Super Sports Car

2011 for a private test session at Florida's Daytona International Speedway, the 2012 Ferrari Sport Cars 458 Italia Grand Am will be back in action on 26 and 27 July, after making its track debut at home in Fiorano, completing nearly 50 test laps. Based on Ferrari's European GT3 racecar and co-developed with Michelotto Automobili. MARANELLO, Italy — Ferrari will take the still-evolving Grand Am racing version of its 458 Italia to the Daytona International Speedway early next week, as the Italian automaker continues to develop the 2012 Ferrari Sport Cars 458 Italia Grand Am ahead of its anticipated entry next year in the 2012 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series.

“We are pleased with the performance of the 2012 Ferrari Sport Cars 458 Italia Grand Am,” commented Antonello Coletta, Head of Ferrari Corse Clienti. “Especially when one considers the fact that, after its shakedown in Fiorano, this is its first real test. It has definitely passed the exam and over two days, we completed around 90 laps with any particular reliability problems. Hard to judge its speed, given that we were the only car on track and had no reference point for the times. However, at the moment, this is not a main concern as our primary interest is in evaluating the behavior of the 2012 Ferrari Sport Cars 458 Italia Grand Am in the light of the various modifications made to it, to conform to the series regulations."

The Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale owned Ferrari F458 Italia was built specifically for Rolex Sports Car Series competition and completed 174 trouble-free laps at competitive speeds during a two-day session at Daytona International Speedway. "Today was a tremendous improvement over yesterday," said Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale team principal Ronnie Vogel. "We've got good feelings about the 2012 Ferrari Sport Cars 458 Italia Grand Am, and the drivers were very comfortable out there. We had a great time, and now we're really looking forward to the 50th Rolex 24 at Daytona."

"We're planning to run two cars in the Rolex 24, and hoping to take delivery of the second car very soon," Vogel said. "We're also working on our driver lineups for the Rolex 24 and next season, and that's being ironed out now."

The 2012 Ferrari Sport Cars 458 Italia Grand Am is built to match the American regulations and is therefore different to the European car, especially in that it develops 500 horsepower and has less efficient aerodynamics than the GT version. It is also fitted with a 48 mm restrictor and maximum revs are 8000. Significant modifications have been made to the braking system, as the car has neither ABS nor traction control.

The 2012 Ferrari Sport Cars 458 Italia Grand Am is fitted with tyres from Continental, the sole supplier to the series, featuring a very hard compound, again to conform with the series regulations. On its shakedown today, it completed a good number of trouble-free laps, 45 to be precise in the hands of Maurizio Mediani and Jaime Melo, as they took turns at the wheel.

Daytona recalls many memories of past Ferrari victories in the famous 24 Hour race, the company having close links with this important event. In fact, Ferrari has taken part in 47 of these endurance races, winning five of them outright as well as taking 15 class wins.

2012 Ferrari Sport Cars 458 Italia Grand Am is a highly innovative cars and sporty, therefore, has a lot of people who can not wait to see the appearance of the Ferrari 458 Italian Grand Am anymore. With a design that has been designed with advanced concepts, will make the 2012 Ferrari Sport Cars 458 Italia Grand Am became more interesting and cool.

Rookie luxury automobile designer and manufacturer, McLaren GT, unveiled the 2011 McLaren Sport Cars MP4-12C GT3 Racing Cars and plans to the high-performance sports car market and the supercar automobile arena for a 2011 development programme, a new race car manufacturer which brings together the expertise of McLaren Racing, McLaren Automotive and CRS Racing.

The new 2011 McLaren Sport Cars MP4-12C GT3 Racing Cars will be the first McLaren car built for FIA GT series racing since the McLaren F1 GTR finished production in 1997. The 2011 McLaren Sport Cars MP4-12C GT3 Racing Cars is based on the new MP4-12C high-performance sports car and a team of engineers, designers and test drivers with vast experience in Formula 1 and GT racing has been assembled to undertake the process of adapting the carbon chassis-based 12C to racing specification.

