To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' London event, 24 October
2019.
Estimate:
£95,000 - £120,000
- Offered from the collection of David L Mason O.B.E.
- Overall winner of the 2014 & 2015 Britcar Endurance
Championships
- Upgraded with the FF Corse Evo 2 kit
The Ferrari Challenge series was launched in 1993 as a way of
giving amateur drivers the opportunity to experience the thrill of
motor racing on some of the most iconic circuits around the world
with dealership and factory support. It has grown into a global
programme with separate series in the UK, Europe, North America,
and Asia Pacific and remains the longest-running single-marque
racing series in existence.
To date there have been six 'Challenge' models, and the 458 Italia
Challenge was the fifth offered by Ferrari for the series,
replacing the 430 Challenge which had been campaigned since 2007.
Much like its predecessors, the 458 Challenge was largely based
upon its road-going sibling, the 458 Italia, albeit with a plethora
of optimisations for use on the track.
Conspicuously and perhaps in recognition of just how potent the
road car was, the 4.5-litre, naturally aspirated V-8 engine
remained largely untouched, still producing 570 bhp at 9,000 rpm.
Only minor tweaks to the gear ratios and recalibration of the
dual-clutch F1 gearbox were deemed necessary for the track version,
and even then only to improve low-range torque to improve
drivability on the circuits.
However, significant changes were made to the chassis, bodywork,
and interior of the car. To begin with, the car was put on a
serious diet, with the thickness of the aluminium bodywork reduced
and in certain areas replaced with carbon-fibre panels. In
addition, the glass windows and windscreen were replaced with
polycarbonate alternatives. Complementing the weight savings were
changes to the suspension setup of the car. Stiffer, shorter
springs and light alloy dampers replaced their road-going
counterparts and permitted a lowering of the car by two inches. At
the same time, solid steel motorsport bushings took the place of
conventional rubber items and lightweight 19-inch forged wheels
wrapped in Pirelli slick tyres completed the entirely
track-focussed configuration. The effect of the changes was summed
up by Road & Track when they back-to-back tested the 458 Italia and
458 Challenge in 2011: 'Put simply, stepping out of a 458 road car
and into the Challenge car seems like a totally different
world...this is an all-business race car.'
The 458 Challenge was also the first in the series to offer drivers
the assistance of F1-Trac stability control, with three modes
permitting progressively more traction-control assistance from the
onboard electronics to aid less experienced drivers in low-grip
conditions. Naturally, the interior is an entirely no-frills
affair�fully stripped out with fixed racing bucket seats, six-point
harnesses, FIA-approved roll cage, and a digital instrument
cluster.
This particular example has one of the richest racing histories of
any 458 Challenge, having won the overall 2014 and 2015 Britcar
Endurance championships at the hands of the owner and Calum Lockie,
the only car to have ever won back-to-back Britcar championships;
astonishingly, its first championship was won by a single point. It
also benefits from having been run and maintained by marque experts
FF Corse of Silverstone and features the 2014 FF Corse Evo 2 kit
and respective aerodynamic upgrades. It is offered for sale freshly
prepared for its next owner to enjoy, and it would make a fantastic
addition to a collection focussed on Challenge Ferraris or as an
entrant into club racing.To view this car and others currently
consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/lf19.