Ferrari 360 Challenge

Ferrari's GT cars have always been highly competitive in the hands of privateers, and their racing achievements have played a fundamental role in the company's motor sport history. That's why the Ferrari Challenge one-make racing series was created - it was Ferrari's way of getting owners of its road-going GT cars back on the track. The idea for a specific competition for the 8-cylinder cars first became reality back in 1993 with the 348 Berlinetta. In 1995 it was the turn of the F355, thanks to a special kit developed in-house by Ferrari. The 2000 season saw the debut of the 400-bhp, V8-engined 360 Modena Challenge alongside the F355. The 360 Modena maintains the same output (400 bhp @ 8,500 rpm) as the standard road car, but incorporates a number of modifications designed to radically improve its performance in track use.

The road-going 360 Modena offers class-leading standards of performance and was the ideal basis for development work on the competition version. The engineering team concentrated on optimising weight, tyres, brakes, suspension and the gearbox for track use. During development over 6,000 test miles were covered on the Fiorano track and on a number of other tracks used regularly during the Italian championship, including Imola, Monza and Mugello. The 360 Modena Challenge proved to be on average 1 second per kilometre (0.6 of a mile) quicker than the F355 Challenge.

The 360 Modena Challenge's minimum kerb weight of 2,574 lbs - 330 lbs less than the F355 Challenge - was partly achieved thanks to the standard car's design which employs aluminium throughout its construction. In addition, considerable attention was paid to reducing weight even further with the result that the Challenge weighs an impressive 264 lbs less than the road-going version. This reduction was achieved by removing the air-conditioning system, gearchange water/oil heat exchanger, electric window lift mechanisms and all extraneous fittings, sound deadening and interior trim. Weight reduction also involved fitting lightweight front and rear bumpers, a lightweight sports exhaust system, Lexan side windows and Lexan engine cover. Inside the car, carbon fibre was used to trim the central console, tunnel and door panels.

The Challenge version of the 360 Modena incorporates the F1 gearbox - the first time the paddle change has been used on the competition version. The 360 Modena Challenge uses the same software, effectively excluding the Normal setting so that gearchanges are effected in just 150 milliseconds. In addition, the input parameters for the software have been modified to optimise response allowing, for example, the engine to rev 100 rpm higher during down-swaps to increase engine braking. The standard clutch has been substituted with a racing synterised clutch plate and the gearbox has been fitted with its own oil radiator to reduce operating temperatures during track use.

The 360 Modena Challenge is delivered with a standard Fiorano-type suspension set-up. Modifications to the road car's suspension include replacing the electronic damping system with racing Boge shock absorbers, fitting racing springs and aluminium suspension bushes, lowering the ride height by just over an inch and fitting a stiffer, 22 mm rear anti-roll bar. The P Zero racing slicks were specifically developed by Pirelli for the Challenge series, using the telemetry figures available for the car's performance parameters and suspension geometry, and the car is equipped with 18" BBS light alloy wheels. The Brembo braking system has also been uprated using racing, one-piece aluminium 4-pot calipers and larger vented discs (14 x 1.3" at the front and 13 x 1.1" at the rear) with special air intakes front and rear. The cockpit features a Magneti Marelli digital dash readout which allows the driver to check performance data acquired by the on-board, F1-style telemetry system.

To make the racing as close as possible, the Challenge series regulations limit the performance modifications that can be made, and all the cars run with strictly standard engines which are sealed by the factory. A number of modifications have been made for track use, including fitting a larger oil radiator and stiffer engine mounting bushes. Safety features include an automatic fire extinguisher system and FIA-approved safety fuel tank with a capacity of 22 Imperial gallons and two filler pipes for rapid filling.



Facts & Figures

Production Numbers Still in Production
Production Period 1999 - Present
Chassis Number Range ?
Body Style 2 seater sports racer
Construction Closed 2 seater (Pininfarina design) - Aluminium space frame and body
Weight Empty 1170 kg
Body Size W : 1922 mm, H : 1184 mm, L : 4477 mm, Wheelbase : 2600 mm, tracks : 1669 mm (F), 1617 mm (R)
Engine Model 90° Aluminium V8
Engine Displacement 3586cc - bore 85 mm, stroke 79 mm
Compression Ratio 11 : 1
Ignition Bosch static electronic - Motronic ME 7.3
Spark Plugs ?
Cooling ?
Lubrication Forced lubrication - dry sump
Clutch ?
Engine Power 400 bhp at 8500 rpm (= 111.5 HP/litre)
Engine Torque 275 lb ft at 4750 rpm (38.0 kgm)
Transmission 6 synchronized gears
Reduction Ratios 1st - 3.29, 2nd - 2.16, 3rd - 1.61, 4th - 1.27, 5th - 1.03, 6th - 0.85
Final Drive 4.44 : 1
Fuel Capacity 95 litres
Suspension (Front) Aluminium double wishbone, coil springs
Shock Absorbers (Front) Sachs electronic adaptive damping
Suspension (Rear) Aluminium double wishbone, coil springs
Shock Absorbers (Rear) Sachs electronic adaptive damping
Wheels Speedline, light-alloy, detachable, F : 7.5J x 18, R : 10J x 18
Tyres Pirelli P Zero, Slick - F : 235/645 ZR18, R : 295/645 ZR18, Rain - F : 215/45 ZR18, R : 275/40 ZR18
Brakes 4 Brembo vented, cross-drilled discs (F : 355mm, R : 330mm), 4-piston callipers
Steering Rack and Pinion with Power Assist (steering radius - 10.8 m)
Electrical System ?
Maximum Speed More than 184 mph / 295 kph
Acceleration (0-30 mph) ?
Acceleration (0-60 mph) 4.0 seconds
Acceleration (0-100 mph) ?


©Copyright 1998-2024 ferrariturbo.com. All rights reserved.    Privacy Policy    Legal Notices    Newsletter