Ferrari 458 Challenge debuts

[Tommy_F]

Race-prepared one-make 458 debuts at firm’s Maranello base.


14th July 2010

Meet Ferrari’s new racing challenger. The 458 Challenge has just been revealed at Ferrari’s Annual Dealer Meeting, held at the firm’s base in Maranello.

Hot on the heels of the road-going 458 Italia, the Challenge uses the same 562bhp 4.5-litre V8 as the production car. But there have been changes to the gear ratios and the gearbox software to deliver more torque at lower revs.

The big changes are to do with the 458’s weight. A crash diet of carbon fibre and lexan polycarbonate, plus thinner body panels has shaved weight, but Ferrari refuses to say just how much has been saved.

The suspension has been lowered by 30mm and now uses some very focussed single-rate dampers with stiffer springs, and centre-nut 19-inch racing wheels wearing Pirelli slick tyres. To ensure adequate stopping power, Ferrari has borrowed the Brembo CCM2 carbon ceramic brakes from the 599XX. These are combined with a two-setting ABS system that can be switched for low grip or dry surfaces.

All in, the modifications have allowed Ferrari’s test drivers to shave two seconds off the F430 Challenge’s lap time at the firm’s Fiorano test track. The 458 Challenge will lap the track in 1m 16.5sec, and generate lateral-G figures of up to 1.6G in the process.

The 458 Challenge will hit circuits in 2011 as part of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, which sees track-prepared F430s, 360s, F355s and 348s do battle. The firm has also confirmed a new Asia-Pacific racing series, following Aston Martin’s lead with its Vantage one-make racer.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/au...ge_debuts.html





What an awesome machine, it needed only minimal modifications (from what I see from the single pic I found - need moooore) to be race-ready!!

edit: pic in hi-res:
http://www.netcarshow.com/ferrari/2011-458_challenge/

some pics from the unveiling:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/spy-s.../full/#3172135

[Rob]

458 Challenge debuts at Maranello

Maranello, July 14th 2010 – The 458 Challenge has made its world premiere debut in Maranello during the Annual Dealer Meeting, a traditional event that brings together the representatives of Ferrari’s international sales network.

The new berlinetta, which will flank the F430 Challenge in the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli in the 2011 season, is the fifth model used by Ferrari in its one-make championship which, next year, will be extended to include a new Asia-Pacific series. Coming just a few months after the Frankfurt Motor Show unveiling of the 458 Italia on which it is based, the 458 Challenge introduces a number of important modifications to adapt it for competition use.

The direct injection 4497 cc V8 remains strictly in production tune, with an output of 570 hp at 9,000 rpm. That said, modifications have been made to the gear ratios and calibration of its dual-clutch F1 gearbox to guarantee higher torque at lower revs. The 458 Challenge is also equipped with the E-Diff electronic differential already employed on the road-going version, a first for Ferrari’s track-only cars.

Significant work has also gone into cutting the car’s weight. This focused on both the exterior and interior with Ferrari’s engineers concentrating in particular on reducing the thickness of the bodyshell panels and on using lightweight materials, such as carbon-fibre and Lexan.

The new 458 Challenge also has a specific suspension set-up with solid aluminium bushings, stiffer springs, single-rate dampers, centre-nut 19” racing rims, larger dimension Pirelli slicks and a ride height lowered by 30mm all round. It is also equipped with the new generation Brembo CCM2 brakes which debuted on the 599XX, Ferrari’s extreme experimental laboratory car, and which are integrated with an ABS system that features two configurations - low grip and high performance for dry surfaces.

Another first for a Ferrari Challenge model is the adoption of the F1-Trac traction control system, the most sophisticated of its kind. Developed in-house by Ferrari, the F1-Trac system 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. The F1-Trac is completely integrated with the E-Diff to guarantee maximum acceleration out of corners.

The required ABS, F1-Trac and E-Diff calibration settings are selected via the manettino on the steering wheel, the first time this solution has been adopted on a model developed for the Ferrari Challenge series. The driver can thus either chose from the WET or DRY configurations. In high grip conditions it is also possible to select CT-OFF to de-activate the F1-Trac traction control.

In the course of the intensive development sessions involved in honing the 458 Challenge for the track, the engineers also managed to improve the car’s lap time at Fiorano by two seconds over that of its predecessor, resulting in a new record of just 1’16.5”. Equally impressive is the amount of lateral grip the new car generates – up to 1.6G.

With the new 458 Challenge, Ferrari is offering its sportier clients - professional and gentlemen drivers alike - a car that is extremely responsive, with great performance and superb handling. This mid-rear V8-engined berlinetta will allow Ferrari Challenge participants to enjoy to the full the exhilarating cut and thrust of the race weekends on the world’s leading circuits, as well as the passion that has always been an integral part of Ferrari’s one-make championship

[Rob]

been waiting for this 458 Challenge. FINALLY!!!! next up the 458 GT2.

[epiclyaddicted]

been waiting for this 458 Challenge. FINALLY!!!! next up the 458 GT2.

+1

[Ste]

Finally it makes its entrance! This will definitely be the replacement for the F430 in the GT class.

