Here are some pics of my F430 on the track. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Great pics, thanks for sharing. Is your car Rosso Corsa, because it looks like a darker red(says me who isnt the most clued up guy when it comes to Ferrari colours....) How did you find the handling on the track?
Yes, it is Rosso Corsa. The F430 has plenty of power and mid range torque. The CC brakes work really well, firm pedal, good feel, no fade. I ran the manettino in race mode, which hold the gears (unlike sport mode) and give excellent down changes. Spectators tell me the sound is magnificent and quite loud. The e-diff takes a little while to get used to. In corners you need to keep the power on for the outside rear wheel to push you around the corner faster than you initially think is possible. However, you have to be careful in corners with a tightening radius, or double apex, for if you back off, the car loses the outside rear wheel drive and the car straightens up a little...the opposite to what I am used to, where my other cars would tuck into the apex. It is easy to induce power oversteer on exit, so with nearly 500hp you have to feed in the throttle. Race mode allows quite an angle before it intervenes! You notice that the car is quite torsionally rigid, but at the same time quite soft in the suspension, which means excellent road manners but a little too soft for the track. The biggest limiting factor for track performance (apart from the driver!) is the tyres. They need to be fully r-rated or Hoosiers to achieve a really good time. Overall, a truly sensational car and it will bring a smile to you every time you drive it.
The car came with Bridgestones which are terrific for the road, but not suitable for track work. I tried. I purchased some Corsa Systems next, but they had too much tread on them for track work (too much tyre movement). So then I had them shaved down to 3mm, and that helped. But they did not have the same grip as the full Corsa R-rated tyres which I am used to running on. The Corsas will be available in the 19" sizes early 2006. Hoosier, which would be still better again do not make any 19" tyres
It was at Winton at a Maserati Club Track Day. The car is exiting the esses. The tow hook comes with the car. It is in the tool kit. I take it out after each track day of course
The F430 can scrape at the front on bumpy roads, so I would not have it any lower. If you look carefully you will see I have installed some custom made red poly-urethane skid pads under the front bumper. Also, I am under full power in 3rd gear coming out of that corner. The F430 is not really a track car, but a brilliant road car, that can be very fast on a track. The F430 Challenge would be lower and specifically designed for track work and racing.
Andrew - I think Ferrari stuffed up production of your car -- looks like they put the drivers seat on the wrong side. ....oh nevermind.
Great shots AHG......who took the pics, a friend? Its a shame your not coming to the Rally, would've been great to see your car around Barbagallo Raceway!
Andrew, Great pics -- thanks for sharing. FWIW, after lowering my car ~14mm, I don't find the car scrapping any more than when stock. I agree that skid plates are essential for the 430. The set I've got were custom made by a local (Premier) F-car bodyshop out of Lexan (I believe), black in color and shaped like a boomerang -- they fit and look (virtually undetectable) like they were a factory item.
