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| www.QV500.com - Ferrari F40 Part 10: F40 GTE |
 90001, 1996 Anderstorp 4 Hours |
F40 GTE's were prepared by Ferrari's favoured customer racing specialists, Michelotto of Padova. They contested the BPR GT Championship's between 1994 and '96, initially with a development mule (chassis 90001) that had already done two hard seasons in the Italian national series. In its first year, the BPR Championship attracted several great marques back to GT racing, the international scene undergoing something of a renaissance after several years in the doldrums. Michelotto started work on 90001 during late 1993, enhancing it from GT '93 configuration to LM spec with a few additional improvements here and there. |
| The chassis was reinforced with carbon inserts and extra cross bracing, Michelotto also fitting thicker and stiffer anti-roll bars. Later came track widened by two inches at the front and one at the rear. There were bigger brakes and new wheels, GTE's getting a choice of three alternative engines that could be selected according to the nature of any given circuit. They included a 3-litre for low fuel consumption tracks like Monza, a 3.5-litre for intermediate circuits and a 3.6 for Le Mans. Although based on the Tipo F120 B engines, these GTE powerplants were thoroughly revised, displacement being increased on all but the three-litre motor whilst output could go as high as 800bhp in unrestricted form or 660bhp with the air-restrictors in place. This wasn't only attributable to the increased capacity but also new electronic management custom mapped to optimise performance. 1995 GTE's used a six-speed sequential gearbox from the 333 SP whereas the predominantly LM-based car of 1994 had run a more or less stock five-speed. Bodywork was largely unchanged during the first year while the interior was stripped to the bone as you would expect. For 1996, the GTE (sometimes known as the GTE II) was upgraded in several areas. There were new six-speed X-Trac sequential transmissions along with carbon brakes and a carbon clutch, all of which were much harder-wearing than before. |
 88779, 1996 Jarama 4 Hours |
Visually the only change was a new single-piece rear wing (as illustrated in all three pictures), the F40 still ranking among the prettiest cars on the grid despite its age. Only six GTE's were ever built by Michelotto, one in 1994, three in 1995, another in 1996 and one final car in 1998. Four went racing, all of which were uprated to the latest specification for their year. They were all exceptionally quick cars that could out-perform McLaren's mighty F1 GTR's, the GTE's taking four international wins and finishing on the podium 13 times between 1994 and '96. |
| 90001 | Ennea 1994 BPR GT Championship: Jarama 4 Hours: DNF Dijon 4 Hours: 20th Montlhery 1000km: DNF Vallelunga 4 Hours: 1st Spa Francorchamps 4 Hours: 2nd Suzuka 1000km: DNF Rebuilt to full GTE spec. 1995 Le Mans 24 Hours: 18th overall, 9th in GT1. 1995 BPR GT Championship: Monza 4 Hours: 3rd Jarama 4 Hours: DNF Nurburgring 4 Hours: 23rd Montlhery 1000km: DNF Anderstorp 4 Hours: DNF Suzuka 1000km: 6th Silverstone 4 Hours: 17th Nogaro 4 Hours: 5th Zhuhai 4 Hours: DNF 1995 Non-championship races: Le Mans 4 Hours: 1st Vallelunga 6 Hours: 1st Rebuit by Michelotto to '96 spec. 1996 Le Mans 24 Hours: DNF 1996 BPR GT Championship: Paul Ricard 4 Hours: 2nd Monza 4 Hours: DNF Jarama 4 Hours: DNF Silverstone 4 Hours: 7th Nurburgring 4 Hours: DNF Anderstorp 4 Hours: 1st Suzuka 1000km: 2nd Brands Hatch 4 Hours: 5th Spa Francorchamps 4 Hours: 4th Nogaro 4 Hours: 4th Zhuhai 4 Hours: 8th |
| 82404 | Ennea |
| 83405 | Ennea 1995 Le Mans 24 Hours: DNF |
| 85015 | 1995, ordered new through Alberto Pedretti's Wide World of Cars, New York Built to 1995 spec. |
| 88779 | Ennea 1996 Le Mans 24 Hours: DNF 1996 BPR GT Championship: Monza 4 Hours: DNF Jarama 4 Hours: DNF Silverstone 4 Hours: 36th Nurburgring 4 Hours: 5th Anderstorp 4 Hours: DNF Suzuka 1000km: DNF 1996 Non-championship races: Vallelunga 6 Hours: 1st |
| 84503 | 1998, ordered new by Benny Caiola through Alberto Pedretti's, Wide World of Cars, New York Built to 1996 Le Mans spec. |
 90001, 1996 Zhuhai 4 Hours |