Model history:
The Ferrari F430 shared its aluminum chassis with the 360 that preceded it, but its Pininfarina-penned styling charted a new course for Maranello. The F430 channeled Ferrari’s past designs with taillights from the Enzo, Testarossa-like side mirrors that stretched out from its A-pillars, and ducts integrated into its sides and front fascia akin to 1960s Formula 1 cars. Pininfarina’s Frank Stephenson is credited with the F430’s striking design.

Though its styling was eye-catching, the F430’s big newsmaker at its debut at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show was under its glass engine cover. The F430 marked the first use of Ferrari’s new dual overhead camshaft, 32-valve V-8 engine, codenamed F136 E. The 90-degree V-8 was co-developed with Maserati, but Maranello’s version got its own 180-degree flat-plane crankshaft. Chain-driven camshafts replaced rubber belts in the automaker’s previous eight-cylinder. The new, modern V-8 was the first clean-sheet design for Ferrari in about half a century. The new engine sent its approximately 490 hp to the rear wheels via either a six-speed manual transmission or the automaker’s six-speed F1 gearbox.

It did not take long for Ferrari to take the wraps off a GT2 racing version of the F430. Developed with longtime racing partner Michelotto Automobili, the F430 GTC was eligible for American Le Mans Series racing, the Le Mans Series, the FIA GT Championship, and even the 24 Hours of Le Mans!

The F430 GTC made use of a downsized 4.0-liter version of the new V-8 in order to comply with FIA rules. The F430 GTC’s engine was rated at 470 hp, but its impressive power-to-weight ratio meant it was significantly faster than the 550-hp F430 GT3. A six-speed sequential-shift transmission put power to the wheels in rapid fashion. 

The F430 GTC featured a big rear wing with an integrated Gurney flap to enhance the design’s already impressive downforce plus carbon fiber body panels to reduce weight. Race cars rode on 18-inch center-lock lightweight wheels wrapped in Michelin racing slicks rather than the 19-inch wheels with Pirelli tires on street cars. While the road-going F430 debuted adjustable dampers could be tweaked via a knob on its steering wheel, the F430 GTC’s suspension retained garage-only adjustment. Noting the difference between the street F430 and the F430 GTC  during a test at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah in 2012, Road & Track wrote that the two Ferraris “are like shades of red: in a similar family, yes, but totally different.”

The F430 GTC got off to a strong start by winning the FIA GT2 Manufacturers’ Cup and Drivers’ title in 2006 and 2007, the ALMS GT2 Manufacturers’ Title in 2007, and it won the GT2 class at Le Mans in 2008. Ultimately, the F430 GTC made Ferrari a dominant force in GT racing, and this has continued with the 458 GT2 and 488 GTE. In total approximately 46 examples were built.

Specific history of this car:
Chassis 2404 is the first ever built 430 GTC and was used by Ferrari SpA as a prototype/development car and as one of the very first Ferrari Works cars.

Following the typical nomenclature of Ferrari chassis numbers, one would think that 2402 is the first built car. But somehow, Michelotto, who builds the racing GT cars for Ferrari always used the xx04 for the prototype! Also is the 2404 the only car that   was sold after its active career directly by Ferrari, all other cars were being sold by various racing teams.

Apart from a lot of testing, developing and homologation things, 2404 was also entered by Ferrari SpA/AF Corse (the Ferrari Works team) in several races with drivers as Bruni, Vilander, Melo, Parente and Barba.

„Jimmi“ Bruni today is known as one of the most successful GT drivers ever! 

Date                      Track                                    Drivers                      Result
__________________________________________________________________
    
• 4 Oct 2009     2 hours of Paul Richard       Bruni/Vilander      1st

• 25 Oct 2009   2 hours of Zolder                  Bruni/Vilander      4th

• 18 Jul 2010     6 hours of Portimao             Bruni/Melo            1st

• 22 Jul 2010     6 hours Hungarorin              Parente/Barba     4th

• 12 Sep 2010    6 hours Silverstone              Bruni/Melo            1st
 
The victory in Silverstone also secured Ferrari the 2010 Constructors title in the ILMC (International Le Mans Cup = WEC today).

After its racing and test career the car was sold in fully restored condition directly from Ferrari to a private collector, who again sold it to us in 2016.

Today the car is presented in the latest 2010 Evolution spec, which includes:

Step 6 engine
Gearbox with external adjustable differential settings
Lightweights brake calipers
Specific sequential gearbox with fuel cut-off in downshifting
Extended data acquisition system

As per the official Ferrari Competizioni GT department, chassis 2404 is „the most evoluted F430 GT in existence“.

When the car was sold by Ferrari SpA it came in the full „carbon look“ as it was used during its testing duties. Without big effort, the car could also be wrapped again in its AF Corse livery as raced in 2009/10.

The car will now be sold with a very interesting and valuable documentation file including the Ferrari Classiche red book, signed and commented by „Jimmi“ Bruni. This is a rare opportunity to purchase a real piece of Ferrari racing history that is also eligible for Concours events and sports events as the Ferrari Club Competizioni GT, the Masters series of the Peter Auto series only to mention a few.