Ferrari 360 Challenge 2004, Itália

 

Ferrari 360 Challenge 2004, Itália
Fotografia



The Ferrari 360 Challenge was launched in 2000 and replaced the F355 Challenge as the Italian automotive manufacturer’s exclusive one-make series for some of its most valued clients. Unlike the F355 variant, however, the 360 Challenge was a factory-built racing car, rather than returning to marque dealers for retrofitted upgrade kit. Fewer than 300 examples were built, with each car featuring a suite of changes to make it markedly more potent on the circuit than its road-going relative.
In the cabin, the airbags, air conditioning, electric windows, radio, soundproofing, and even the handbrake were all removed in the name of saving weight. Gone too were the leather seats, with the passenger seat being removed entirely and the driver’s seat replaced by a fixed carbon bucket affair. The only items that were added were for regulatory reasons; a monochrome Magneti Marelli digital LCD instrument cluster, FIA-standard roll cage, racing harness, and fire suppression system. Weight-saving measures extended to the exterior, where lightweight lexan glass windows were utilised for the doors and featherweight plexiglass for the engine cover. The result was a car that weighed almost 200 kilograms less than the standard variant.
While the 3.6-litre V-8 powertrain was more than capable in its road-going form, it too benefitted from motorsport fettling; namely titanium conrods and a freer flowing “straight-through” racing exhaust for the engine, and an upgraded oil cooler and racing clutch for the F1-style automated transmission. Keeping all of the additional performance in check were more powerful brakes from Brembo, featuring the largest two-piece floating discs that would fit behind the lightweight racing wheels.
This particular example of the 360 Challenge was delivered in 2004 and was the ninth-to-last example built by Ferrari, making its debut at Spa during the same year. It was subsequently campaigned every year from 2006 to 2011—predominantly in Danish and Swedish editions of Ferrari Challenge, where it was driven into podium-finish places on three occasions. Finished in the same livery it wore in its debut season, the car is accompanied by its original leather owner’s pouch, and two keys, tank-filling kit, tank support and finish-line sender unit. The next owner of this 360 Challenge could enjoy the car on track days or in eligible racing events.