333SP!!! no contest!
The 333 SP hands down. It's a "clean slate" designed race car. No matter how well the 575 is designed it started life a street car and thus comprises must be made no matter what the level of race prep. As for the 333 SP being hard to drive.....compared to what? I know people who have owned and raced both 333's and 962's and they have told me that the 333 SP was a much easier car to drive at the limit than any 80' or early 90's prototype. Lastly, those who think it would take less of a crew to start and run a 575 GTC are sadly mistaken. There is most likley even more electronics in the 575 than in the 333 SP. The amount of telemetry and the number of channels has probable risen at least two fold since the 333 SP was designed. Most FIA GT class cars that are front runners have $50,000 worth of Motec gear. As for making a 575 GTC street legal forget about it. You'd have a better chance trying out for Massa's race seat.
Hhhhmmm, this one http://www.compsystems.com.au/Movies/F333_SP_Launcing.MOV or this one http://www.compsystems.com.au/Movies/550_GTC_Launching.MOV Both are equally labour intensive to run, although you've still got some chance of getting spares for the 575! Tough call as both equally awe inspiring but I'd have to say the 333SP for true factor.
Did you upload those vids or was it someone else who pinched them? Fchat is the only place I've posted them. That didn't really demonstrate the acceleration of the SP. It took off on cold tyres on a completely green and dusty stretch of public road blocked off that day for the event. So wheelspin, wheelspin, and more wheelspin. I wonder how the F333SP compares with the F310/B (1997), F300 (1998) and F399 (1999) in performance. That site says the SP has 650hp, while numbers vary for the '97 - '99 F1 cars, generally from 650hp to 750hp. The F1 cars do have a 300kg weight advantage though (900kg vs 600kg). Obviously the F1 cars are quicker, but just how much quicker? Anyone have laptimes for the SP on F1 tracks such as Monza, Spa, Silverstone, etc?
I don't see how they can even be compared. the 575 is a race model of a road car. the 333 is a "real" racecar (built as such from the ground up) and is probably the fastest non f1 ferrari ever made around a closed circuit (possibly fxx, but not sure). So assuming both cars have not been worked and are at "factory spec" the 333 has ~50hp more, weighs ~400lb less, and has a much better engine and chassis setup for racing. No doubt the 575 is a mean looking machine, but when push comes to shove I'd rather have the 333...
A little late to be posting to this thread, but here goes. As the owner of a 333 SP, I'd like the forum to get the facts about the car. First, it is probably improper to have ask a preference between an SP car and a GT car- two different classes. I myself love GT cars, i.e. F40 LM and McLaren F1, but an SP car would always outperform them on a track (provided there are no class restrictions/handicaps like at Le Mans). If anyone has Rolex Daytona footage from 1995 to 2002, you can see what I mean- literally blasting around GT cars like they were standing still. There are a lot of factors which lead to that, but I won't go into them in this passage. As far as HP is concerned, factory specs has our 2001 333 SP at 660 at 10,500. However, after speaking with Didier Theys, the car was driven at 13,000 rpm at IMSA races yielding another 100+ hp. Weight is 1870lbs reduced or increased depending on the regulations. Regarding ease of tracking the 333 SP, this is a MAJOR misconception. This is my 5th season tracking the car, and it has been flawless. While it is always preferred to have a team of mechanics standing by and warming fluids, tires, doing computer readouts, etc, in truth the car has done just fine with just its two drivers. At most events, as incredible as it sounds, we haven't even had cause to take off the bodywork- that is how beautifully and reliably it ran, and this was a shock to us after having all the preconceptions you guys have. After 4+ seasons, I am very qualified in saying that the car is more handsfree and reliable than any Challenge car or probably any car at these FCA events. The truth is the 575 GTC is a more modern car, and would be FAR FAR more tempermental to track, maintain as it is no longer anything like the street car. It being formerly a street car has zero to do with it, just as the F40 GTE is nowhere close to the original, and always has problems at my track events. Anyone who has attended Empire Region events for ther last 4 years, including VIR has seen first hand how trouble free the car is. Of course, in this 5th season anything can happen, so I don't want to jinx myself, LOL. Whether it is the greatest, fastest SP car is totally a matter of opinion- all SP cars are super fast. All I can state is that it has had the longest race history 1994-2002 and surely sounds the best.. all for a car which enjoyed zero Ferrari Factory support ever in its career- perhaps a Le Mans win might have resulted had there have been like in the case of Audi and Porsche and BMW. Take care guys.
