Unveiled at the 2004 Paris motor show, the F430 shares a family resemblance with the 360 Modena. The 4.3L engine has the same architecture, i.e. a longitudinal, rear-mid V8. The outline remains curved but the many ventilation louvres add vigour. The front ones are similar to those on the 1961 “Sharknose” 156, the first rear-engine Ferrari to win the Formula One World Championship, driven by Phil Hill. That year, Hill became the only driver ever to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Formula One championship in the same season.
The F430’s first appearance at Le Mans was in 2006. The car owes its success in France to a Sicilian from the USA. Houston-based Ferrari dealer Giuseppe Risi entered the marque’s cars in the American Le Mans Series and was rewarded with two class wins at Le Mans, in 2008, thanks to Gianmaria Bruni, Jaime Melo and Mika Salo and 2009, with Melo, Salo and Pierre Kaffer. Patrick Dempsey first entered Le Mans in 2009 with a F430GT, finishing thirtieth overall. A few weeks after Risi Competizione’s second class win, Ferrari presented the 458 Italia to the world at the Frankfurt motor show. The new car looks set to reign over the LM GTE classes.
Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO – Translated from French by Emma Paulay
Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, LE MANS 24 HOURS, SUNDAY 14 JUNE 2008, FINISH. Success at the Circuit de la Sarthe for Risi Competizione’s Ferrari F430 GT. Driver Gianmaria Bruni victorious at his first 24 Hours of Le Mans.