Ferrari 458

The 458 Italia Challenge is a mid-rear V8 berlinetta derived from the 458 Italia and represents the fifth model used by Ferrari in its single-series racing program. The model will be the protagonist in the 2011 Ferrari Challenge, where the new 458 Challenge will share the track with its predecessor, the F430 Challenge. In 2011, each race will see two class winners, one 458 and one F430. Once engines start, Ferrari 458 Challenge drivers will test the very limits of their mettle thanks to advanced technologies Ferrari's racing arm has refined at circuits throughout the world.

With the new 458 Challenge, Ferrari combines extreme performance, superb fun behind the wheel with unique driving emotions for its sporting, professional and gentleman-driver clients.

To reduce weight from the already light 458 Italia, engineers used thinner body panels and carbon fiber as well as Lexan wherever possible in this track-only model. Equipped with lightweight body panels and specially tuned suspension, the 458 Italia Challenge is the first Challenge racer to use the F1-Trac traction control system and it is Ferrari's first racing application of the dual-clutch seven-speed transmission. The F1-Trac system allows to constantly monitoring levels of grip for maximum high-performance road-holding and it is fully integrated with the E-Diff to guarantee maximum acceleration and stability into and out of corners. The ABS/EBD, F1-Trac and E-Diff calibration settings are selected through the manettino placed in the steering wheel. It is the first time this solution has been adopted on a Ferrari Challenge series model. The driver can choose from three configurations: OFF (traction control deactivated), position 1 and position 2, which have progressively higher levels of control system intervention.

Ferrari

When Enzo Ferrari created his company Scuderia Ferrari in Italy in 1929 his intentions was to sponsor amateur race car drivers and invent racing cars, and it would take more than 15 years before Ferrari began to create their own road cars in 1946. Ferrari is still devoted to the creation of racing cars and high performance sports cars and do not create other types of cars. Scuderia Ferrari is still the widespread name for Gestione Sportiva, the part of the Ferrari company that works with racing. Scuderia is an Italian word and means "stable", but Scuderia Ferrari is sometime also translated as Team Ferrari.

During the early years, Scuderia Ferrari sponsored race car drivers that were driving Alfa Romeo cars. Scuderia Ferrari would prepare Alfa Romeo cars before the race, and in 1938 Enzo Ferrari became officially employed by Alfa Romeo's racing department. Two years later Enzo Ferrari found out that Alfa Romeo was planning to absorb Scuderia Ferrari, a plan which Enzo Ferrari strongly opposed. He instantly left his job at Alfa Romeo, but his contract restricted him from being involved with racing for several years. He changed Scuderia Ferrari into "Auto Avio Costruzioni Ferrari" and officially manufactured aircraft accessories for a few years. Enzo Ferrari did however create a race car during this restricted period. The Tipo 815 debuted at the Mille Miglia race in 1940, but the race was hampered due to World War II and Tipo 815 encountered no real competition. In 1943 Enzo Ferrari moved his factory to Maranello in Italy and one year later the factory was bombed. After the end of World War II, Enzo Ferrari rebuilt his factory and now the Ferrari factory was capable of construction road cars as well.

Ferrari constructed its first road car in 1947. The 1947 125 S Ferrari had a 1.5 L V12 engine and the whole car was considered very beautiful and well designed. Enzo Ferrari was still more interested in race cars and the Ferrari road cars was merely a way for him to fund his work with the Scuderia Ferrari. His distaste for the road car customers became famous and he even accused them of buying Ferrari cars only as status symbols. It is true that the Ferrari road cars grow to fame not only due to excellent performance but also thanks to their stylish elegance. Pininfarina, Bertone, Ghia, Scagliette, Touring and Vignale are all examples of design houses that have worked with Ferrari.

In November 1961 a dispute between Enzo Ferrari and his sales manager, Girolamo Gardini, turned into a crisis. Girolamo Gardini threatened to leave the company. Enzo Ferrari responded to the threat by throwing out Girolamo Gardini, and several employees who agreed with Girolamo Gardini were also ousted. Among them were Romolo Tavoni, manager for Scuderia Ferrari, Giotto Bizzarrini, the chief of the experimental sports car development, and Carlo Chiti, the chief engineer. This was naturally a huge loss for the Ferrari company and the crisis deepened when those who had been thrown out formed their own company - Automobili Turismo e Sport (ATS). ATS even managed to take over Scuderia Serenissima, a very successful racing team, from Ferrari