Already five sold |
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Andreas Birner |
Ferrari’s return to GT Racing |
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The project |
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The car |
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Thus, last year the French racing team ”Red Racing” made a first effort in order to bring Ferrari back to
GT motor sport on a private basis: They had one early 550 Maranello (s/n 106404) race-prepared, the job
was performed by Italtecnica in Italy. The result was a 550 Maranello with 545 hp @ 7.000 rpm, the
weight had been reduced by 390 kg to about 1.300 kg. The car was thought to be entered in the GT3
category of the FIA GT Championship, but timing problems haunted the project, and even the planned
entry in the 24 Hours of Le Mans had to be canceled since the 550 Maranello was not readied in time.
This particular car’s only racing action eventually took place in autumn of 1999 in the French GT
Championship. |
The 550 Millennio crouches very closely to the ground, featuring an all-new adjustable suspension and
thus underlining its aggressiveness. New bearings and high performance springs combined with the
stiffened body promise to decrease the body movement on the track remarkably. The car runs on
center lock-wheels by O.Z. in the dimensions of 12’’x18’’ to the front and 13’’x18’’ to the rear, fitted with
impressive Michelin Pilot SX slicks (Dunlop tires might be an option). |
The already ”quite” powerful V12-engine of the 550 Maranello has been enlarged to a displacement of
6.000 cm3 and now produces 585 hp (stock: 485 hp) @ 6.250 rpm, resulting in a massive torque of 750
Nm @ 4.700 rpm! The restrictor hits at 7.000 rpm. Furthermore, the 550 Millennio now has side exhaust
system which leads to a minimized back pressure and a reduced weight. The latter is a mere 1.100 kg,
that’s 590 kg less than on the production model! The power is transmitted via a Hewland six-speed
sequential gearbox and a discs differential. The clutch has been moved backwards and is now placed
right in front of the gearbox to optimize the car’s balance, which is now 51% (front) to 49% (rear). Huge
Brembo brakes have been installed in order to keep up with the car’s incredible performance, the discs in
the front having a diameter of 380 mm! Adequate cooling should be provided through air-ducts specially
designed by the use of a CAD program. |
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