Maranello, 31 March – The opening Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli 2005 race will take place on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 April at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari autodrome, Imola. The Italian GT championship will also kick off this weekend with the Ferrari 575 GTC Evoluzione 2005 and the 550 Maranello appearing in the main class and the 360 GTC in the N-GT category.
It will be the debut race for the modified 575 GTC. The Ferrari Corse Clienti department has made changes to the original version with the collaboration of the technical GT head, Maurizio Nardon. The aerodynamics were completely revised with the addition of a new splitter and air intake on the modified bonnet. These changes improve internal air flow. The engine has been totally redesigned and, together with the new cooling tank, results in greater power and better handling. The current torque curve guarantees improved power management and the work on the steering column means that the new car is easier to point into curves and performs more smoothly when in them.
The tests on the 575 GTC Evoluzione 2005 were carried out by the Brazilian driver Jaime Melo. The model is destined to be used by private teams competing in various GT series.
The 575 GTC is aimed at private teams participating in the FIA GT championship and will make its debut at the end of the 2003 season. It will also appear in other Granturismo series like the American IMSA and GrandAm series. The `C´ in the name stands for `competizione ´.
The 575 GTC is the racing version of the 575M Maranello. In order to cope with the demands of the track, it is equipped with even more technological advances than the superb road version .
The displacement of the 65° V12 has been increased to 5,997cc with a maximum power output of close to 605 bhp, and the car boasts a sequential shift. The track has been widened, the brakes increased in size and, thanks to the use of composite materials, the body has been lightened. The tubular steel chassis features boxed sections and the all-round wishbone suspension features adjustable antidive geometry.
The car has a split rear wing with a nolder. This set up is the fruit of extensive aerodynamic research in the wind tunnel, something that was also carried out for the adjustable front spoiler and the undertray with its rear extractor.
