Author Archives: challenger24

Driving The AF Corse-built Ferrari 458 GTE | Henry Catchpole – The Driver’s Seat

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Max Girardos Ferrari 458 GTE at our Challenge and GT Days 2023 – Very well done the Video – Bravo !!!

Thanks to the team of Max Girardo, Herny Catchpole and HAGERTY

Details about the 458 GTE HERE at Girardo Co.

Enjoy the HAGERTY YouTube Channel HERE

There’s a host of ways to get your hypercar kicks on track these days. Specials like Aston Martin’s Valkyrie AMR Pro or McLaren’s Solus or even Ferrari’s own FXX-K Evo all offer circuit-specific thrills. But if you’ve got a couple of million Euros (real or fantasy) to spend then how about a genuine race car, with real pedigree? How about a Ferrari 458 GTE that actually raced at Le Mans, twice?

What makes this Ferrari even more appealing is that its road car counterpart, the 458 Speciale, is one of the all-time greats. And, as Henry Catchpole discovered during his drive, there are clear similarities between the road car and race car. The GTE is, however, definitely louder. A lot louder. And the Speciale is hardly known for being a shrinking violet. But with a 4.5-litre, naturally aspirated V8 at its heart, the mighty wall of noise that emanates from the 458 GTE’s exhaust pipes is ear-splittingly glorious.

Chassis 2874 first raced at Le Mans with AF Corse exactly a decade before this year’s victorious Ferrari 499P Hypercar. But arguably its greatest moment at the famous 24 hour race came the year after, in 2014. That year Sam Bird put the car on pole in the GTE AM category but beat all bar one of the Pro cars in the process. It was an extraordinary lap.

In this episode we’re not at the Circuit de la Sarthe but instead in Austria at the beautiful and undulating Red Bull Ring. Why? Well, Girardo & Co (which currently has the car for sale) was part of the excellent Challenge and GT Days event, which hosts a huge collection of Ferrari track cars – everything from a 355 Challenge with a manual ‘box to the latest 488 Challenge Evo. It makes for quite a sight in the pits.

 

For Sale – 1999 Ferrari 360 N-GT

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Ferrari 360 N-GT Details an more pictures HERE at ClassicDriver

Ferrari 360 N-GT s/n 119339, a Euro model 360 Challenge prepared in early 2000 to N-GT specifications to campaign in the European FIA GTR championship race series.
This car raced on 16th April, 2000 at the FIA GT Championship, round # 3 at Monza, for 500 kms, with race # 61, and driven by ex-F1 driver Ivan Capelli and Erich Prinroth, finishing 10th in class.

Later the car was entered in the 2001 24 H of Daytona with racing number #30 (dns) and remained in USA until 2020, when discovered and imported back to Europe.
At the time of the find the car had a provocative blue/orange Gulf Livery and when the car arrived in Europe the original snow flakes Dolomiti Superski livery has been finally re-made.

Today 360 Challenge s/n 119339 is eligible for a multitude of track events for retired Challenge cars such as a low-cost entry to Ferrari’s new Club Competizioni GT series or, for those more serious, the SCCA U.S. Majors Tour, billed by the SCCA as the pinnacle of championship road racing in North America, the SCCA’s GT-X class, specifically for older Challenge and GT3 cars or the SCCA’s ITX (Improved Touring unlimited) as well as any HSR or NASA weekend, the Daytona Classic of four one-hour races, the Sebring classic with three one-hour races, the Spring Classic at Laguna Seca and a multitude of other track events.

The instrument readout is functional and clearly readable. The roll cage padding and the inner carbon fiber door panels are all in generally good condition. Overall the car presents as an example of track-appropriate car, with no evidence of damage to the body or interior features, often found in cars with long competition histories. Under the hood, the innovative 360 V8 displays excellent castings, correct factory housings and original equipment. The condition of the engine compartment is generally very good, appearing clean and properly preserved.

As one might expect sitting behind the wheel, getting ready to go on track is an adrenaline inducing experience. The engine erupts to a strong idle and revs freely. The 3.6 liter V8 gives remarkable acceleration with astonishing shift points, incredible traction and great braking, making for a car with substantial capability, even in the hands of lesser experienced race car drivers. While certainly a highly responsive car with 175 mph plus speed and legendary agility, once a few laps have passed, the car becomes a genuine delight, pushing you to test the next level of your driving skills. A highly event eligible, factory-built racecar with extensively honed specifications based on Ferraris many decades of GT victories, the Ferrari 360 Challenge is a wallet-friendly entry into Ferrari GT Racing and is, for the first-time club racer, a serious factory built and sorted competition machine with no lack of parts available and with the mechanics to support them at any level.