I was always surprised they didn't use the F430 Scuderia and then 'race it up' and use it in GT2, but at least we'll now have this instead. If we can still win with an 'old' F430 then we can thrash everyone with this beast!

[LAROSA SpA]

The GT3 Version might look like this:
(Made by Vipervelocity at DevientArt)

But I think the 575 GTC is the most bad ass

[mokka]

I want to see it at Le Mans and also in GT1 World.

[Rob]

They do kind of race the scuderia, in brit car. Risi use 430 evoluzione version which isnt an all out Scuderia, but... might aswell be. The body work has been tweeked but still mainly looks like 430 (normal)



but the 458 GT will be stunning, when thet finally do it.

Sorry i correct myself. The 430 Scuderia was developed from the technoglogy from the 430 GT car.

[coysht]

[coysht]

Not entirely sure if this really is a 458 Challenge, but sounds awesome!

[Rob]

bella thankyou amico she looks stunning

[Rob]

Not entirely sure if this really is a 458 Challenge, but sounds awesome!

WOW!! yeah that is her. Followd by 430 GTC. Thanks for that mate.

[Tommy_F]

Few more pics:

http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ferra...hallenge-racer

I guess the middle exhaust pipe is mostly for show, they removed it from this version.

[Tommy_F]

[Furrari]

Race-prepared one-make 458 debuts at firm’s Maranello base.


14th July 2010

Meet Ferrari’s new racing challenger. The 458 Challenge has just been revealed at Ferrari’s Annual Dealer Meeting, held at the firm’s base in Maranello.

Hot on the heels of the road-going 458 Italia, the Challenge uses the same 562bhp 4.5-litre V8 as the production car. But there have been changes to the gear ratios and the gearbox software to deliver more torque at lower revs.

The big changes are to do with the 458’s weight. A crash diet of carbon fibre and lexan polycarbonate, plus thinner body panels has shaved weight, but Ferrari refuses to say just how much has been saved.

The suspension has been lowered by 30mm and now uses some very focussed single-rate dampers with stiffer springs, and centre-nut 19-inch racing wheels wearing Pirelli slick tyres. To ensure adequate stopping power, Ferrari has borrowed the Brembo CCM2 carbon ceramic brakes from the 599XX. These are combined with a two-setting ABS system that can be switched for low grip or dry surfaces.

All in, the modifications have allowed Ferrari’s test drivers to shave two seconds off the F430 Challenge’s lap time at the firm’s Fiorano test track. The 458 Challenge will lap the track in 1m 16.5sec, and generate lateral-G figures of up to 1.6G in the process.

The 458 Challenge will hit circuits in 2011 as part of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, which sees track-prepared F430s, 360s, F355s and 348s do battle. The firm has also confirmed a new Asia-Pacific racing series, following Aston Martin’s lead with its Vantage one-make racer.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/au...ge_debuts.html hid headlight kits


What an awesome machine, it needed only minimal modifications (from what I see from the single pic I found - need moooore) to be race-ready!!

edit: pic in hi-res:
http://www.netcarshow.com/ferrari/2011-458_challenge/

some pics from the unveiling:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/spy-s.../full/#3172135

I cant wait until they release some nice detailed pictures of the car.

[kenny]

[Rosso Corsa]

Thanks Kenny

[vagos]

the sound of this car is JUST AMAAAAAAAAAAZING!!!!!!!!!

[Agron]

(Posted by FlatOverCrest in the autosport forums)


I orgasmed a little just now

[Tommy_F]

Hi-res gallery: http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ferra.../full/#3627137

[RED]

[Tifoso]

Holy carp. Not that much of a production car fan, but that car is absolutely gorgeous!

I want one

[Nova]

OMGOMG..what an amazing car....just when I go thinking how could Ferrari ever make something better, they go and do it....
I never thought they would outdo the 430 Scuderia, but this baby is all Ferrari......OMG what a killer car....
Thanks for all of the great vids...didya hear the sound of that Ferrari???

[bkircher]

God that sounds beastly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RED]

Holy carp. Not that much of a production car fan, but that car is absolutely gorgeous!

I want one

*whispers* It's a race car, Lou!.

[Rosso Corsa]

Has it got a manual clutch?? The driver seemed to be able to blip the throttle between gear changes? I'd blip it all day long too. That sounds is great.

[Nova]

I dont know, I was wondering the same thing as the blips sound really great..along w/every other sound the thing makes...
How would they blip throttle if running the F1 style gearbox..??

[Tifoso]

*whispers* It's a race car, Lou!.

One can't buy one for "personal use", then?

[Rosso Corsa]

I dont know, I was wondering the same thing as the blips sound really great..along w/every other sound the thing makes...
How would they blip throttle if running the F1 style gearbox..??

I'm thinking they have an automatic blip in the upshift sequence, still using the F1 gearbox. Very trick, if indeed that's what they've done. I've not heard of it before. It would make sense, otherwise, why have a lightning fast F1 gearbox?

[Nova]

The 370 Z has an auto blip when downshifting, so no reason not to believe Ferrari has something similar..albiet mucho better....
I loves this car.....