www.QV500.com - Ferrari 348 Part 9: 348 GT Michelotto Competizione LM
 

348 GT Competizione LM chassis 97553

In addition to 11 GT Competizione's, Michelotto built a pair of special 348's for the Le Mans 24 Hours. They would contest the GT2 class with its 1050kg minimum weight limit and maximum of 450bhp, but would also be eligible for the high profile BPR Championship's GT3 category. Announced in March 1994, the two Competizione LM's were both prepared by the works-assisted Ferrari Club Italia based at Fiorano's test track. One would be run under the banner of the Ferrari Club Italia, the second, Ferrari Club Espana.

   

Using the Michelotto Competizione as a basis, chassis's 97553 and 98997 were gradually enhanced with a number of special features between March and June of 1994. They featured wider and lighter Speedline wheels, sliding Lexan side windows and, in-time, for Le Mans, faired-in headlights. Most obvious though were new adjustable rear wings introduced at the Le Mans Trials in early May. Michelotto developed three alternative versions of the Tipo 119 engine; Evoluzione I, II and III. The first two produced 380 and 405bhp respectively, however, both ran the BPR's mandatory air restrictors, without which, 400 and 430bhp were possible. The full-house Evoluzione III powerplant was totally unrestricted and pumped out a mighty 460bhp but never saw competitive service. The first Competizione LM (chassis 97553) was completed in time for April 1994's Jarama 4 Hour race, round two of the BPR Championship. This was the Ferrari Club Espana car that would be driven predominantly by Tomas Saldana and Alfonso de Orleans, nephew of King Juan Carlos. After posting a disappointing early retirement, 97553 was then joined by the second Competizione LM for Dijon's 4 Hour race on May 1st. Arriving with around 50bhp more than the Spanish 348, FCI's car was also around 100lbs lighter, Oscar Larrauri keeping it in line for outright victory at Dijon during the early stages. Despite having been classified in the final standings though, a retirement due to a broken wheel shaft was compounded as the FCE entry had already ground to a halt, a 100% failure record not boding well for Le Mans. Undeterred, both cars arrived for the annual trials with high hopes, several design tweaks being introduced including covered headlights and those adjustable rear wings.

 

348 GT Competizione LM chassis 97553
Larrauri put in a banzai lap to give the FCI-backed car 12th overall and second in class, Ferrari Club Espana's heavier 348 finishing up 28th overall, tenth fastest in GT2. It would be comprehensively enhanced for the 24 Hour race in June though and after qualifying within 4.5 seconds of the FCI entry, managed a steady run throughout. Other than a precautionary fuel pump change and a harmless spin during the morning, de Orleans, Saldana and Andres Vilarino pedalled the Repsol-backed car home to an amazing 11th overall.
   
Good enough for fourth in the GT2 class, 97553 became the first Ferrari to finish at Le Mans since 1982. Ferrari Club Italia's own Totip-backed 98997 wasn't so fortunate and after qualifying as third fastest GT2 car in 22nd overall, it retired on lap 23. A broken hose inside the fuel tank caused the fuel pump to die and resulted in a terminal engine failure out on the track. After the highs and lows of Le Mans, both cars contested the Vallelunga 4 Hour race in Italy. Fabio Mancini had looked set to pass the Bristow Motorsport Porsche RSR for third overall before the gear lever came off in his hand, this dropping the car to sixth overall and fourth in GT3. Ferrari Club Espana's car finished 12th overall and sixth in class. At Spa two weeks later, yellow flags at the finish set up a three-way battle for the fourth spot occupied by Ferrari Club Italia's 348. This allowed the more powerful BBA Competition Venturi 600 LM to close and there was little Massimo Monti could do to protect his position after the pace car pulled off. He did keep fifth from the Bristow Porsche though to retain second in GT3. Tomas Saldana and Alfonso de Orleans finished their last race with 97553 in ninth overall (sixth in class), the Ferrari Club Espana car having equipped itself admirably throughout its brief career. There was one more high profile outing for 98997, the non-championship Vallelunga 6 Hour race providing Mancini, Monti and Mimmo Schiattarella with a fine second overall and the 348's only class win. After that, 98997 was sold to Landshark Racing in July 1995, the Utah team contesting four IMSA endurance races, the first two of which were full World Sportscar events. At the August Chrysler Mosport 500 three hour race in Ontario, Gerry Jackson and Bill Cooper finished an impressive 15th overall and fifth in the GTS-2 class.
 

348 GT Competizione LM chassis 98997
One more three hour race, the Texas World Grand Prix, then saw Jackson and David Donahue start 30-minutes late after gear linkage problems. They did manage to salvage 23rd overall and eighth in class by the close of play. At the Phoenix Grand Prix in late September (a 45 minute race for GTS-2 cars only), Gerry Jackson finished eighth overall, this result having been repeated at the Grand Prix du Mardi Gras held around the streets of New Orleans, another 45-minute IMSA GTS-2 race.
   
