Rosso corsa pre-dates Ferrari. In the first half of the 20th century, it was customary for cars to be painted in the “national colours” of the competing country (Marque or driver). This was largely supplanted in the commercial era by sponsor paint jobs, but still remains significant in some cases. For example, Mercedes-Benz F1 team is nicknamed Silver Arrows after the erstwhile German colours, Alpine F1 features the Bleu de France, Aston-Martin competes in British Racing Green, and of course Ferrari competes in Rosso corsa or whatever Marlboro shade approximates it.

Rosso Corsa dates back to the 10,000-mile 1907 Peking to Paris race, held for bragging rights to the first motor crossing of Asia, which was won by Prince Scipione Borghese, accompanied by his chauffeur Ettore Guizzardi and journalist Luigi Barzini in a red 7.4-litre Itala, with a lead of 20 days even after a few hundred miles' detour to St Petersburg to attend a dinner. Of such achievements were national reputations made - Barzini's account, Peking to Paris, was published simultaneously in 11 languages - and in tribute to the Prince's red Itala, Italian competitors from that point entered red cars in international events.

For those who equate "race car" with "Ferrari" or another Italian marque, then yes, race cars are red. At the time of the quote, Italians were on a high so it’s not so much a quote about Ferrari as it is the supremacy of Italian motorsport.

Motor Racing's Strangest Races, Geoff Tibballs, Portico 2006