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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.



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VML

Original Poster:

428 posts

44 months

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

Stig

9,967 posts

153 months

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Wednesday 15th December 2010 quote quote all
FUGLY.

stephen300o

12,644 posts

97 months

[news] 
Wednesday 15th December 2010 quote quote 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

873 posts

33 months

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Wednesday 15th December 2010 quote quote 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

3,415 posts

147 months

[news] 
Wednesday 15th December 2010 quote quote 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?!
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stephen300o

12,644 posts

97 months

[news] 
Wednesday 15th December 2010 quote quote 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

2,502 posts

47 months

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Wednesday 15th December 2010 quote quote all
cloud9

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

daveco

2,487 posts

76 months

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Wednesday 15th December 2010 quote quote 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

10,512 posts

81 months

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Wednesday 15th December 2010 quote quote 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

12,644 posts

97 months

[news] 
Wednesday 15th December 2010 quote quote 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

8,123 posts

122 months

[news] 
Wednesday 15th December 2010 quote quote 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

134 posts

143 months

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

carse

63 posts

86 months

[news] 
Wednesday 15th December 2010 quote quote 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

8,123 posts

122 months

[news] 
Wednesday 15th December 2010 quote quote 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

114 posts

68 months

[news] 
Wednesday 15th December 2010 quote quote 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

852 posts

31 months

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

snorkel sucker

2,149 posts

72 months

[news] 
Wednesday 15th December 2010 quote quote all
Looks aside, its going to be pretty swift!

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

McAndy

4,931 posts

46 months

[news] 
Wednesday 15th December 2010 quote quote all
Took ya time wink
Old news

whistle

vetteheadracer

8,123 posts

122 months

[news] 
Wednesday 15th December 2010 quote quote 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

10,512 posts

81 months

[news] 
Wednesday 15th December 2010 quote quote 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....!!
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