RE: Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 Caught On Camera
RE: Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 Caught On Camera
Wednesday 15th December 2010

Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 Caught On Camera

Endurance version of 458 spotted at Fiorano



Although a GT2 version of Ferrari's smallest supercar tends to be as predictable as gridlock following two inches of snow, it's always nice to see it when it arrives.

And this Ferrari 458 GT2, spotted testing recently at the firm's Fiorano test track, is a pretty mouthwatering prospect.

As a racer the 458 GT2 will have a lot to live up to, however. Its GT2 predecessors, the 360 GTC and the 430 GT2, were pretty successful endurance racers, with a string of sports car race victories (including Le Mans class wins) under their collective belts.

Still, if it goes as well as it looks, we reckon the 458 GT0 will have no trouble at all.

Ferrari hasn't released technical details of the car as yet, but we do know that power will be down on the road car's 552bhp output at around 470bhp, courtesy of mandatory air restrictors. That's also around 30bhp less than the 4.0-litre engine in the F430 GT2. The 458 does save around 240kg of kerb weight on the road car, however, at an estimated 1245kg.



Author
Discussion

VML

Original Poster:

568 posts

201 months

Wednesday 15th December 2010
quotequote all
Now THAT is an amazing looking car, agressive and beautiful! Take note McLaren!!!

Stig

11,823 posts

310 months

Wednesday 15th December 2010
quotequote all
FUGLY.

stephen300o

15,464 posts

254 months

Wednesday 15th December 2010
quotequote all
As I said in the other thread it's unusual to have such a big difference from the production body shape, the 360 and 430 weren't as radical, have the rules changed for the FIA GT series?

Edit: maybe not as different as I first thought, the 458 looks sectioned compared to the 430.

Edited by stephen300o on Wednesday 15th December 12:05

anything fast

983 posts

190 months

Wednesday 15th December 2010
quotequote all
Even if it was rubbish on track, which it most definitley wont be, that is THE BEST LOOKING GT RACER IN THE WORLD... PERIOD!!! stunning just stunning....clap

zebedee

4,595 posts

304 months

Wednesday 15th December 2010
quotequote all
stephen300o said:
As I said in the other thread it's unusual to have such a big difference from the production body shape, the 360 and 430 weren't as radical, have the rules changed for the FIA GT series?

Edit: maybe not as different as I first thought, the 458 looks sectioned compared to the 430.

Edited by stephen300o on Wednesday 15th December 12:05
What FIA GT series?!

stephen300o

15,464 posts

254 months

Wednesday 15th December 2010
quotequote all
zebedee said:
stephen300o said:
As I said in the other thread it's unusual to have such a big difference from the production body shape, the 360 and 430 weren't as radical, have the rules changed for the FIA GT series?

Edit: maybe not as different as I first thought, the 458 looks sectioned compared to the 430.

Edited by stephen300o on Wednesday 15th December 12:05
What FIA GT series?!
I meant the LeMans series, but I guess the'll make an appearance in Stéphane Ratel's series too.

Diablos-666

2,786 posts

204 months

Wednesday 15th December 2010
quotequote all
cloud9

that's a 9 vote from me. Didn't beat the Stratos' vote of 10 but it was pretty close.

daveco

4,378 posts

233 months

Wednesday 15th December 2010
quotequote all
It's amazing how a triangular air vent on the side of a car can evoke nostalgic spooge-rific memories of prancing ponies of times past.

Great looking car.

E21_Ross

36,723 posts

238 months

Wednesday 15th December 2010
quotequote all
am i the only one who thinks that it's ugly compared to the road-goer? i just think the road car is absolutely stunning, but that is just a bit....messy in places, especially the bonnet

getmecoat

stephen300o

15,464 posts

254 months

Wednesday 15th December 2010
quotequote all
E21_Ross said:
am i the only one who thinks that it's ugly compared to the road-goer? i just think the road car is absolutely stunning, but that is just a bit....messy in places, especially the bonnet

getmecoat
No don't worry your not the only one wrong. smile

See, I knew they'd be another wrong any minute.

Edited by stephen300o on Wednesday 15th December 12:48

vetteheadracer

8,273 posts

279 months

Wednesday 15th December 2010
quotequote all
anything fast said:
Even if it was rubbish on track, which it most definitley wont be, that is THE BEST LOOKING GT RACER IN THE WORLD... PERIOD!!! stunning just stunning....clap
Should've gone to Specsavers.........