For sale at RM Sothebys – 2006 Ferrari F430 GTC

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Estimate is EUR 750.000 – 1.000.000,–

Chassis No. 2438
Engine No. 055
Gearbox No. 049
Documents Bill of Sale Only
To be offered on Friday, 9 June 2023 at Le Mans
 
All details about the car and more pictures HERE at RM Sothebys
 
  • Driven onto the podium with a 2nd-in-class at the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans
  • Finished 3rd in class at the 2008 12 Hours of Sebring
  • Winner of the 2007 American Le Mans Series Team Championship under the famous Risi Competizione team
  • Eight podium finishes across 28 races with Risi Competizione from 2006 to 2008
  • Raced by sports car greats including Marc Gené, Andrea Bertolini, Toni Vilander, Gianmaria Bruni, Darren Turner, and Marino Franchitti
  • The 19th F430 GTC built by Michelotto, the renowned Ferrari Factory-authorised race shop
  • Highly eligible for the Endurance Racing Legends historic race series
  • The modern-day equivalent to the 250 GT SWB Competitizione and 275 GTB/C GT racers of the 1960s

Launched in 2006, the F430 GTC was a product of collaboration between Ferrari’s Corse Clienti department and Michelotto Automobili that turned the road-going berlinetta into a race car capable of challenging for top honours in the GT2 category. Faster than both the Challenge and GT3 variant, it featured a de-stroked 4-litre version of the Tipo 131 V-8 producing 449 horsepower.

One of the teams to take delivery of the new model was Ontario-based Ferri Competizione, which acquired the example offered here—chassis 2438—in June 2006. The car would be run in the 2006 season by the most successful Ferrari racing team in North America, Texas outfit Risi Competizione, which marked its return to the GT2 category of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) with the new model.

Chassis 2438 showed immediate promise by qualifying 1st for the New England Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park in July. The race started off well with chassis 2438 jumping to an early lead in the GT2 category, however, on lap 11 the car became entangled with a Courage C65 LMP2 car and both had to retire following the resulting accident. Chassis 2438 was subsequently sent back to Michelotto where it was rebuilt with a new shell and was back on the track in August where it finished 4th in class at Road America and 2nd in class at Mosport. It then recorded a stunning 2nd-in-class finish at Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, where it was driven by Anthony Lazzaro, Maurizio Mediani, and Marino Franchitti. Its inaugural season was rounded out with a 7th-in-class finish at Laguna Seca.

The F430 GTC continued its career with Risi Competizione the following year, where it was raced no fewer than 13 times. Its career highlight came mid-season, when it took to the Circuit de la Sarthe for the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans. Driven by Tracey Krohn, Colin Braun, and Niclas Jönsson, the car was brought home a podium 2ndi-in-class behind only the IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche 911 GT3 RSR of Richard Lietz, Raymond Larac, and Pat Long. Chassis 2438 also had a successful ALMS season scoring a podium 2nd-in-class finish at the Mobil 1 Grand Prix of Mosport as well as 3rd-in-class finishes at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the North East Grand Prix, and the Acura Sports Car Challenge of Mid-Ohio. Its significant points contribution throughout the season helped Risi Competizione secure the 2007 AMLS Team Championship title.

For 2008, chassis 2438’s final competitive season began with another stellar result. Once again flying the Risi Competizione banner, Krohn, Jönsson, and Eric van de Poele steered the car to an incredible 3rd-in-class finish at the 12 Hours of Sebring. The same driver line-up would finish 4th in class at Petit Le Mans, and their consistent performance of finishing every race entered helped Risi Competizione to achieve 3rd in the ALMS Team Championship for 2008.

