F430 GTC in full detail

This weekend I shot the F430 GTC at Paul Ricard and managed to snap up some lovely action shots and also engine details in the pit box. It was bettered only by the Autorlando Porsche, but in the right hand could be a real contender for GT2 victories and the LMS Championship. It will be very interesting to see the Esperantes, Porsches and Ferraris taking battling it out this season, especially considering the completely different configurations of each cars.

http://www.***************.com/frame.php?file=car.php&carnum=2742

 

Sadly I did not. I'll try again in two weeks at Istanbul. I wonder who briefed the seat embroyderer (sp?) to call it F430 GT?

 

I guess these guys have screwed it up as well:

http://www.ferraricorseclienti.com/FWorld/fw/events/corseclienti/home.jsp?language=en

 

We have just added a LMS season preview with a 170 shot slideshow from the Paul Ricard test day including some additional 430 GTC and 550 Maranello shots: http://www.***************.com/frame.php?file=feature_item.php&fid=1

 

After a win in the Italian GT championship, the F430 GTC claimed its first victory in an international race! In the Istanbul 1000 km (actually shortened a wee bit due to the lack of fuel), one of the three cars entered just beat a storming 911. In GT1, the single 550 present took a second place finish after a very spirited drive by Peter Kox. You can read all about it in my report here:
http://www.***************.com/frame.php?file=event_item.php&rid=105

 

They are getting old. They clearly are still competitive in the right hands, but I can imagine the mileage on them will leave its marks. Remember only ten were built and they raced virtually everywhere in the last few years.