The wraps come off the 458 Italia GT3

Monza, 10 April – On the same card at the Monza National circuit as the opening round of this season's Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, featuring the new 458 Challenge car, there was another significant track debut, that of the Ferrari 458 Italia GT3.

The car is prepared by Ferrari in collaboration with Michelotto Automobili and was on track for the first round of the GT Sprint International Series, which runs to a two race format, each of 25 minutes and runs as part of the Superstars event.

Over the weekend, Fabio Mancini and Niki Cadei took turns at the wheel of the new Ferrari which was running in the colours of the AF Corse team and which confirmed in today's race, the very high potential the car had to offer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGDtLZ5VSnw

It came second overall in Race 1 and third in the GTS3 with Niki Cadei's excellent driving delivering the race fastest lap in 1.49.910 on lap 9. The outright win went to the F430 GTC of Massimiliano Mugelli (Vittoria Competizioni) with third place going to another F430 GTC driven by AF Corse's Giuseppe Ciro.

In the second race, the AF Corse Ferrari 458 GT3 took another good result finishing third overall in the hands of Fabio Mancini,behind the Vittoria Competizioni F430 GTC driven by Andrea Palma and the Ferrari of Michael Dalle Stelle (Racing Team Edil Cris) first and second overall respectively. Mancini, the leader in class GTS3 took a well deserved third place ahead of the Roberto Del Castello Corvette Z06 R.

The next round of the GT Sprint International Series takes place at Valencia's Ricardo Tormo circuit at Cheste, over the weekend of 8 May, which also hosts the second round of the European Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli.

Full marks for the launch of the 458 Challenge in Monza

Monza, 10 April –The opening round of this season's Italian and European Challenge Trofeo Pirelli took place this weekend at the Monza National Circuit, with the debut of the new 458 Challenge. The car's maiden outing was watched by special guests in the shape of Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa and Enrico Galleria, Ferrari Commercial and Marketing Director, who were in Monza for this special debut. A good crowd, which on Sunday alone reached 24,000

Victory in the second and closely contested leg of the European division was decided pretty much at the start with the advantage going to Alexandr Skryabin (Ferrari Moscow) who, of the drivers in the Trofeo Pirelli category remained solidly in command for the entire race, despite the arrival of the safety car after Howard Blank's (Motor Piacenza) accident. The Ferrari Moscow man crossed the line ahead of Max Blancardi (Motor Malucelli) and Alexey Vasiliev (Ferrari Moscow) with both men driving great races featuring amazing climbs up the order. Equally closely fought was the race to the podium for the gentleman drivers in the Coppa Shell: Jean Marc Bachelier (Motor Piacenza) took the win ahead of Dirk Adamski (Baron Service) and Dennis Andersen (Formula Automobie), while of those in the F430 Challenge, Alexadner Moiseev (Motor Piacenza) was first, beating Carsten Andersen (Formula Automobile.)

In the Italian Trofeo Pirelli, the top step of the podium was occupied once again by Stefano Gai: the Rossocorsa driver led all 35 minutes of the race, to finish ahead of Giorgio Sernagiotto (Motor Piacenza) who drove a consistent and error free race. Lorenzo Bontempelli (Kessel Racing) having started alongside Gai, had to pit early and then climbed up the order to stand on the third step of the podium. In the Coppa Shell race, Benedetto Marti (Motor Piacenza) took a fantastic win, getting the better of Mario Molteni (Rossocorsa) and Emilio Rossi (Motor Piacenza.) In the second leg of the F430 Challenge, Giosuè Rizzuto (Motor/Modena) was impressive on his way to the win over Sossio del Prete (CDP) and Andrea D'Antonio (Ineco/Ram.)

Competitors in the European Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli will be back in action at the Ricardo Tormo circuit, Cheste near Valencia over the weekend of 8 May, while they and the Italian competitors will both race in the brand new round at the Le Mans circuit on 11 June, in one race with separate classifications, as a curtain raiser to the famous Le Mans 24 Hours.

Source [Ferrari]

 

CONSIDERABLY better looking then the Challenge and GT2 cars...

 

greeeeeeat!!!

 

SHAZAM!!!!!!!!!

YouTube - New Ferrari 458 GT3 !! Accelerations SOUND and Details !!

 

Holy crap!

 

that first video gives me a half stiffy. repp

 

there is a 458 Challenge (not the GT3 with the wing) at my Fcar dealer around the corner....just discovered it there today while I was drooling over a black GTO the mechanics just prepared!