That is possibly the ugliest look race car ever! Those rear bulges are just crass and for me also look very illegal i.e. they've widened the track of the car or fitted wider wheels which are both not allowed under the GT2 rules.

Article 3 of the FIA GT2 specifications say

All bodywork dimension and shape must remain original

Back to the drawing board please Ferrari!

Just look how far inboard the rear lights are on the race car compared with the road car!


Edited by vetteheadracer on Wednesday 15th December 12:56

golders

141 posts

300 months

Wednesday 15th December 2010
quotequote all
They have managed to turn a pretty road car into a ugly race car. Shame.

carse

66 posts

243 months

Wednesday 15th December 2010
quotequote all
Are you sure about the widening the track/wider rears rule? I'm pretty sure the GT3 RS road car doesn't have the same track as the car in this photo but that's definitely a legal race car. Also, the latest 911 RSR that Porsche has just released now uses 12 inch front wheels up from 11 inches on the older car, so they've definitely changed wheel size and track (assuming offset is the same) and that again is perfectly legal.


vetteheadracer

8,273 posts

279 months

Wednesday 15th December 2010
quotequote all
stephen300o said:
zebedee said:
stephen300o said:
As I said in the other thread it's unusual to have such a big difference from the production body shape, the 360 and 430 weren't as radical, have the rules changed for the FIA GT series?

Edit: maybe not as different as I first thought, the 458 looks sectioned compared to the 430.

Edited by stephen300o on Wednesday 15th December 12:05
What FIA GT series?!
I meant the LeMans series, but I guess the'll make an appearance in Stéphane Ratel's series too.
No they won't as this is a GT2 spec car not GT1, it will race in the ALMS, ILMC and at Le Mans

WMP

154 posts

225 months

Wednesday 15th December 2010
quotequote all
OMFG

Can you imagine the noise?!

Heres to Le Mans 2011!


ps On the looks, I think they're possibly a bit 80's Koenig style but thats no bad thing.

Edited by WMP on Wednesday 15th December 13:03

M666 EVO

1,129 posts

188 months

Wednesday 15th December 2010
quotequote all
golders said:
They have managed to turn a pretty road car into a ugly race car. Shame.
Agreed, its rank...

snorkel sucker

2,708 posts

229 months

Wednesday 15th December 2010
quotequote all
Looks aside, its going to be pretty swift!

Are McLaren planning to race their MP4-12C creation?

McAndy

16,063 posts

203 months

Wednesday 15th December 2010
quotequote all
Took ya time wink
Old news

whistle

vetteheadracer

8,273 posts

279 months

Wednesday 15th December 2010
quotequote all
carse said:
Are you sure about the widening the track/wider rears rule? I'm pretty sure the GT3 RS road car doesn't have the same track as the car in this photo but that's definitely a legal race car. Also, the latest 911 RSR that Porsche has just released now uses 12 inch front wheels up from 11 inches on the older car, so they've definitely changed wheel size and track (assuming offset is the same) and that again is perfectly legal.

The ALMS GT2 rules state:

ART. 3 - BODYWORK
3.1 Conformity:
Dimensions (length, width, overhangs, wheelbase, cockpit, glass areas, etc.) and the general look of the
bodywork shall be maintained identical to those of the car available on the market as described in the
ACO Homologation form, save modifications permitted by the regulations.

it then goes on to say

3.3.7 Wheel housing / Wheel arches:
a/ The external cut out and inside housing of the wheel arches may be modified to
accommodate larger wheels;
b/ In relation to the ACO homologated car, no panel or element may be removed above the
wheel centre line level ;
c/ The wheel housings shall always be closed by means of panels at least down to the wheel
centre line level. According to Art. 3.4.1 below, the lower part of the front and rear bumpers
may be modified with no diffuser at the rear. Diagrams needed for ACO approval.
3.3.8 Maximum width:
Across the front and rear wheel arches, the width of the bodywork (ACO Homologation form)
may be increased by 10 cm:
a/ The modification shall retain the original appearance of the fenders as much as possible ;
b/ Overall width (rear view mirrors excluded) cannot exceeds 200 cm ;

That Ferrari's bodywork is a lot more than 10cm wider than standard.

E21_Ross

36,723 posts

238 months

Wednesday 15th December 2010
quotequote all
snorkel sucker said:
Looks aside, its going to be pretty swift!

Are McLaren planning to race their MP4-12C creation?
yes, i believe so. around top gear track in testing the MP4-12C was approx 2secs quicker than the 458....!!