Speciale - gearbox ratios
Discussion
Having become somewhat acquainted with the Speciale on road and track I've tentatively come to the conclusion its gear ratios could be improved. 1st gear is superfluous, its not used on the track, and around town 2nd is fine at very low speeds (1500 rpm corresponds to just 10 mph). From a standing start 1st is short enough to spin the rear wheels all the way to the limiter, even I suspect when loaded with two portly gentleman, a full tank of fuel, and the car pointed uphill on a hot Italian day (so those Cup 2s are nice and sticky). Possibly 2nd gear wouldn't quite manage it. On the other hand at the top of the gearbox there are comparitively large gaps between 5th, 6th, and 7th. Contrast for example with the 911 GT3.
So here's my suggestion: Remove 1st gear. Shorten 2nd a little. Squeeze another gear into the space between 5th and 7th.
I would be interested to know what ratios the 458 Challenge cars run, does anybody know?
So here's my suggestion: Remove 1st gear. Shorten 2nd a little. Squeeze another gear into the space between 5th and 7th.
I would be interested to know what ratios the 458 Challenge cars run, does anybody know?
Speciale gear ratios are very short, I assume to make up the acceleration numbers. Seat of the pants feeling is that the speciale has shorter ratios than the 458 challenge which seemed more like a standard 458 ratio to me. Bizarrely challenge felt faster though, but guess that was more down to grip and the fact most were rolling starts so hard to compare exactly for me.
Ferrari sports cars have always had ridiculously short 1st gears since day one.
First it helps you get better acceleration off the line, and secondly, once rolling, Ferrari's theory is that you no longer need to use 1st gear (based on racing principles - That's why the old cars had dogleg gearboxes with 1st gear across and back in the same plane as reverse, because once moving they were deemed redundant gears).
TBH, I would have thought with a 7 speed "flappy paddle" gearbox, it wouldn't really be that much of an issue issue (You should try driving an older car like a 328/348 in traffic on a cold day. Not only is 1st ridiculously low geared, but you can't have 2nd gear until the gearbox has warmed up and the car decides you can now use it so you have to do a 1st~3rd shift! That's okay and you do get used to it, but sometimes, 1st is a bit too high a ratio and 3rd is a bit too low!)
First it helps you get better acceleration off the line, and secondly, once rolling, Ferrari's theory is that you no longer need to use 1st gear (based on racing principles - That's why the old cars had dogleg gearboxes with 1st gear across and back in the same plane as reverse, because once moving they were deemed redundant gears).
TBH, I would have thought with a 7 speed "flappy paddle" gearbox, it wouldn't really be that much of an issue issue (You should try driving an older car like a 328/348 in traffic on a cold day. Not only is 1st ridiculously low geared, but you can't have 2nd gear until the gearbox has warmed up and the car decides you can now use it so you have to do a 1st~3rd shift! That's okay and you do get used to it, but sometimes, 1st is a bit too high a ratio and 3rd is a bit too low!)
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