1997 Ferrari F355 Challenge by Silverstone Auctions

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More pics and details HERE

Description:

To be sold by Silverstone Auctions at ‘Autosport International’ on Saturday 12th January 2019 at the NEC, near Birmingham B40 1NT. For more information please contact classic car specialist Arwel Richards on +44 (0) 7434 960868.

Registration: N/A

Chassis Number: ZFFXR418000107845

Engine Number: 45115

Number of cylinders: 8

CC: 3500cc

Year of Manufacture: 1997

RHD/LHD: Left Hand Drive

Estimate (£): 90,000 – 105,000

(+buyer’s premium of 15% including VAT @ 20%)

  • Delivered new to Venezuela in 1997 for use in the Ferrari Challenge Series
  • Officially certified as one of the 108 cars produced by the factory for track use
  • Sourced by our vendor from the United States in 2008 for use in the Ferrari Owners Club GB Series
  • Extensive works included a BTB race exhaust system, carbon fibre panels and interior, and a full engine rebuild
  • The car has won six races, several podiums, set fastest lap records for its class and won the series in 2018
  • Presented to auction freshly painted. Original steel panels and dashboard. Three sets of wheels.

In 1995, Ferrari introduced a race-ready F355 Challenge model designed for use specifically in the Ferrari Challenge Series. The bespoke model was created by starting with a standard Ferrari F355 Berlinetta and modifying it with a $30,000 factory-to-dealer supplied kit. Initially in 1995, the cars were supplied with factory fitted cage mounts and without carpets, however, each year, the cars arrived with more and more factory fitted race parts, culminating in 1998 with full-evolution cars which were supplied as virtually complete race cars.

The factory modifications were more substantial than the 348 Challenge and the engine, gearbox and shock-absorbers were sealed with special tags to prevent unauthorised alterations. The factory fitted modifications included a roll-cage, racing bucket seats, manual radiator fan control and upgraded fans, competition steering wheel, competition clutch, upgraded 14″ Brembo brakes (carried over from the F40), solid suspension bushes, competition springs, and brake cooling ducts amongst a number of other detail changes from the base car.

The F355 ‘Challenge’ shares the same engine and physical dimensions as the original car and 108 cars in total were produced, all with the 6-speed manual transmission. According to the accompanying Ferrari Certificate of Origin, the car was first delivered on the 29th January 1997 destined for Venezuela with engine number 45115. The delightfully named National Commission of Speed of Venezuela issued a certificate in 2000 that stated the car was raced thirty times in the Ferrari Challenge Cup during the 1997, 1998 and 1999 seasons, gaining second place twice, piloted by Juan Iliopoulos.

Mr Iliopoulos emigrated to the United States in 2000 taking the car with him and placing it into storage. Our vendor, whilst on holiday in the United States, came upon the car in 2009 and bought it directly from Mr Iliopoulos as a non-running car. Importing it into the UK, our vendor commissioned award-winning Ferrari racing car specialists, RNR Performance Cars of Kent, to carry out a program of extensive recommissioning works. We can supply a full list of works, but in brief, the car benefitted from a BTB race exhaust system, a safety fuel cell, and carbon fibre doors, bonnet, boot lid, panels, and dashboard. A full engine rebuild took place less than 25 hours ago at a cost of some £30,000. Once race ready, our vendor entered the Ferrari Owners Club series winning six times, enjoyed a number of podium appearances, set numerous Class lap records, and topped it off by winning the series in 2018.

The car was freshly painted in August 2018 and is supplied with three sets of sets of wheels and tyres, the original steel panels and dashboard, a history file detailing previous ownership, the aforementioned certificates, and a substantial number of invoices for race preparation, maintenance and attention. To conclude, this F355 Challenge is not merely a weekend track-day toy but a proven race-series winner in the hands of just two gentlemen racers, and one of just 108 Maranello-produced examples.

Challenge and GT Days 2019 – Special invitation for Maserati GT, Cup, Trofeo and MC12 GT1 Race Cars

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Due to many inquiries for Maserati Race Cars we decided to open the classes also for the Maserati Open Cup, Trofeo and the fantastic MC12 GT1. We have already commitments on some Vitaphone MC12, Ghibli Open Cup Cars, and Trofeos.

We are really looking forward to see the 550 GTs, 575 GTC and the MC12 GT1 together back on track…

Welcome Maserati to the Challenge and GT Days 2019 – All details, classes and the timetable HERE

 

1987 Ferrari F40 LM at RM Sotheby’s Paris

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Direkt link to RM Sotheby’s
 
Discription:
 
In 1987, Ferrari celebrated their 40th anniversary, and to mark the occasion launched arguably their most uncompromising road car ever – the twin-turbocharged 471-bhp, 201-mph F40. Borrowing heavily from technology developed for the still-born Group B 288 GTO Evoluzione programme, it was no surprise when the evocatively named F40 LM finally hit the track in 1989 – albeit at the behest of the French Ferrari importer Charles Pozzi rather than the factory itself.
 
