The New 458: 2012 Ferrari 458 Italia Grand Am

The initial development for the new Ferrari 458 Italia Grand Am is now finished. Ferrari and their out-of-house tuning firm, Michelotto, have begun testing the vehicle on the Fiorano Circuit. If the name for this new racer doesn’t give it away, the 458 Italia Grand Am was produced as the first factory-sanctioned Ferrari to compete in the Grand-Am’s Rolex Sports Car Series GT class under the current GT rules.

This new model is based on the GT3 version of the V8-powered Ferrari Berlinetta. Between the new 458 Grand Am model and the European version the difference is that the Grand Am develops a total of 500 HP (and not 470 HP like other 458 Italia racing cars) at maximum revs of 8000. Slowing the North American Grand Am down is a 48 mm restrictor and less efficient aerodynamics than the GT version.

If we compare Ferrari 458 Italia Grand Am to a standard 458 Italia, this new model features a revised braking system (since the car is lacking ABS and traction control) and a roll-over bar which gives greater lateral protection thereby increasing safety. Ferrari 458 Italia Grand Am is fitted with tires from the Grand Am series’ sole provider, Continental.

Below, in the photo gallery you can watch some pictures with 2011 Ferrari F458 GT3 by STP and 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 (pictured above).

Source: Topspeed