Ferrari Challenge#Ferrari Challenge Japan
{{Short description|Single-Marque Motorsport Championship}}
{{for|the video game|Ferrari Challenge: Trofeo Pirelli}}
{{Third-party|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox motorsport championship
| logo = Ferarri challenge.png
| pixels = 250px
| caption =
| category = One-make racing
| inaugural = 1993
| cars = 488 Challenge Evo
| constructors = Ferrari
| tyres = Pirelli
| engines =
| country/region = Europe
North America
Japan
United Kingdom
| folded =
| current_season =
| website = {{Official website|https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/corse-clienti/ferrari-challenge Ferrari Challenge}}
}}
The Ferrari Challenge is a single-marque motorsport championship that was created in 1993, initially catering to owners of the 348 Challenge who wanted to race their cars.{{cite web |title=Corse Clienti Ferrari Challenge |url=https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/corse-clienti/ferrari-challenge |access-date=23 January 2023}}{{cite web |title=The Significance of The Ferrari Challenge Series |date=November 20, 2015 |url=https://wearecurated.com/ferrari-355-challenge-vintage-supercars/ |access-date=23 January 2023}}{{cite web |title=Ferrari Challenge |url=https://www.ferrari-challenge.org |access-date=25 January 2023}}{{Cite web |title=The Ferrari Challenge 30th anniversary |url=https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/corse-clienti/ferrari-challenges-30th-anniversary |access-date=2023-01-24 |website=www.ferrari.com |language=en}} The first European season took place in 1993, with a North American series added in 1994.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Sportscar365 |title=Ferrari Challenge Set for 30th Anniversary Kick-Off at COTA – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/ferrari-challenge-na/ferrari-challenge-set-for-30th-anniversary-kick-off-at-cota/ |access-date=2023-01-24 |website=sportscar365.com |language=en-US}} It now encompasses five official series in Europe, North America, Japan, The United Kingdom & Australasia. Competitors from each series are brought together at the annual World Finals (Finali Mondiali) event.
In the course of more than 30 years of history, the one-make championship has featured nine cars from the Maranello marque: the 348 Challenge, F355 Challenge, 360 Challenge, F430 Challenge, 458 Challenge, 458 Challenge Evo, 488 Challenge, 488 Challenge Evo and currently the 296 Challenge.
Series
Image:Ferrari F430 Challenge 88 Side.JPG
Currently there are four distinct series, in Europe, in North America, in the UK, and in Japan. The Ferrari Challenge is managed by Ferrari's Corse Clienti department.
=Ferrari Challenge Italy=
The now defunct Ferrari Challenge Italy used a two-class format in which distinguished between professional competition drivers in the Trofeo Pirelli (lit. "Pirelli Trophy") and amateur "gentleman drivers" in the Coppa Shell (lit. "Shell Cup").Straw, Edd. "Ferrari Challenge", Autosport magazine, November 16, 2006, pp.63. This format has now been transferred to the Europe Challenge series. It was originally launched in 1993, with backing from Pirelli.
=Ferrari Challenge Europe=
The European series is a four-class championship, the classes are:{{cite web |title=Ferrari Challenge Europe |url=https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/corse-clienti/europe |access-date=23 January 2023}}
- Trofeo Pirelli
- Trofeo Pirelli Am
- Coppa Shell
- Coppa Shell Am
=Ferrari Challenge North America=
Image:Ferrari F430 Challenge Group.JPG racer at New Jersey Motorsports Park, North American series (2008 season).]]
The North American also features the Trofeo Pirelli and Coppa Shell class system.[http://www.shell.com/home/content/ferrari-en/road_car/ferrari_challenge/2007_ferrari_challenge/standings/usa/standings_usa.html 2007 USA Standings] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071029041126/http://www.shell.com/home/content/ferrari-en/road_car/ferrari_challenge/2007_ferrari_challenge/standings/usa/standings_usa.html |date=October 29, 2007 }} From shell.com. Retrieved September 2, 2007.{{cite web |title=Ferrari Challenge North America |url=https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/corse-clienti/north-america |access-date=25 January 2023}} This championship was inaugurated in 1994. It is organized by Ferrari North America and sanctioned by IMSA."An insider's look...." From autospectator.com, published July 7, 2007.{{Cite news|url=https://races.ferrari.com/en/corse-clienti/faq/|title=FAQ - Ferrari Corse Clienti|work=Ferrari Corse Clienti|access-date=2018-10-20|language=en-US}}
= Ferrari Challenge UK =
Starting with the 2019 season, the regional Ferrari Challenge UK series has been launched, contested at some of the UK's most iconic tracks, from Silverstone to Brands Hatch, Oulton Park to Snetterton.
= Ferrari Challenge Japan =
Starting with the 2023 season, the calendar of the Prancing Horse single-make series has been enriched with the second regional series, the Ferrari Challenge Japan, which includes five rounds taking place at the tracks of Fuji (two rounds), Autopolis, Suzuka and Sugo.
=Ferrari Challenge Asia-Pacific=
The Asia-Pacific was organised from 2011 to 2022, inaugurated in combination with the growing interest and sales for Ferrari in Asia. The seasons included events in Japan, China, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. The Asia-Pacific also featured the Trofeo Pirelli and Coppa Shell class system.
=Ferrari Challenge Australasia=
2025 saw the launch of an Australian-based series with five rounds held at Australia's four largest motorsport venues. The series launched with a mix of 296 Challenge and 488 Challenge EVO equipped teams.