Emerging from a strategic tie-up with Mercedes-Benz that brought the limited production SLR McLaren sports cars between 2003-2009, McLaren GT has now developed its own flagship high-octane sports car scheduled to be launched in time for 2011 GT3 season—and rightfully so, given the long and illustrious race car pedigree quintessential to the McLaren brand. But the design, engineering and testing team at McLaren GT are not resting on their Laurels by keeping to their comprehensive development program so that the 2011 McLaren Sport Cars MP4-12C GT3 Racing Cars meets the discerning standards of the most formidable race car connoisseur.

Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren Group Chief Executive Officer said: "McLaren has racing in its blood and it was a natural step to take our MP4-12C road car and turn it into the most reliable, efficient and easy to drive GT3 car. Every car on the grid will have its performance balanced by race rules, meaning our objective must be to select a technical specification that ensures any driver is able to access the 12C GT3's performance limit with ease. "We have worked with CRS Racing to ensure the 12C's design and development programme is as close as possible to one McLaren Racing would employ in developing a Formula 1 car. The team at CRS is well qualified to shape decisions in this area as they have an outstanding record in racing GT3 cars, and understand what is required to be successful in that level of competitive motorsport.

"In return, McLaren Racing is able to bring new levels of technology to GT3 racing. No other GT3 car in 2012 will be supplied with a road-car carbon chassis, or a steering wheel and other associated technology from a Formula 1 car. "The 2011 McLaren Sport Cars MP4-12C GT3 Racing Cars will be supplied with the 12C's carbon MonoCell and the same steering wheel design employed by Lewis Hamilton in his MP4-24 Formula 1 car. Plus, we are working closely with Formula 1 suppliers past and present: Akebono, Mobil 1, McLaren Electronic Systems, Ricardo and Michelin for example. This blend of road car and Formula 1 technology and experience will be a great advantage to anyone racing a 12C GT3 in 2012."

The simple beauty of the McLaren MP4-12C supercar is romantically fitted for auto racing. Built around the same MonoCell chassis as the street version, the GT3 version of the 2011 McLaren Sport Cars MP4-12C GT3 Racing Cars utilizes the lightweight but enduring construction produced through Resin Transfer Molding. Doors to the race-purpose, driver-oriented interior proceeds to rise in the same majestic style as the exotic production car. With only minor aerodynamic additions under the GT3 category rules, the race-fitted MP4-12C exterior has been modified with exclusive carbon fiber pieces. A front splitter underneath special front fender louvers, rear diffuser and door blade are all unique touches to the 2011 McLaren Sport Cars MP4-12C GT3 Racing Cars.

Though the 2011 McLaren Sport Cars MP4-12C GT3 Racing Cars is already a tempting high-performance creation for the street, the vehicle vital mechanicals require an entire refitting to meet the rigors of auto racing. To best suit the GT3 class rules, engine power from the MP4-12C GT3’s energetic 3.8 liter twin-turbocharged powerplant has been reduced by almost 100 horsepower. Producing roughly 592 horsepower, engineers of the detuned 2011 McLaren Sport Cars MP4-12C GT3 Racing Cars are actually excited to see how the produced-based mechanics will perform in race competition.

2011 McLaren Sport Cars MP4-12C GT3 Racing Cars is a special 6-speed sequential transmission. Weighing 80 kilograms (just under 176.4 pounds) than the street version‘s 7-speed gearbox, the special sports car transmission is developed by the reputable hands of Ricardo. A diverse British-based engineering firm with history going back to 1927, Ricardo other contributions to motorsports includes co-development of the Xtrac used by Formula 1 teams. Completing the performance trim of the race car, Akebono-supplied brake calipers and Michelin tires are fitted to the McLaren MP4-12C GT3 supercar.

This performance-balanced light-weight race car is innovative in engineering design specs: 12 C GT3 (de-tuned to 500 PS providing maximum power) and a 3.8-liter twin turbochargers ‘M838T’ McLaren V8 engine (with a power output of up to 493 HP) defined by a TAG-400 self-contained compact engine system and data logger for race cars designed and produced by McLaren Electronic Systems. To date, initial demands for the first 20 McLaren GT3 units exceed earlier expectations. CRS Racing will build, sell and support the GT3 cars 12C in close collaboration with McLaren. Leicestershire-based racing team has a strong pedigree in GT racing in Le Mans Series, FIA GT Championship, the International GT Open and the British GT Championship. CRS also run two successful single-seater team: in Formula Renault UK Championship and as Atech CRS in Series GP3.