Ferrari has unveiled a revised version of its 488 one-make racing car, featuring a newly-developed kit that is claimed to increase both performance and handling.
External mods have resulted in a comprehensive redesign of the front to deliver an increase of 30% in aerodynamic efficiency compared to the regular 488 Challenge (the latter, as a track-only version of the road-going 488 GTB, currently competes in the Italian brand’s own one-make racing series).
The length of the front overhang has also been altered to increase overall downforce and optimise the balance. The profiles of the radiator grille intakes have been lengthened and, at the centre of the bumper, a U-shaped intake feeds the front brakes. In the lower part of the bumper, a large splitter with turning vanes at the ends is said to improve the control and direction of the airflow from the side vents. The sides of the bumper have also been re-proportioned to allow for the adoption of a second side flick. With all of the changes, the car reportedly has 50% more overall downforce than the current 488 Challenge.
Moving on to the side, below the rear-view mirror, there’s now a new small wing with an endplate designed to divert air flow towards the car’s intercooler intakes.
At the rear, which is said to have been influenced by the FXX-K, there are large side vents that extract the flows generated inside the wheelarches, while beneath the rear spoiler a new air vent set in the engine air outlet grille increases downforce. There’s also a new nolder on the rear wing that produces an increase in the coefficient of downforce.
Additionally, the 488 Challenge Evo features what is a first for Ferrari’s one-make series, namely, the option to modify the front downforce independently of the rear, so that the driver can set up the balance without having to change the ride height. The driver can select different configurations ranging from high downforce to low downforce before each race, depending on the circuit’s characteristics and the weather conditions. These developments are claimed to result in an increase of more than 20 percentage points in the downforce over the front axle compared to the 488 Challenge.
Chassis details, meanwhile, include a new front disc design and larger rear discs, as well as new Pirelli tyres measuring 275/675-19 up front and 315/705-19 at the rear.
On the inside, the 488 Challenge Evo gets a reshaped steering wheel, which is said to have been developed from the experience gained with the FXX-K Evo and the 488 GTE that triumphed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year.
There’s also a new rear camera that is claimed to “considerably” improve rear visibility, and which has been introduced in response to feedback from racing drivers.
