Here, I'm driving what it seems to be a GT3-spec version of Ferrari's latest midship supercar, the 488 GTB, around one of the most dangerous tracks in the world, namely the Autodromo Dino e Enzo Ferrari, better known to you and I as Imola. You know, the track with the corner that killed Ayrton Senna since the early 1990's? Maybe we should get going now...
The 488 GT3 is based on the 488 GTB that was tuned to compete in IMSA's GTD class and many other GT3-class races. It uses the same 3.9L V8 Twin Turbo engine as the normal 488 GTB but unlike the normal 488, it features wider wheel arches that accomodate racing slicks, a massive carbon fliber splitter on the front, large rear diffusers, large rear wing, and many other racing modifications made to accommodate GT3 specifications.
Imola is a very unforgiving racetrack to master for beginners but the Ferrari manages to hang in there like bread and butter on a full English breakfast and while I'm busy getting to understand the car as well as the infamous racetrack that claimed many of drivers, including the legend himself, let's get to know about the best racing machines from the Prancing Horse because this is Ferrari's 70th anniversary after all.
Prancing Horse fanatics should be familiar with this legendary racing machine because this here is Ferrari's legendary Le Mans racer, the 330 P4. Its P3 predecessor was meant to be the trump card against Ford's GT40 Mk.II but failed when Ford claimed its first win at the 1966 Le Mans. This is known to be the uprooted version of the said car. The design looks similar to the P3 but it was given an improved engine and a tail section, turning into the changed car you're toying with now. It won the 1967 24 Hours of Daytona race for a photo finish in response to Ford's Le Mans win a year ago.
Based on the 365 GTB/4 grand tourer, which earned the unofficial Daytona moniker by some, this Competizione version features a lightweight bodywork courtesy of its aluminium and fiberglass panels, with plexiglas windows. In later models, the V12 engine that powers it was tweaked with the highest producing 456PS of power output in 1973. Although Ferrari never raced with these machines, it was bountiful for private racing teams that flourished it to Le Mans success where in 1972, it took the first five places in the GT class.
Made to compete in the likes of IMSA's new World Sports Cars class, which replaced the GTP class, the 333 SP marked Ferrari's return to sports car racing after a two-decade hiatus. It was built by Dallara and later Michelotto for such regulations and in its lifespan, it participated 144 races with 56 wins and 69 pole positions. Powering the 333 SP is a 4.0L V12 engine mounted in the middle, which is the same engine that powers the 1990 Formula 1 car, producing over 600HP of power and mated to a 5-speed sequential manual gearbox.
The 488 GTE racing machine may look similar to its GT3 counterpart but it was tweaked to compete the GTE-Class of endurance racing, meaning the downforce is increased tenfold due to the less restrictive limits on downforce, as hinted by its large front lip spoler, fixed rear wing, and three-part diffuser. It made its debut at the first round of the 2016 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at the 24 Hours of Daytona and it finished 4th in the GTLM class. Months later, a Risi Competizione 488 GTE placed 2nd at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
So, now that I'm getting familiar with Imola and some of Ferrari's racing legends, do I have some substantial favorite, the one I considered the best Ferrari racing legend for 70 years? If I do, maybe it wants to stand a chance against the GT3-spec 488, which is amazingly one of the hero cars of Project CARS 2, for a time attack round Imola. Of course, there are so many Ferrari racing legends around here but for my consideration, because this is Ferrari's 70th birthday after all, my pick goes to...
...Ferrari's endurance legend, the 330 P4, and now this legend wants to take on one of the young jumpstarts on a time attack round Imola. This should be exciting as the past and the present ready to dish out what they're made off all for 70 years of Ferrari. Let's see how much they've evolved through the years...
After a brave lap round Imola, here are the results;
1967 Ferrari 330P4 - 2:06.8
2016 Ferrari 488 GT3 - 1:58.686
70 years of Ferrari and such result never fails to impress me, in the 488 GT3's case that is, but I had high respects on the P4 because apart from being an improved version of the P3, the one that was obliterated by the Ford GT40 at Le Mans, its legendary status should not be taken for granted because cars like this is what Ferrari's capable of.
It's an honor for Project CARS 2 to add Ferrari in the game and with seven decades of the Prancing Horse's greatness, there's so much to love about Ferrari in this game.
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