Ferrari are preparing a new version of their 458 for the GT2 regulations that are used by both the ACO and FIA. This limits horsepower and weight but development can be done to the suspension and aerodynamics.

Priced at €480,000 the GT2 version comes with 18 inch wheels, a large one-piece wing, a Hewland six-speed sequential transmission and the typical safety features. It is expected to debut for the upcoming 2011 season.

Press Release

A few days after the official launch of the 458 Challenge at the Bologna Motor Show on 2 December, saw the end of a two day shakedown carried out by Ferrari at Fiorano of the 458 GTC, the latest jewel to emerge from Maranello, which will be taking on the opposition in the most important GT races at international level.

The car’s development on track has been entrusted to Jaime Melo, the Brazilian who competed in this year’s American Le Mans Series with the Risi Competizione team. He also teamed up with Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander in the AF Corse squad’s F430 GT2 to bring the Prancing Horse the Constructors’ title in the 2010 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup.

Antonello Coletta, head of the Ferrari Corse Clienti Department had this to say about the initial testing of the 458 GTC: ‘We are pleased with the feedback we have had from the engineers and drivers about the car.’ Development is in its initial statges and this is just the third test the car has undergone at Fiorano. ‘Thanks to the good weather these past two day, it has been possible to gather more data than in previous sessions, which were run in snowy and rainy conditions.’

The next step? ‘We will continue development over the winter months, which will culminate in the car’s debut in the Sebring 12 Hours, the famous endurance race and the first race in next season’s American Le Mans Series.’