2011 Ferrari 458 Challenge

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 4499 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 as well as polycarbonate for the front and rear windscreens and side windows.

The new 458 Challenge also has a specific suspension set-up with steel uniball joints, stiffer springs, single-rate alloy dampers, centre-nut 19' forged rims, larger dimension Pirelli slicks and a ride height lowered by 50mm all round. It is also equipped with the new generation Brembo CCM2 brakes integrated with the latest ABS system which debuted on the 599XX, Ferrari's extreme experimental laboratory car.

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 have been developed for this application, with control logics 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 stability and acceleration both into and out of corners.

The ABS/EBD, 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 has a choice of three configurations: OFF position (traction control deactivated), position 1 and position 2. The latter two settings have progressively higher levels of control system intervention and are selected in accordance with grip conditions on the track. 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.

Source - Ferrari

The Ferrari 458 Challenge on track at Vallelunga

Maranello, 28 July 2010 – The fine tuning of the newly born Ferrari 458 Challenge continues and, as from yesterday, it was at the Vallelunga circuit for a test, with two drivers, the Italian Maurizio Mediani and the brasilian Jaime Melo, taking on the role of test driver, as they took turns at the wheel of the Prancing Horse sports car. At the end of two days at the Roman circuit, both men were pleased with what had been achieved.
According to Mediani the 458 Challenge is 'very quick and extremely good fun,' its handling inherited from the road going car from which it is derived, combined with modifications made for its specific use in racing. Melo, just back from the fifth round of the American Le Mans Series, in which he races a F430 GT2 run by Team Risi Competizione, highlighted how much the driving experience is enhanced by the electronics systems operated with the now classic manettino on the steering wheel, a first for a car used in the Ferrari one-make series. 'I am sure that Prancing Horse competition owners will be very pleased with this car,' commented the Argentine before leaving the circuit to prepare for the next ALMS round, which takes place on 7 August at the Mid Ohio circuit.

Source - Ferrari

Zhuhai hosts the inaugural round of the Ferrari Challenge APAC

The International Zhuhai circuit today hosted the first round of the APAC Series of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, with no less than twenty two 458 Challenge cars fighting it out for the first wins in this series of the championship.

The busy programme saw novice owners making their track debut in the Coppa Shell and those with more racing experience involved in the Trofeo Pirelli. They took to the track for two races with separate classifications, in orer avoid unequal competition and in order to ensure spectacular racing.

The first race in the APAC series ended in victory for China's Anthony Liu who crossed the line ahead of Ringo Chong (Singapore) and Hisamori Hayashi (Japan) after an exciting and closely fought contest. Equally tough was the race to the podium among the Coppa Shell drivers, in which Gregory Teo (Singapore) won from Siwon Ryu (South Korea) and Rudi Laksmana (Indonesia,) taking his first racing success.

Race 2 once again confirmed that China's Anthony Liu had the upper hand, as he took an amazing win, beating fellow countryman Zhang Shanqi and Japan's Hisamori Hayashi. First place in the Coppa Shell went to Siwon Ryu (South Korea) who took a great win, beating Australia's Steve Wyatt and Tiger Wu (Taipei.)

The APAC series of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli will be back in action at the Shanghai circuit over the weekend of 24 July. On the same card, the busy programme will also feature sessions for cars entered in the FXX and 599XX as well drivers at the wheel of their historic F1 cars as part of the non-competitive programmes run by Ferrari's Corse Clienti department.

Source - Ferrari