.jpg?p=120209_04:29)
.jpg?p=120209_04:31)
.jpg?p=120209_04:54)
.jpg?p=120209_04:35)
.jpg?p=111221_03:51)
When we heard whisperings of a harder, faster, lighter Ferrari 458
rumbling from Maranello, we became somewhat feverish. Was this the successor to
the 430 Scuderia, one of our very favouritest supercars of recent years?
No. This is not the 458 Scuderia, but it is something rather excellent. This is
the Ferrari 458 Challenge - a track-only version of the awesome mid-engined
machine set to compete in Ferrari's one-make series in 2011.
It is indeed lighter, harder and faster. Though its 4.5-litre V8 puts out the
same 562bhp as the road car, the Challenge gets a shorter-ratio gearbox and,
most importantly, an intensive diet strategy.
Ferrari won't reveal exactly how much weight the Challenge has lost, but with
thinner bodyshell panels and extensive use of carbon fibre and Lexan, we're
guessing it's the equivalent of a broad-stomached gentleman racer at least.
The 458's suspension has been thoroughly overhauled, too, with solid aluminium
bushings, stiffer springs and a ride height dropped by 30mm. Fat Pirelli slicks
and bigger brakes improve stickiness and stoppiness: in fact, the Challenge has
already lapped Ferrari's Fiorano circuit in 1m16.5s, two seconds quicker than
its predecessor and more than eight seconds quicker than the Enzo. It'll pull
1.6 lateral gs through corners, too.
Enough to keep even the most ardent Ferrarista busy until that 458 Scuderia
turns up, then...
Sam Philip
Open Car Bar
What do you think?
Want to comment on this?
XakaB commented on this article
at 11:30 am on 15 July 2010
wow now that's a performance machine it must be incredibly fast with that diet!!!!!!!!!!!! and 8 s faster than the enzo!!!!!!!!!! wow..... I bownd to you ferrari!!!!! in much respect
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Takk commented on this article
at 12:10 pm on 15 July 2010
A one-make series cup always makes me suspect they're afraid to face the competition. Why not a cup with this, the 911 GT2, the Lambo Balboni, some Noble and such? I'd watch that.
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Da_Vincentius commented on this article
at 01:54 pm on 15 July 2010
Sot this is what the streetversion will look like? I am hoping for a bit more power and some visual tweaks for the streetversion. Now I can stop bitching, because it will be faaaaaaaast. Time for a Ferrraaarrraararraaaraarrraaarraaarrrrrriiiiiiiii sign for the laptimesboard :D.
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Mikeado commented on this article
at 01:54 pm on 15 July 2010
@ Takk - That sounds a bit like GT racing. A 458 GT2 is just as inevitable as a 458 Challenge, so there's hope yet. If you meant road cars though, I think we'll have to wait until Gran Turismo 5 comes out some time in the distant future, although frankly I'm considering cryogenic freezing to make the oh-so-long wait seem less painfully long...
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
iceman8766 commented on this article
at 02:35 pm on 15 July 2010
Hmmm,looks spicy and judging by the performance figures,it's really gonna be spicy.But boy do I want to see the next Scud.
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.