www.QV500.com - Ferrari 360 Part 4: 360 Challenge
 

For the 2000 Challenge Trophy series, Ferrari turned their stock 360 Modena F1 into a stripped-out racer. Scratch built and specially prepared by the factory, previous Challenge variants had often left Maranello as road cars and subsequently been enhanced with Ferrari's official retro-fit packs. However, Ferrari wanted to produce a substantially quicker machine than the outgoing 355 and decided the 360 Challenge should be built from the ground up as a track car. In the quest for lightness, they removed all the upholstery, the air-conditioning system, all glass bar the windscreen (replaced with Lexan), the sound insulation, airbags and passenger seat.

   
Lightweight doors got sliding Lexan windows, there were lightweight bumpers front and rear, a drilled aluminium tail facia, the Maranello engineers even removing the handbrake. As a result, at 1170kg, the 360 Challenge weighs in at 150kg less than the 355 it replaces and 120kg less than the series production 360 Modena (1290kg). Set up modifications include a custom Brembo braking system, specially developed sway bars and coil springs, enhanced suspension, reinforced mounting points and unique 18-inch BBS racing wheels on slick Pirelli tyres. Mechanical improvements are limited with the Tipo F131B engine remaining standard except for the removal of its air-conditioning system, the arrival of more stealthy mounting points and smaller mufflers and catalytic converters. A heavy duty racing clutch combined with reworked gearbox software has produced even quicker shifts than the standard F1 unit. Finally, stripped out interiors feature a roll cage with side impact bars, quick-fill 100-litre FIA fuel cell's, an OMP racing seat with six-point harness, a three-spoke padded steering wheel, a digital Magnetti Marelli dash and an automatic fire extinguishing system.