The launch at Mugello this weekend of the new-for-2024 Ferrari 296 Challenge marks the ninth car to have been developed for one-make Ferrari competition since 1993.
Here we take a look back at the cars that have graced Ferrari’s global family of one-make Series in the past three decades.
Ferrari 348 Challenge
The car that started the Ferrari one-make racing journey, The Ferrari Challenge debuted in 1993 with just an Italian and European series. North American Series followed in 1994.
The 348 Challenge was derived directly from the 348 TB with a more powerful 320 hp engine (+20 hp) 3.4 litre normally aspirated V8, a different exhaust system, slick tyres, modified brakes and specific dynamic air intakes plus the regulation racing safety kit that included a roll cage, six-point harness, fire extinguisher, front tow hook and electric circuit breaker.
The car’s final season was 1995 during which it was flanked by the F355 Challenge which replaced it completely the following year, a sequence that has been repeated every time a new model has been introduced. Fewer than 50 348 Challenge cars are understood to have been built.
Ferrari 355 Challenge
After being introduced for the 1995 season, the F355 Challenge became the primary class for the three existing one-make Series with a fourth Series added in Japan in 1995.
Like the model it was chosen to replace the F355 Challenge was directly derived from its road-going Berlinetta namesake.
Once again, the engine was strictly a production one, a 3495.5 cc normally aspirated V8 producing 279 kW (374 bhp) with very limited modifications, confined to the exhaust system, the clutch, slick tyres and obligatory racing safety equipment The F355 Challenge continued competing until 2000 when it was joined by the 360 Challenge which replaced it the following year.
Officially 108 cars were produced with a variety of factory and dealer- converted versions, including 28 right hand drive cars.
Ferrari 360 Challenge
The 2000 season saw the debut of the first factory-built Challenge car, based on the Ferrari 360 and equipped with a 400-bhp, 3586 cc V8-engine the same as the standard road car, the power delivered through an automatic transmission, but incorporated a number of modifications designed to radically improve its performance in track use including adjustable dampers and with the car significantly lighter than its road going counterpart.
Fewer than 200 were built.
Ferrari 430 Challenge
Introduced in 2006 the 430 Challenge featured the same 4.3 litre normally aspirated V8 as its road going sister car delivering 490 bhp through a paddle operated automatic gearshift. The car was the first sports competition Ferrari to feature carbon (CCM) brakes.
Some 142 cars were built during its competitive life.
Ferrari 458 Challenge
2011 saw the introduction of the Ferrari 458 Challenge. The scope of Challenge Series enhanced in 2011 too with the introduction of an Asia-Pacific regional Series that lasted until 2022.
Powered by a normally aspirated 4.5 litre V8 with direct injection for the first time, producing 570 bhp with a dual clutch ‘F1’gearbox and equipped with another first for the Challenge series, an ‘E-diff’ electronic differential.
The car featured selectable traction control settings from the steering wheel in another first.
Weight was reduced through the use of thinner body panels, selected use of carbon fibre for other panels and polycarbonate windows and windshield.
Just over 100 original spec 458 Challenges are believed to have been built.
Ferrari 458 Challenge Evo
For 2014 Ferrari introduced an Evo version of the 458 with no changes to the powertrain, the new car focused on aero changes.
The 458 Evo was the first Challenge car to feature a rear wing.
The updated car also featured a new front splitter and a redesigned underbody, stiffer front springs and an improved braking system.
Just under Evo 50 cars were built from new with many of the original cars converted with a factory-supplied update kit.
Ferrari 488 Challenge
2017 saw turbocharging arrive in Ferrari Challenge for the first time with the twin-turbo 3.9 litre V8 aboard the new 488 Challenge.
Advanced electronic slip control also came with the new car, the Challenge spec car also featuring advanced aero and with substantial weight reduction from the road car versions.
Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo
2020 saw the Evo version of the 488 Challenge arrive in competition with a substantial set of enhancements.
Whilst the engine was essentially unchanged there were aero, electronics and other systems changes, larger brakes, new Pirelli tyres, and a new rear camera, and steering wheel, both derived from systems introduced on the GTE version of the 488.
The car featured more downforce, a shift forwards of the aero balance and new driver selectable systems to choose higher or lower downforce and multi-mode ABS.