=Finali Mondiali=
From 2013, the major Ferrari Challenge series have combined to host a World Final common event for all championships. This event culminates in a race containing as many of the competitors across all series in both Trofeo Pirelli and Coppa Shell as can fit, with Ferrari declaring the winners to be "world champions".{{Cite news|url= https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/features/behind-closed-doors-ferrari-finali-mondiali |title= Behind closed doors at the Ferrari Finali Mondiali |work= The Autocar |date= 12 December 2021 |access-date= 7 February 2023 |last= Smith |first= Damien}} The following table has the winners of each event:
Champions
One-make racing
Image:Ferrari F430 Challenge Interior.JPG
File:Imm035 35A.jpg was the Ferrari Challenge racer replacing the F355 Challenge.]]
The Ferrari Challenge uses a single model from the manufacturer's road car range, suitably modified to make them safe for competition use. The lineage began with the 348 Challenge in 1993, followed by its successor, the F355 Challenge, and the 360 Modena was introduced in 2000. The F355 remained eligible during 2000 and 2001.[http://www.shell.com/home/content/ferrari-en/road_car/ferrari_challenge/2004_ferrari_challenge/intro/intro.html?LN=/road_car/ferrari_challenge/2005_ferrari_challenge 2004 Ferrari Challenge] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080121084544/http://www.shell.com/home/content/ferrari-en/road_car/ferrari_challenge/2004_ferrari_challenge/intro/intro.html?LN=%2Froad_car%2Fferrari_challenge%2F2005_ferrari_challenge |date=January 21, 2008 }} From shell.com. Retrieved September 2, 2007. The 360 Challenge version was the first competition-orientated version to be marketed to the public. The F430 Challenge was phased in during a transitional year in 2006, with the same being the case for the 458 Challenge in 2011.[http://www.shell.com/home/content/ferrari-en/road_car/ferrari_challenge/2007_ferrari_challenge/intro/intro.html 2007 Trofeo Pirelli] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026135031/http://www.shell.com/home/content/ferrari-en/road_car/ferrari_challenge/2007_ferrari_challenge/intro/intro.html |date=October 26, 2007 }} From shell.com. Retrieved September 2, 2007. The F430 introduced carbon-ceramic brake discs for the first time and gained {{cvt|80|hp|abbr=on}} over the 360CS, which has reduced lap times to approximately three seconds shy of the F430 GT2. The 458 Challenge is the first to have driver controlled aids such as traction control, stability management and adjustable ABS brakes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TeBJlyUts0|title=Ferrari 458 Challenge on the track|website=YouTube}}
=Ferrari Challenge racing cars=
The 296 Challenge is the most recent in a line of Ferraris used in the Ferrari Challenge series. The lineage is as follows:{{Cite news|url= https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a38134129/ferrari-challenge-is-about-much-more-than-you-think/ |title= Ferrari Challenge Is About Much More Than You Think |last= Hildebrand |first= Jr |work= Road & Track |date= 3 November 2021 |access-date= 25 January 2023}}{{cite news|url= https://www.gazzetta.it/Auto/storie/04-03-2022/ferrari-challenge-30-anni-campionato-monomarca-tutte-supercar-1993-2022-1646308582-1646380451/ferrari-challenge-1993-2022.shtml |title= Ferrari Challenge, 30 anni di campionato monomarca: tutte le supercar dal 1993 al 2022 |work= La Gazzetta dello Sport |language= Italian |date= 4 March 2022 |access-date= 25 January 2023 |last= Masperi |first= Giulio}}
- Ferrari 348 Challenge (1993–1995)
- Ferrari F355 Challenge (1995–2000)
- Ferrari 360 Modena Challenge (2000–2006)
- Ferrari F430 Challenge (2006–2011)
- Ferrari 458 Challenge (2011–2013)
- Ferrari 458 Challenge Evo (2014–2016)
- Ferrari 488 Challenge (2017–2020)
- Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo (2020–2023)
- Ferrari 296 Challenge (2024-Present)
All the cars used in the series are track only, although some 360 Challenges have been made road legal in Australia, with extensive modifications. However, due to new legislation, this is not possible anymore. The 360 Modena Challenge used in the series should not be confused with the 360 Challenge Stradale, which was a road-legal, track day oriented version of the 360, similar to the 430 Scuderia.
Racing simulators based on the series
In 1999, Sega's producer Yu Suzuki created Ferrari F355 Challenge: Passione Rossa, a video game based on the Ferrari F355 Challenge series.
In 2008, System 3's Mark Cale created Ferrari Challenge: Trofeo Pirelli, the official game of the Ferrari Challenge featuring the licensed Ferrari F430 Challenge Italian, European and North American 2007 series.{{Cite web |title=Ferrari Challenge Hands-On |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ferrari-challenge-hands-on/1100-6192659/ |access-date=2023-01-24 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}
In 2012, Ferrari Challenge appeared in Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commonscatinline}}
- {{Official|https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/corse-clienti/ferrari-challenge }}
- [https://races.ferrari.com/en/corse-clienti/north-america/ Ferrari Challenge North America]
- [http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1028405_2017-ferrari-488-challenge-race-car-revealed 2017 Ferrari 488 Challenge race car revealed]
{{Ferrari Challenge seasons}}
{{Ferrari}}