Enzo's fame grew at a tremendous rate during this period when he raced with considerable success. The opportunistic and highly nationalistic Italian government seized upon young Enzo's accomplishments, showering him with recognition, and using his name as a marketing tool for their propaganda in an attempt to keep pace with that of the Germans. In their zeal to hype his successes, Italy's government bestowed upon Enzo a few honorary titles of recognition. The now familiar moniker, Commendatore, was one of several such gratuitous titles given to the young driver for his racing prowess.
In 1929 the Commendatore launched his own company for the first time, as Scuderia Ferrari. But this was only a support company for well-heeled Alfa Romeo owners who took their cars into competition. Alfa had officially withdrawn its company team from racing. In this capacity Scuderia Ferrari became Alfa's racing program. And in the first year of its existence, Enzo signed the largest team of drivers ever assembled by an individual. Among the 50 full- and part-time drivers was the man then acknowledged as the best driver in racing, and still today one of the top drivers of all time, Tazio Nuvolari. It was quite a coup, and for Enzo it attracted an even greater popular interest and following.
Ferrari broke off his relationship with Alfa Romeo in 1937. Following the break, cars that were essentially the first actual Ferrari racecars were entered as early as the 1940 Mille Miglia. But they were known as AAC 815s. Enzo had signed a non-competition clause in his severance with Alfa, and the sports cars he raced went under a different name largely to avoid legal problems with Alfa.
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