488 Challenge and Ferrari Challenge Series

I believe you must use an authorized Ferrari dealer for support services and sponsoring.

Robb

 

I've been racing in Challenge series for 3 yrs. I'm not sure how things are being run in the US but AFAIK, anyone who wants to attend these series must join a team who are authorized by Ferrari and these are %99 Ferrari dealers. So you can not simply by a 488C and race in the series by yourself or by your own team. Better ask a dealer who also runs a Challenge team.

As for the gearbox issues I have not yet heard any solid complaints with the 488C

 

I have been racing Ferrari Challenge North America for 3 years. There is one guy in the series who has his own truck and support but he affiliates with a dealer. PM me if you would like to know more.

 

I run support for two dealership teams. Feel free to PM me with any specific questions.

 

Update? Did you get a car? What else did you find out? I’m thinking of doing challenge too in 2019.

 

I've been considering it with my local dealer as well - to quote "It ain't cheap!"

 

Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

How exciting, congrats. Please post pics of cars! I’m probably going to do 2019 Ferrari challenge. I’ll trade you notes on costs! Lol

Here is my car

 

See you in trophy east! I'll be there for you to get points! Haha, are you going to run the cup or the new CS?

 

Can someone break down the costs of Ferrari Challenge? I'm taking my first Corsa Pilota class next month and am looking forward to participating in Challenge perhaps in 2020.

 

Great! That’s exciting. Those courses are fun.
Other will have info too, but it should be around $30k per race weekend for the team, $64k to Ferrari to enter the 6 weekends, add a couple of sets of break pads and an extra set of tires for the race weekend $10k. Driving coach is $2k per day plus expenses so call it $7k for the 3 day race weekends. So basic costs around $325k. Then you can add car insurance at around $15k for the season (does not include races but will cover all testing with something like a $40k deductible), damage repairs (depends on you but between $10k for a new panel to around $75k if you wrap the car around a tire wall) so assume $100k for the season. Your disability insurance will go up around $15k per year. So we’re up to about $450k before any testing. Fully loaded cost of testing including with team support, tires, break pads, coach etc around $10k per day. So assuming a dozen days of testing were up to $570k. Then you have to buy the car, which is $400k by the time you have added vbox video system, 2 extra sets of wheels, passenger seat, cool suit system etc. then you have to buy helmet 8860 spec (about $3k) and suits, fireproof underwear, HANS device (another $3/4k). Ideally you need a simulator too to practice tracks etc. (a decent one like CXC around $70k). Then you need to add flights and hotels for all the weekends. This will vary with your tastes, but assume $10k per weekend. So in terms of capital outlay it’s around $500k and around $500k for the season plus crash repairs. I have probably forgotten some stuff and maybe I’m off, but this is my guess.
To offset the cost, maybe you get a few limited edition cars from your dealer who now loves you, so maybe you end up covering the cost!
By the way the world final in Italy isn’t included here, you can add the cost for a regular weekend plus air freight for car, spares and your portion of the team costs.

 

Sounds amazing, I love your style! Have a great season and please report back.

 

Any other cost estimates of Ferrari Challenge?

 

This is the best information I was seen to date on the costs of the Challenge series.

Thank you for sharing.

 

You may run your own team, we do, but you must be partnered and sponsored by a dealer. I highly recommend the series, great group of drivers, driving has seen a great deal of improvement the last several years and there is some great racing going on. We have found a great relationship with our sponsoring dealer as well.

 

Wow that’s so cool. What is the tipping point where you have enough cars to split costs reasonably. Is it 4/5 cars?

 

That really depends on everyone's budget and the level of support you want. From making a profit point 3 cars is a net zero for us and the fourth car is all profit. We tend to have a high support level and it could be run with less money but our drivers want the extra level of service and support.

 

Image Unavailable, Please Login Did another Corso Pilota, the Evoluzione which includes driving the 488 Challenge as well as 488 GTB and 812. Firstly what a blast and the Thermal Club was amazing. The Challenge cars are really amazing and great to drive the three cars back to back which feel so different. The challenge car is truly in a league of its own.

 

Mark...I agree that Thermal was a great place to experience the 488 Challenge car. The training and the organization was first 1st class. I enjoyed the Corsa Pilota myself and meeting some great new friends there was a bonus.

 

Hey, I stumbled across this post combing through info on fielding a Challenge Team and was hoping to ask you some questions about what it takes to support a dealer partnered team. For some reason I don't have permissions to send a message as of now. If you are still open to providing some answers on the topic I would hugely appreciate if you shot me a DM. Thanks!