Developed by Michelotto, the F40 LM benefitted from enlarged twin IHI turbocharger/ intercooler units and advanced Weber-Marelli fuel injection, which increased power to over 700 bhp. A corresponding reduction in weight to just 1,050 kg resulted in predictably awesome performance, whilst the car also featured extensive chassis stiffening, race-specification transmission, uprated brakes and extensively modified bodywork.
 
This particular example – chassis no. 74045 – has a fascinating and illustrious history. Originally used as a pre-production prototype by the factory, it was sold to former Le Mans and IMSA driver Rene Herzog in early 1992. Herzog sent the car to Michelotto for conversion to LM specification, although shortly after its completion ownership passed to his fellow Swiss Charles Zuger. In 1995, the car was sold to GT Racing impresario Stephane Ratel who raced it in the European GT Championship of that year, but in turn sold the car mid-season to the French Pilot-Aldix team for use in the BPR Global GT Series of that year.
 
Driven by the all-French pairing of Michel Ferte and Olivier Thevenin, the car’s top-line career started inauspiciously with retirements in each of the first four rounds of the series at Paul Ricard, Monza, Jarama and Nürburgring. However, by Le Mans pre-qualifying in April – and with 74045 now patriotically re-painted in French Racing Blue – fortunes had improved markedly, with the team leaving the Sarthe circuit an encouraging fifth fastest overall, and fastest of all the GT1 runners.
 
A little over six weeks later – and with their line-up bolstered by third driver Carlos Palau – the team qualified an excellent 7th for the 24 Hours of Le Mans itself, and 2nd in GT1 ahead of all seven of the hitherto pace-setting McLaren F1 GTRs. The race was blighted by wet conditions which played to the McLaren’s strengths, but nevertheless 74045 finished a respectable 12th overall and sixth in GT1. Significantly, this would prove to be the best result ever achieved by an F40 at Le Mans.
 
A fortnight later, Ferte and Thevenin took pole position for the Anderstorp Four Hours and followed this up with an emphatic win ahead of the McLarens of Nielsen/Bscher and Raphanel/Owen-Jones. A mixed end to the season saw retirements in both the Suzuka 1000 KM (electrics) and the Zhuhai Three Hours (gearbox), but also a highly creditable 2nd place finish in the Silverstone Foour Hours behind the Harrods-sponsored McLaren of Wallace/ Grouillard.
For 1996, the driver line-up was retained, the car uprated with a GTE-specification rear wing and a similar assault on the BPR series planned to that of the previous year. Over the balance of the season, it was clear that the Italian Ennea squad had overtaken their French counterparts as top Ferrari team, with a 5th place at Jarama, 8th at Silverstone, 6th at the Nürburgring and a 3rd place at Nogaro, the highpoints of an otherwise trying year for Pilot. At Le Mans, Ferte and Thevenin were joined by French journeyman Nicolas Leboissetier, although the proliferation of new breed WSC cars – not to mention the inclusion of Porsche’s controversial 911 GT1 – ensured that they would qualify no higher than 25th, prior to retirement in the race.
 
Following the conclusion of the car’s contemporary racing career at the end of the 1996 season, it passed through the ownership of several prominent collectors, prior to its acquisition by the current owner in 2008. It is important to note that the car was freshly serviced last year and today remains on the button to participate in vintage racing events, namely the new official Ferrari program, Club GT Competizioni. Adding to its overall desirability, the car is offered with its original gearbox and a set of spare wheels. Given the paucity of factory-blessed Sports Racing and GT racing Ferraris in recent decades, 74045 – especially given its top-level racing history – is surely a ‘must have’ for any serious Ferrari or competition car collector.
Resplendent in the livery worn on its competitive swansong at Nogaro in 1996, it also represents a highly attractive and hugely charismatic entry for the European-based Masters Endurance Legends and Global Endurance Legends series, not to mention the burgeoning HSR and Daytona 24 Hour Classic events stateside.
 
Having enjoyed a thrilling competition career, including two outings at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, chassis no. 74045 is without doubt the most significant F40 LM and amongst the most significant privateer-campaigned Ferrari racing cars. It would warrant pride of place in any of the most prestigious Ferrari collections around the globe. It is a car that its next owner can enjoy at a multitude of historic racing events and one that would surely be welcomed at any of the finest concours events worldwide.