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www.QV500.com - Ferrari 355 Part 5: 355 Competizione |
 99623, 1995 Montlhery 1000km |
Between 1995 and ’96, Ferrari built a number of 355 Competizione's for a handul of special customers who wanted to go GT racing in the junior categories. Raced occasionally in the BPR, Japanese and some other national GT Championship's, there was only a limited degree of factory input as the Scuderia's priorities lay in F1. Consequently, the 355 Competizione was of relatively little concern to Porsche and their massive customer racing department. |
| Announced by the factory in early 1995, the Competizione had most of the Challenge cars familiar underpinnings combined with some extra tweaks here and there. Upgrades included F40 LM-derived suspension and wider Speedline 6-spoke wheels. While the engine remained very much standard, initially only a front-mounted oil cooler being added, the transmission was the source of major interest. Featuring a Magnetti Marelli F1E gearbox far superior to any previous semi-automatic system, the 355 Competizione prototype (chassis 101577) had the distinction of introducing it to the world. The bodywork got an adjustable rear wing, several lightweight panels and fixed headlights underneath clear plastic covers. Composite doors and bumpers were used to save weight along with Lexan windows, another unique detail having been the raucous dual exit exhaust. A quick fuel system was installed, the interior being stripped of all its luxury trim. We are currently researching the chassis numbers and race histories of these 355 Competizione's and hope to publish our findings before too long. |