Chassis 2438 is a proven example of one of Ferrari’s great race cars of the modern era. Much like its older siblings the 250 GT SWB Competitizione and 275 GTB/C that carried the Prancing Horse to many GT victories in the 1960s, this F430 GTC has an enviable provenance. Notably, it boasts podium results at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 12 Hours of Sebring under the race direction of Risi Competizione, one of the most successful teams in endurance racing. Further, it is still a hugely capable racer that would be highly eligible for historic race series such as Endurance Racing Legends; indeed, an accompanying estimate to prepare the car for that series—including replacement of the fire extinguisher, fuel tank, seat, and tyres with regulation items—amounts to just over €35,000.

Boasting an impressive resume of eight podium finishes across 28 races with the premiere Risi Competizione team, chassis 2438 is an incredible piece of endurance racing history and would be a fine contender for a return to frontline motorsport or feature in a collection of the finest modern race cars.

This is what it’s like to drive a Works Ferrari 458 Italia GTE at the Red Bull Ring

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Despite tearing the serenity of the Styrian hills to shreds during this year’s Challenge & GT Days at the Red Bull Ring, the 2013 Ferrari 458 Italia GTE proved itself to be a surprisingly approachable and absolutely engaging modern-era sports-racing car. Now for the debrief…

The Red Bull Ring, Austria. A racetrack which looks as though it was nonchalantly draped over a pocket of undulating Styrian landscape. A picture of rural serenity. That is until the soul-stirring eight-cylinder symphony of 50-plus Ferrari Challenge and GT cars cuts through the cowbell-dotted stillness like a knife.

eam Girardo & Co. travelled to the Red Bull Ring this week for the 2023 Challenge & GT Days – an event conceived by the Austrian collector Heinz Swoboda to provide owners of modern-era competition Ferraris with a private, relaxed and non-competitive environment in which to enjoy their cars.

Indicative of the broader surge in interest for modern-era endurance competition cars in the collector-car market, these Prancing Horses have become extremely sought after. Besides their historical significance, rarity and (newfound) eligibility, these cars have skyrocketed in desirability for another reason: the ease at which they can be used. And the Challenge & GT Days is the perfect excuse to exploit that fact.

“The Red Bull Ring, Austria. A racetrack which looks as though it was nonchalantly draped over a pocket of undulating Styrian landscape. A picture of rural serenity.”

Read the full story with a lot of great photos HERE at Girardo Co.

Thank’s to Max and his team for joining us – Grazie Max

NEW Timetable for our Challenge and GT Days 2023

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Here you find the NEW timetable for our Challenge and GT Days without the RACE

All details and informations about the event HERE

 

*Timetable Day One Tuesday 23. May – Drivetime:

08.30-08.55  Drivers meeting (mandatory) VIP lounge

09.00 – 10.20 Group 1 and 2

10.25 – 12.00 Group 3 and 4

12.00 – 13.00 Lunch break

13.00 – 14.20 Group 1 and 2

14.25 – 15.40 Group 3 and 4

15.45 – 17.20 Open pitlane for group 2, 3 and 4

17.25 -18.00 Foto session at the starting grid

 

*Timetable Day Two Wednesday 24. of May – Drivetime:

09.00 – 9.35 Group 1

09.40 – 12.00 Group 2, 3 and 4

12.00 – 13.00 Lunch break

13.00 – 13.35 Group 1

13.40 – 15.20 Group 2, 3 and 4

15.25 – 16.00 Group 1

*The schedule is not fixed and can be adapted any time

 

Groups and eligible Ferraris*

Group 1 – All Road going Ferraris including the Ferrari Club Austria

Group 2 – 1993 to 2006: Ferrari Challenge/GT – Challenge 348/355/360/430 inkl. the Michelotto 348 GTC / LMs, the 360 Challenge and GTs N-GT, GT, GTC and 430 GT3/GT2 (on invitation for Maserati Ghibli Open Cup and Trofeo Race Cars). Also Ferrari 512 BB LM, F40 GT/LM/GTE, 333 SP, 550 GTC, 575 GTC and similar GTs incl. the and Maserati MC 12 GT1 (please ask for different and older Ferraris)

Group 3 – 2006 to 2021: Ferrari Challenge/GT – 430/458/488 Challenge inkl. 430 GT3/GT2, 458 GT3/GT2 and 488 Challenge/GT3/GT2

Group 4 –  Endurance Racing Legends or similar racing cars from the 1990s to the 2000s. Mc Laren, Mercedes, Porsche etc. – WELCOME!

* The final grouping will take place at the event and can be changed any time