www.QV500.com - Ferrari 348 Part 8: 348 GT Michelotto Competizione

From the middle of 1993 it was possible to buy an off the shelf 348 competition car prepared by Ferrari's favoured tuners, Michelotto. Suitable for several top racing series and in particular blue ribband events like Le Mans, Daytona and Sebring, these cars would be pitched up against the likes of Porsche's mighty 911 RSR's and the Venturi 400. Just eleven Michelotto Competizione's were built, undoubtedly the most famous of which were chassis's 95380 and 96064, all nine others unfortunately going straight to collectors who chose never to race them.

95380 was the 1993 and '94 Italian GT Championship winning car (Class 2) run by the Shell-backed Jolly Club and driven predominantly by Oscar Larrauri. Taking class wins in 16 of the 27 races it contested, 95380 also recorded four outright wins against much more powerful Class 1 machinery. 96064 will be familiar to American enthusiasts as the ex-Steve and Tom Shelton, Didier Theys and Art Coia entry from 1994's Daytona 24 Hours. It was run from the Shelton brothers Ferrari dealership in Fort Lauderdale and finished the Floridian classic in a creditable 16th overall. Michelotto fitted hot 360bhp engines with reconfigured fuel mapping and F40 halfshafts into all Competizione's, changes to the bodywork including a Lexan rear window and lightweight alloy panels for the front lid and engine cover. Carbon composite was used for the doors, bumpers and undertray, supplementary ducts feeding cool air to the rear brakes. The brakes themselves were uprated 15-inch cross-drilled Brembo discs, wider Speedline five-spoke magnesium wheels being typically shod with slick Goodyear tyres. Michelotto uprated the suspension with fully adjustable Koni dampers and anti dive geometry, strengthening gussets having been installed around the engine bay. Cockpits were completely stripped and fitted with an FIA-spec roll cage, OMP race seats and occasionally, electric windows.

348 GT Competizione Chassis Index

1993, new to Jolly Club, Italy
1993 Italian GT Championship:
28/03/93: Monza (Larrauri) 7th overall, 1st in Class 2
12/04/93: Magione (Larrauri) 8th overall, 2nd in Class 2
16/05/93: Vallelunga (Larrauri) 6th overall, 1st in Class 2
30/05/93: Misano (Larrauri) 4th overall, 1st in Class 2
13/06/93: Mugello (Larrauri) 4th overall, 1st in Class 2
27/06/93: Pergusa (Larrauri) 4th overall, 1st in Class 2
05/09/93: Binetto (Larrauri) 5th overall, 1st in Class 2
03/10/93: Imola (Larrauri) 7th overall, 1st in Class 2
17/10/93: Mugello (Larrauri) 7th overall, 1st in Class 2
1994 Italian GT Championship:
20/03/94: Monza Race I (Trione) DNF
20/03/94: Monza Race II (Trione) 6th overall, 3rd in GT2
04/04/94: Magione Race I (Trione) 3rd overall, 2nd in GT2
04/04/94: Magione Race II (Trione) 2nd overall, 1st in GT2
24/04/94: Mugello Race I (Trione) 6th overall, 3rd in GT2
24/04/94: Mugello Race II (Trione) 5th overall, 2nd in GT2
05/06/94: Vallelunga Race I (Larrauri) 2nd overall, 1st in GT2
05/06/94: Vallelunga Race II (D' Amore) 5th overall, 3rd in GT2
26/06/94: Varano Race I (Larrauri) DNF
26/06/94: Varano Race II (Larrauri) 4th overall, 1st in GT2
10/07/94: Vallelunga Race I (Larrauri) 4th overall, 2nd in GT2
10/07/94: Vallelunga Race II (Larrauri) DNF
24/07/94: Misano Race I (Larrauri) 1st overall, 1st in GT2
24/07/94: Misano Race II (Larrauri) 1st overall, 1st in GT2
04/09/94: Binetto Race I (Larrauri) 2nd overall, 1st in GT2
04/09/94: Binetto Race I (Larrauri) 1st overall, 1st in GT2
25/09/94: Vallelunga Race I (Larrauri) 2nd overall, 2nd in GT2
25/09/94: Vallelunga Race II (Larrauri) 1st overall, 1st in GT2
Note: in 1994 results were no longer aggregated, double headers having been created