2007 Ferrari F430 GT3

In 2007 a GT3-version of the F430 GT emerged for the FIA GT3 season. Originally based on the F430 Challenge, the F430 GT3 was a specialized racing car developed in 2006 by JMB Racing for the FIA GT3 European Championship and other national GT championships such as British GT and FFSA GT.

It is mechanically similar to the F430 Challenge but has better-developed aerodynamics and more power. The car uses the same 4.3 L V8 engine, tuned to produce 550 hp (410 kW; 558 PS), making the GT3 more powerful than its GT2 counterpart. However, due to the GT3 regulations stating that the car must have a power-to-weight ratio of around 2.6 kg/hp, the car weighs 1,219 kg (2,687 lb) in race trim (driver and fuel excluded), which is roughly 119 kg (262 lb) more than the GT2 spec car. Despite the higher power, it is significantly slower than the GT2 version; for example, in the 2007 Spa 24 Hours endurance race, in which both models were entered, the GT3 spec vehicles’ best qualification time was around 8 seconds slower per lap than that set by the GT2 spec vehicle.

Specs & Performance

submitted by	Richard Owen
type	Racing Car