officers and VIPs waited. A group of children with Down syndrome, chosen to serve as honorary 鈥渕echanics for the day,鈥 removed the red, satiny cover to reveal Barone鈥檚 steed: a red-and-black Ferrari SF90.
Barone eased himself into the supercar, then drove back and forth along the length of the deck several times to warm up its V-8 turbo engine. It roared louder with each pass as he pushed its 1,085 horses harder and harder. Then he placed himself at the far end of the 236-meter (774-foot) flight deck and awaited the all-clear.
鈥淗ere he goes! Here he goes!鈥 the announcer called as Barone left his mark and zipped past the crowd. Mere seconds later he came to a safe stop, and the crowd applauded haltingly 鈥 impressed by the speedy spectacle, but unsure if he鈥檇 beaten the record. The official timekeeper approached the car and inspected the gauges within.
鈥淭he detected velocity: 164 kilometers per hour (101 mph). I declare it the new speed record on a ship!鈥 he said, prompting hearty applause from the sidelines.
Barone lifted his arms to the sky, then hugged his crew, helmet still in place. Reporters swarmed.
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鈥淭he main thing you focus on is concentration and then you realize that you are breaking the record only when you are halfway,鈥 Barone said. 鈥淚 have two hands, two feet and I use them at the same time like a pianist.鈥
Tedino said that Barone鈥檚 team will now submit their certified result to Guinness World Records, which did not immediately return the AP’s email request for comment.