348 GT Competizione LM Chassis Index  
   
97553 April 1994, Evoluzione I engine
Ferrari Club Italia through Ferrari Import Espanola for Ferrari Club Espana
1994 BPR GT Championship
10/04/94: Jarama 4 Hours (de Orleans / Saldana) DNF
01/05/94: Dijon 4 Hours (de Orleans / Saldana) 21st overall, 11th in GT3 class
08/05/94: Le Mans Trials (de Orleans / Saldana) 28th overall, 10th in GT2 class*
Re-painted white & green 'Totip' colours
19/06/94: Le Mans 24 Hours (de Orleans / Saldana / Vilarino) 11th overall, 4th in GT2 class*
10/07/94: Vallelunga 4 Hours (de Orleans / Saldana) 12th overall, 8th in GT3 class
22/07/94: Spa 4 Hours (de Orleans / Saldana) 9th overall, 6th in GT3 class
* non-championship race
98997 April 1994, Evoluzione I engine
Ferrari Club Italia
1994 BPR GT Championship
01/05/94: Dijon 4 Hours (Larrauri / Mancini) 19th overall, 10th in GT3 class
08/05/94: Le Mans Trials (Larrauri / Mancini) 12th overall, 2nd in GT2 class*
19/06/94: Le Mans 24 Hours (Larrauri / Mancini / Gouhier) DNF*
10/07/94: Vallelunga 4 Hours (Mancini / Monti) 6th overall, 4th in GT3 class
22/07/94: Spa 4 Hours (Mancini / Monti) 5th overall, 2nd in GT3 class
30/10/94: Vallelunga 6 Hours (Mancini / Monti / Schiatarella) 2nd overall, 1st in GT3 class
July 1995 sold to Landshark Racing fitted with de-restricted Evoluzione II motor
1995 IMSA World Sportscar Championship
13/08/95: Mosport 3 Hours (Jackson / Cooper) 15th overall, 5th in GTS-2 class
10/09/95: Texas Speedway 3 Hours (Jackson / Donohue) 23rd overall, 8th in GTS-2 class
1995 IMSA GT Championship
30/09/95: Phoenix 1 Hour (Jackson) 8th overall, 8th in GTS-2 class
08/10/95: New Orleans 1 Hour (Jackson) 8th overall, 8th in GTS-2 class
1995 sold to Art Sport, Japan
2000 sold to Doi, Japan (owner of the Mine racing circuit)
* non-championship race
 
348 GT Competizione LM Chassis Index
 
Date Race Drivers Entrant
Chassis
#
Qual.
Overall
Class
10/04/94 Jarama 4 Hours de Orleans
Saldana
Ferrari Club Espana
97553
48
14th
DNF
-
01/05/94 Dijon 4 Hours Larrauri
Mancini
Ferrari Club Italia
98997
11
5th
19th
10th
de Orleans
Saldana
Ferrari Club Espana
97553
48
13th
21st
11th
08/05/94 Le Mans Trials Larrauri
Mancini
Asch
Ferrari Club Italia
98997
64
-
12th
2nd
de Orleans
Saldana
Ferrari Club Espana
97553
57
-
28th
10th
19/06/94 Le Mans 24 Hours de Orleans
Saldana
Vilarino
Repsol Ferrari Club Espana
97553
57
28th
11th
4th
Larrauri
Mancini
Gouhier
Totip Ferrari Club Italia
98997
64
22nd
DNF
-
10/07/94 Vallelunga 4 Hours Mancini
Monti
Ferrari Club Italia
98997
1
?
6th
4th
de Orleans
Saldana
Ferrari Club Espana
97553
48
?
12th
8th
22/07/94 Spa 4 Hours Mancini
Monti
Ferrari Club Italia
98997
1
14th
5th
2nd
de Orleans
Saldana
Ferrari Club Espana
97553
57
18th
9th
6th
30/10/94 Vallelunga 6 Hours Mancini
Monti
Schiattarella
Ferrari Club Italia
98997
?
?
2nd
1st
13/08/95 Mosport 3 Hours Jackson
Cooper
Landshark Racing
98997
17
25th
15th
5th
10/09/95 Texas Speedway 3 Hours Jackson
Donahue
Landshark Racing
98997
17
28th
23rd
8th
30/09/95 Phoenix Grand Prix Jackson Landshark Racing
98997
17
13th
8th
8th
08/10/95 Grand Prix du Mardi Gras Jackson Landshark Racing
98997
17
16th
8th
8th