[Stephan2738]

Ferrari 430 GT 4,0 liter

For 2008 an uprated engine with a new aspiration system is available, resulting in more horsepower: 445 HP. at 6750 rpm. and better torque: 495 Nm at 5250 rpm. Although the power is a bit short compared to the Porsche, it is reached by lower revs. On top of that he torque of the Ferrari engine is higher than that of the Porsche engine.

With the improved poweroutput for 2008, it seems only logic that this year's Ferrari is faster than last year's car. If we compare the races of Monza and Spa of the Le Mans Series we can see that in 2008 the fastest Ferrari was quicker than the fastest Ferrari in 2007. At Monza the difference was 1,7 sec. and at Spa it was 0,8 sec. It is faster indeed! Last year's fastest testday time set by a Ferrari was: 4:03,422. In the races so far this year, Ferrari and Porsche were very, very close. That makes me believe that this will also be the case at the Le Mans testday.

Let's take a look at the teams who are racing the Ferrari:


#78 AF Corse

The AF Corse team was founded by Amato Ferrari in 2002 at Piacenza (Italy). In 2006 thay started racing the Ferrari F430 GT in the FIA-GT championship. Two cars were entered and both driver and team championship titles were won. In 2007, AF Corse matched that succes by again winning both driver and team championships by winning 9 out of 10 races! Because the AF Corse team won the FIA-GT2 championship in 2006, they were given an invitation to race at Le Mans. But this race was not part of the AF Corse 2007 program. JMB Racing wanted to race at Le Mans but it's entry was turned down by the organisers. So an agreement was quickly reached, resulting in the entry of a Red Bull sponsored Ferrari 430 GT with in it's line-up Adrian Newey. In 2007 the team again won the FIA-GT2 championship and because of that they were, like last year, officially invited to race at this year's Le Mans. In 2008, the AF Corse team again entered two Ferrari 430 GT's in the FIA-GT championship, the team is leading both the driver and team championships after two races. This year, AF Corse will not field the car for another team, like last year but they will enter the car for themselves with their own drivers

Le Mans testday time of last year:

2007 - 4:13,722

Prediction Le Mans testday 2008 - 4:02,732


#82 RISI Competizione

Risi Competizione, a professional race team, was founded in 1997 by Giuseppe Risi, team principal and Managing Director, as Doyle-Risi Racing. In 2001 the name Risi Competizione was adopted to reflect Giuseppe Risi’s sole ownership of the team. For 2006, Risi Competizione entered the ALMS series with the new Ferrari F430GT, which made its North American Debut at the 12 Hours of Sebring with a strong 3rd place finish. The Risi team took the GT2 team championship in 2006 and earned an automatic entry for the 2007 Le Mans race. In 2007, Risi Competizione again entered the American Le Mans Series, this year the results were even better: Next to the team championship, the driver championship was won also!

Le Mans testday time of last year:

2007 - 4:03,422

Prediction Le Mans testday 2008 - 4:00,246


#83 RISI Competizione

The second Ferrari 430 GT RISI Competizione entered in 2007, was fielded for Krohn Racing of which Tracy krohn is the owner. It reached an unexpected second place in class and therefore will be back this year because every class winner and runner up receive an automatic entry for next year's race.

Le Mans testday time of last year:

2007 - 4:07,528

Prediction Le Mans testday 2008 - 4:05,984


#90 Farnbacher Racing

Farnbacher Racing was founded in 1992 in Lichtenau near Arnsbach (Germany). The first races for the team were those of the Porsche Carrera Trophy. In 1995 the team entered two series: the German Porsche Carerra Cup and the Porsche Michelin Supercup. The team continued fielding Porsches in several championships. In this year's LMS championship however, they are entering two cars, one Porsche on Michelin tyres and one Ferrari on Dunlop tyres...

Prediction Le Mans testday 2008 - 4:03,0876


#96 Virgo Motorsport

In 2006, Virgo competed for the first time in international competition and scored their first podium finishes and pole positions that year in the 5 race Le Mans series. In 2007 they became champions in both driver and team championships, thereby earning a Le Mans entry for this year's race. it will be their maiden Le Mans experience.

Prediction Le Mans testday 2008 - 4:01,309


#97 BMS Scuderia Italia s.p.a.

The BMS Scuderia Italia team, which has racked up an impressive string of results, will be back for this year's Le Mans race. It's fifth in total but it's first in the GT2 class. In this class it will be the only contender to use Pirelli tyres. This season they scored one podium finish out of two races so far in the FIA-GT2 class.

Prediction Le Mans testday 2008 - 4:06,107


#99 JMB Racing

JMB Racing was founded by Jean-Michel BOURESCHE in 1995. JMB RACING has gleaned 15 titles among which, three Sports Prototype’s World Cups in 1998, 1999 and 2000, with a Ferrari 333 SP and a World Champion drivers title and team title in the FIA N-GT class in 2001 with a Ferrari 360 Modena N-GT. They stayed in the different FIA-GT championships untill 2007 but were never able to repeat their 2001 succes, although they finished second in the championship four times! JMB entered one Ferrari 430 GT in the 2007 LMS championship and wanted to race at Le Mans in 2007 also, but it's entry was turned down by the organisers. AF Corse had an automatic entry but Le Mans was not part of their schedule. So an agreement was quickly reached, resulting in the entry of a Red Bull sponsored Ferrari 430 GT with in it's line-up Adrian Newey. Against all odds it came home fourth in class!

Le Mans testday time of last year:

2007 - 4:13,722

Prediction Le Mans testday 2008 - 4:08,123