2011 Ferrari 458 Challenge top one cars

Monday, August 2, 2010

We are still under the spell of the new 458 Italia and it seems that Ferrari is already preparing a new version. The 458 Challenge, according to these latest spy shots.

Taking a look at the picture you will notice a few changes compared to a standard 458 Italia. First, the car in the pictures is lower and gets wider side skirts, a revised fascia, and hood pins on the hood. The exhaust system is also changed and there is a roll cage on the interior. The car seems to be in prototype stage as it looks unfinished and unpolished, but the intention is clearly there.

Stay tuned for more photos as we are sure they will be delivered to us sometime this week. Why is that? The Ferrari 599 GTO launch is this week so as the buzzing of journalists swarm Ferrari, we are sure they will snap a few great pics to dazzle us. Whether Ferrari will provide the opportunity to photograph the Challenge or the carparazzi snags the opportunity is still up in the air!

UPDATE 06/24/2010: Ferrari is currently testing the future 458 Challenge in Monza, Italy. Watch the video after the jump to see the Challenge in action!

UPDATE 07/14/2010: Today, Ferrari officially unveiled the 458 Challenge racing prototype that will compete in the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli in the 2011 season. The model is based on the 458 Italia, but introduces a number of important modifications to adapt it for competition use.

The V8 engine has remained the same, but important modifications have been made to the gear ratios and calibration of its dual-clutch F1 gearbox to guarantee higher torque at lower revs.

Ferrari’s main focus was to reduce the car’s weight. To do that the company used lightweight materials, such as carbon-fiber and Lexan for both exterior and interior. The new 458 Challenge also has a specific suspension set-up with solid aluminum bushings, stiffer springs, single-rate dampers, center-nut 19” racing rims, larger dimension Pirelli slicks and a ride height lowered by 30mm all round.

The 458 Challenge also gets a new F1-Trac traction control system that constantly monitors levels of grip for maximum high-performance road-holding. Two specific track-biased calibrations – wet and dry - have been developed for this application, with control logic and strategies derived from Ferrari’s extensive racing experience in the F1 and GT championships.

Hit the jump for the full story and the official press release plus a couple of galleries!