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 errari 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 Ferrari 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 Ferrari 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 Ferrari 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 Ferrari 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.
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