Ferrari 458 Challenge race car is here.

The Bologna motor show saw the unveiling of Ferrari's 458 Challenge racer. 

Set to replace the successful F430 Challenge car, the new 458 Challenge will have the same engine as the road-going 458 Italia. That means it comes with a 4.5 litre V8 engine producing 570 hp @ 9000 rpm.

The 458 Challenge also gets the same seven speed dual-clutch transmission as the Italia, although the gear ratios and calibration have been modified to ensure availabilty of torque at low engine speeds.

The F1-Trac traction control system will also be found in this car, the first time Ferrari has made it available in a Challenge racer.  The 458 Challenge will also benefit from being a lot lighter than its road-going counterpart, and will be complemented with a thoroughly modified chassis riding on 19 inch forged rims wrapped around in Pirelli slicks. 

All these modifications mean that the 458 Challenge can generate upto 1.6G of lateral grip, meaning that it can lap Ferrari's Fiorano race track two seconds quicker than its predecessor.  Its 1'16.5" lap time also means that it has set a new record for Fiorano.

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