The Ferrari F430 GTC

While the 360 GTC saw great success when it was first released on track, as the story often goes, as the years go by new technologies are developed, creating faster, more agile and better equipped competition. In heed of this competition, Ferrari revealed a replacement for the 360 GTC in 2006 — the F430 GTC, and with it a whole new generation of Ferrari V8-engined berlinattas. Every detail of the car, down to the nuts and bolts, was inspired by the engineering research carried out at Ferrari’s Gestione Sportiva F1 Racing Division. As such, the new model was powered by a 4.0-litre version of the standard rear-mounted V8, which had been tuned for improved output, despite the intake restrictions employed by a new set of FIA regulations.

While the modifications behind the F430 GTC were based on research done by Ferrari, the company employed Michelotto Automobili to work with Corse Clienti in preparing and building the cars. Michelotto first built its relationship with Ferrari in the late 1960s, when it became an official Ferrari dealership. By the early 1980s, Michelotto took on more responsibility and began creating some of Ferrari’s most successful race cars, including the 308 GR IV, GTO Evoluzione, F40 LM, F40 CSAI-GT, F40 GTE, F333 SP and 360 N-GT. Due to Michelotto’s involvement, Ferrari has been able to claim victories at race events all around the world, including the Targa Florio, Tour de France Automobile, Daytona 24 Hours, Sebring 12 Hours, Petit Le Mans, the World Championship FIA N-GT, the English Championship N-GT, the French Championship N-GT and the Grand Championship-AM GT in the USA. When it comes to racing, there’s no one Ferrari trusts more to get its cars right than Michelotto.

As such, the F430 GTC was offered to preferred clients and privateers who wished to compete in GT2 racing, such as the American Le Mans Series, Le Mans Series and FIA GT Championship. The model went on to become a dominant force in the FIA GT Championship and ALMS, winning the GT2 Manufacturers’ Cup and Drivers’ titles in 2006 and 2007, the ALMS GT2 Manufacturers’ title in 2007, and the GT2 class at Le Mans in 2008 and 2009, as well as class wins at the 2008 and 2009 Petit Le Mans and the 2007, 2009, and 2010 Sebring 12 Hours. The F430 GTC saw worldwide domination.

This Ferrari F430 GTC

This example, F131EVOGTC 2610, was one of only 24 F430 GTCs built and was sold by Ferrari on 16 January 2008 to Mr Pierre Ehret in California, USA. On top of the 435,000-euro base price, over 30,000 euros of options were fitted to the car, including a data acquisition system, water and engine oil quick refilling equipment, air conditioning, 24-hour race lights, a carbon clutch and an increased front brake cooling system.

As with many F430 GTC owners, Mr Ehret was a gentleman racer in his own right and purchased the car with the intention of taking it on track, specifically the 2008 American Le Mans Series Championship. The highlight of the entire series was the opening race — the Sebring 12 Hours — which was held at the Sebring International Raceway in Florida on 15 March. Raced under the Tafel Racing banner, the car was co-piloted by Jim Tafel, Pierre Ehret, and Allan Simonsen, a talented Danish driver who would go on to be an Aston Martin Works driver, compete at Le Mans seven times and win the Asian Le Mans GT2 Championship in 2009. The three took this F430 GTC over the finish line 4th in the GT2 class — an impressive finish for its first race. Under the Tafel Racing banner, the car raced at all the best race tracks in America — from Lime Rock Park, Mid-Ohio and Road America to Mosport International Raceway, Road Atlanta and the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca — and finished in the top 10 of its class in each, aside from the Utah Grand Prix, where it was forced to retire. As a result, Tafel Racing finished 2nd overall in the GT2 class of the 2008 American Le Mans Series Championship.

The car was sold after the season and its blue-and-white Tafel Racing livery was repainted back to its original white colour. It was its impressive race history that drew the attention of its current owner, a successful businessman and racing enthusiast, and after his purchase of the car, he employed racing driver David Welch to pilot the car in three of the eight races in the 2012 Pirelli World Challenge series — the Streets of St Petersburg in Florida, the Streets of Long Beach in California, and the Infineon Raceway (now Sonoma Raceway) in Northern California.

Now, the car is eligible for Global Endurance Legends and Masters Endurance Legends, in which it can tackle some of the most historically significant circuits in Europe, such as Le Mans, Paul Ricard, Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps, and Nürburgring.

This is an exceptionally rare competition car and a noteworthy component of Maranello’s modern racing repertoire.

Price Upon Request