Ferrari 488 Challenge (2018)

The long standing successes of the Ferrari Challenge Series have helped see the continued development of both road and race going variants since. With its origins in 1993, the series sought to offer Ferrari customers an introduction to racing through a single-marque race series. Starting with the 348, development has seen interations of the 360, 430, 458 and now a Challenge offering of their latest and greatest road car yet, the 488 GTB.

The 488 Challenge is the first turbocharged model to compete in the Ferrari Challenge series, and as a result, also the most powerful Challenge car to date. Closely related to the road going variant, the 488 Challenge boasts the same 670hp 3.9litre V8 as the road car. Ferrari have however, made some changes to the engine mapping as well as swapping in shorter ratios to the twin-clutch gearbox.

Ferrari says that with these changes in place, the Challenge car can go from a standstill to maximum revs in fourth gear in just 6.0 seconds. Ferrari notably re-calibrated the 488’s electronic driver aids, adding a two-phase control system for the traction control. With the Ferrari Challenge designed to be an approachable start to motorsport, the system offers one knob on the steering wheel which allows the driver to set when the system will intervene, and a second regulates the aggressiveness of intervention.

Ferrari also gave the 488 Challenge a more aggressive aerodynamics package inspired by the 488 GTE, a race car built with professionals in mind. The 488 Challenge has multiple aerodynamic changes over a standard car. Whereas in previous years a 430 Challenge may have only be differentiated by its wheels externally, the 488 has among other changes, a different front bumper, bonnet, side vents and most noticeable, a large rear spoiler. The 488 Challenge is quoted as lapping the Fiorano test track with a recorded time of 1 minute 15.5 seconds.

This example was delivered new to the UK in 2018 and has never been raced or turned a wheel in anger. It is currently wrapped in a Tricolore livery, and has had the extremely rare optional extra passenger seat fitted. Perfect for track day use or indeed a full blown assault on the Ferrari challenge.