Ferrari Challenge
 |
|
| Category | One-make racing by Ferrari |
|---|---|
| Country | International Europe North America Asia |
| Inaugural season | 1993 |
| Constructors | Ferrari |
| Tyre suppliers | Pirelli |
| Official website | Official website |
The Ferrari Challenge is a single-marque motorsport championship that was created in 1993 for owners of the 348 Berlinetta who wanted to become involved in racing. It now encompasses three official championships in the United States, Asia-Pacific, and Europe. Competitors from each series are brought together at the annual World Finals (Finali Mondiali) event. Since 2007, the Ferrari Challenge exclusively used the Ferrari F430 model. But in 2010 the 458 Challenge was revealed ready for the 2011 season. Today, both the 458C and F430C are used in the series, however the F430 is gradually being phased out by the competitors due to the 458C's superior performance (2 seconds quicker around Fiorano). Most of the Challenge grids now consist entirely of 458C's. For the 2017 season, Ferrari has introduced the 488 Challenge, which will replace the 458 Challenge Evoluzione.
Currently there are three distinct series, but in 2001, the number of championships peaked at five, with three in Europe, one in the United States, and one in Japan. Since 2001, the Ferrari Challenge is managed by Ferrari's Corse Clienti department ("customer racing").
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"). This format has now been transferred to the Europe Challenge series. It was originally launched in 1993, with backing from Pirelli. Its popularity has resulted in a 2007 entry list of ten teams represented by 37 drivers. The Challenge Italy series is now merged with the European Challenge-series.
Like the Challenge Italy, the European series is a two-class championship. For the 2012 calendar it contains 7 races, with 4 of them being held on Italian circuits. This is done in sync with the Italian series now merged into the European. The remaining 3 races are held at Hungaroring, Spa-Francorchamps, and Silverstone. The European Challenge is by far the largest series, with between 50–55 entrants for the 2012 season.
...
Wikipedia