Ferrari 488 Challenge: A specialised beast not legal for road use

The 488 Challenge is capable of the notional zero to 60mph sprint in about 2.9 seconds and on to over 200mph (Ferrari)

There are two ways to get to be a Ferrari champion racing driver. One is to go through the arduous and expensive process of working your way up the various motor sports echelons before finally being selected to join an F1 team and then face the greatest drivers in the world. The Ferrari team, for example, boasts Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen, and has a long and highly distinguished record.

The second way is, if you can afford it, to go about and buy yourself a Ferrari 488 Challenge racing car, new or used, then prepare it appropriately, maybe get some professional tuition a long the way, before entering the Ferrari UK Challenge Series for 2019.

This is the first time the storied marque has instituted an official one-make race series, open to anyone with a Ferrari 488 Challenge race car, plus – and here the tuition would be useful – a Motor Sports Association “A” category national licence. After all, you’ll be in charge of a highly potent, 670 horsepower machine with a classic V8 behind you.

(Ferrari)

The races will be held between April and July next year at Brands Hatch, Snetterton, Croft and, finally, Silverstone – all complementary.

Ferrari has had a sales presence in the UK since 1960, boosted by its racing success, and now the British market is second only to the United States. The form hopes the new one-make race series will tighten the bond between their cars and their enthusiast owners. As for the car, the 488 Challenge is a race-ready special model derived from the 488 GTB, a more extreme version of an already formable machine and capable of the notional zero to 60mph sprint in about 2.9 seconds, and on to over 200mph. It has some extra aerodynamic aids, still more weight taken out of the body and software to make the most of its awesome power.

(Ferrari (Ferrari)

So, for example, Challenge drivers have three manettino dials, or small levers on the steering wheel, to adjust during the heat of their competitions. One controls braking, while the other two separately adjust the traction control and electronic differential. They give the driver independent controls on when and how intensely the system intervenes, and help the skilled pilot maintain control. It will take time for any driver to master all the permutations of torque and traction, but, say Ferrari, “this is a car that rewards skill and commitment”.

Such is its specialised nature, the 488 Challenge is not legal for road use. There’s no radio or sat nav.

(Ferrari (Ferrari)

“Clients”, as Ferrari call their customers, should contact their local dealer for further details on how to enter. If you need to ask the price, of course maybe you shouldn’t be getting into even amateur motor sport. New Ferrari 488 Challenge models start at about £250,000, with second hand ones around half that price.

Here’s the schedule:

25 April – Brands Hatch
18-19 May – Brands Hatch
22-23 June – Snetterton
20-21 July – Croft
21-22 September – Silverstone