Ferrari has released this photo and details of its Ferrari 458 Challenge. It debuted at the Maranello track at the annual meeting for dealers but unfortunately Ferrari has provided us with just this one pic. The 458 Challenge will appear alongside the F430 Challenge in the 2011 Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli. The series is expanding next year with a new program in the Asia Pacific region and it seems the single-marque Ferrari challenge is important for the company in developing new models.

The 458 Challenge is basically the track version of the Ferrari 458 Italia road vehicle. It is equipped with the production engine 4.5-litre V8 with 570 hp at 9,000 rpm. Changes have been made to the dual-clutch F1 transmission to provide greater torque at lower revs and it has E-Diff electronic differential. The latter is also present on the road version but is a novelty for the Challenge models.

Weight reduction has been achieved with work done on the thickness of the bodywork and the use of light materials like carbon fibre and Lexan both inside and out. Suspension set-up has changed with stiff, racing-style aluminium joints and springs and modifications to the shock absorbers.

The wheels measure 19-inches and 458 Challenge is fitted with large Pirelli slick tyres, lowered by a full 30 mm. Brakes are provided by Brembo, using the CCM2 latest generation brakes first used on the Ferrari 599XX and integrated with ABS. F1-Trac drive technology makes an appearance with dry and wet calibration for track use. Via the ‘manettino’ Ferrari mechanism drivers can choose between wet and dry driving conditions, switching off the traction control in the latter case.

According to Ferrari, the 458 Challenge has improved its race time on the Fiorano track by about two seconds compared to the previous model. With super fast cornering and a lap time of 1′16″5 you may think this is too much to handle. But Ferrari says the 458 Challenge is so easy to drive that racing is within the reach of many.

Source | Autoblog.it

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