Ferrari Challenge v. GT

Here's all you need to know: the 360GTs have air jacks - the 360 Challenge cars don't. Air jacks are zoomy - ergo, buy a 360GT.

Now, you'll pay a premium for those air jacks ....

FoW has a beautiful GT they're offering, PM me or call Ralph Cestero at FoW. The GTs are significantly faster than the Challenge cars, and there are fewer of them. OTOH, there seem to be a lot of 360 Challenge cars for sale right now - maybe even a "mini-glut." I have a 360C and find it perfect for track days. There are a number of "upgrades" that can be made to the 360C.

Whether you can beat the Porsches - well, which ones, and who's driving?

Good luck.

 

Whooo, whoooo....

If you're serious about a 360 GT, you need to do your homework.

First, there are three classes of "360 GT": there's the first series cars built by Michelotto from Challenge cars. These have chassis numbers in the 0xx. range (as well as the six digit Challenge car serial). There are the factory cars, which had lots of updates from the Michelotto cars (and four digit serial numbers starting at 2000). Ours was 1.5 seconds faster at Watkins Glen out of the box. Then there are the 360 GTCs, with even further updates, mostly aero (and serial numbers beginning at 2050). All run restrictors from GrandAm or ALMS, so some comparisons are irrelevant. (There's a fourth category of sorts, Challenge or street cars made to look like 360 GTs. I suspect the white "GT" you saw is in this category, as there was no white 360 GT in the U.S. A real GT has no rear window between the drivers compartment and the engine compartment.)

Desirabilty is in essentially reverse order. In North America Risi had the only 360 GTCs, Ferrari of Washington and Ferrari of Quebec had the only factory 360 GTs. All the 360 GTs raced by JMB in the US were (well used) Michelottos.

Dig out an old Road & Track (the story was reprinted in ROSSO FERRARI) where a track test was conducted at Mont-Tremblant among a stock 360, a 360 Challenge, and a 360 GT. As I recall, the GT was nine seconds faster than the Challenge car, all with the same driver.

PM or contact me if you want to dig further.

O.G.

 

Here is that article: R&T Hard Chargers

Greg A

 

You know, you hook up the air hose to a fitting on the car, and *zoop*, up it goes on built-in jacks in the chassis. Faster pit stops, don't you know.

Gary

 

But you'll still never go as fast as the factory-backed teams running the latest "factory air" upgrades.


james

 

i dont really know but one thing for sure....ferarri's are gr8

 

Here's one in very good condition if you're looking to buy one. http://www.maranellomotorsport.com.au/displayCar.asp?c=5

and yes...they are MUCH faster than a CH

 

......since you have already been known to "swim with the sharks", you may prefer this one: http://www.maranellomotorsport.com.au/displayCar.asp?c=6

(you would only need to find a few more coins betw. the cushions)

 

I think that the 360GT's are still asking more than a 599 though, aren't they? Challenge cars seem to be ~1/3 price of the GT, if not less.

The white one was a built up Challenge car with an aftermarket fascia, not an original NGT.

 

Factory 360 GT car averages 5-7 seconds a lap quicker than Challenge car on a proper racing circuit ( Watkins Glen, Road Atlanta, VIR ). Challenge car with GT aero kit is the best way to go, there was one at Watkins Glen last fall and was noticably quicker throught the corners.

 

I can verify that as I was behind him last fall. That was Will driving. That car (and Will) were astonishingly faster out of turn1 and up through the esses.
I think he said something like "foot to the floor all the way up and through the esses".

Bob S.

 

Yes, there are restrictors, but they are so cleverly integrated into the intake that it's not just removing the plate (actually more like a doughnut). For instance, on the GrandAm setup the restrictor itself is in the air inlet under the C-pillar; there's lots of plumbing and a very effective buffer between that point and the engine itself. Redoing this would likely require a different ECU, and Michelotto isn't going to develop one at any kind of reasonable price.

As fast as any of the GT cars are "as raced," it doesn't really make sense to start modifying them just for track use.

O.G.

 

Dale,

I would like to throw a couple more ideas your way ... what about a historic racing car - F1 or F2 or perhaps a sports racing car?

Have a look at these - if you are willing to pay $500K for a 360GT you could buy one of these too with budget to spare:

http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/other/1062734270/1062734270ss.htm --> V12

http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/other/1107986172/1107986172ss.htm --> Wanna be a Schumacher?

http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/brabham/1136382290/1136382290ss.htm --> nice looking car with a 5 lb/hp pwr to wt ratio for $70K

Lots more here: http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/complist.htm

 

Holy cow, Rob!! 500+ track days? Did you mean 50+? Jeez... That's hugely impressive (either way, actually). Aside from regular maintenance, what else has the 355CH needed?

vty,

--Dennis

 

Hello Dale,

I actually own a 360GT 016M. The last of the original batch made. There was alot of good information about the differentances between the Challenge cars and the 360N-GT cars. The GT is much lighter than the Challenge as it uses carbon fibre doors, hood, fenders etc. It also has light weight lexan windshield, rear window, side windows. The GT weighs 2450 lbs. The front and rear tracks are much wider than the challenge car and the Michelotto engine is set much lower in the GT.

The car is very fast and easy to drive very fast. The extensive ground effects light weight make it handle incredibly. It stops great and is very quick. The restrictors can not be by passed however I have a spare stock engine and ECUs that I planned to install in the car in order to save the Michelotto motor which is worth close to 100K. The stock motor would not use restrictors and I think you could get more than the restricted 430 BHP that the GT motor puts out.

My car is like new. It was built for Risi and set up for Grand-am. The original owner intended to run it in Grand-am but never did. I bought it and planned to run the 2004 Daytona 24 however Grand-am changed the rules for these cars making 360 GTs ineligible. Grand-am wanted people to buy and run Challenge cars and Porshe cup cars. So I brought my car to a few club events and now have it for sale.

My car is for sale. If you are interested and want more info on it, it can be found at http://www.eli.com/360n-gt.htm.

If you want the real deal and want a car with spares and that is like new mine is the one.