- Ferrari continues to develop its 458 racecar ahead of its anticipated entry next year in the 2012 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series.
- The 458 Italia Grand Am is based on Ferrari's European GT3 racecar.
- The new Grand Am racecar is being developed with Michelotto Automobili.
MARANELLO, Italy — Ferrari will take the still-evolving Grand Am racing version of its 458 Italia to the Daytona International Speedway early next week, as the Italian automaker continues to develop the 458 racecar ahead of its anticipated entry next year in the 2012 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series.
Based on Ferrari's European GT3 racecar and co-developed with Michelotto Automobili, the 458 Italia Grand Am made its track debut Monday at home on the Fiorano circuit, completing nearly 50 test laps.
Test drivers Jaime Melo and Toni Vilander will take turns piloting the 458 racecar during private track sessions July 26-27 at Daytona.
The American Grand Am racer differs from the European 458 Italia GT3 in several respects. It has a higher-output V8, rated at 500 horsepower, that is fitted with a 48mm restrictor plate and a rev limiter. A rollover bar is installed, and the brakes have been tuned to compensate for the absence of ABS and traction control. All Grand Am cars in the series will be shod with hard-compound racing rubber from Continental, the sole supplier.
Inside Line says: Ferrari is returning to a track that witnessed some of the marque's classic endurance victories, bracketed by Hill and Rodrigez in 1962 and Andretti and Ickx in 1972.
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isend2c says:
12:24 AM, 07/22/2011
It's amazing how ugly yellow lights can make a car.