Presented at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the 458 Italia celebrated via its name all of the beauty of Italy: great food, music, bel canto...and of course Ferrari's exceptional sports car. Though it retained the same build as the 360 Modena and the F430 which preceded it (the cylinder capacity of its rear lengthwise V8 was changed to 4.5 liters), the 458 Italia has categorically more angular and assertive lines. It set out to reclaim Ferrari's success in the LM GTE classes in which it first appeared at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2011.

The reign of the 458 Italia began in 2012 with the inception of the World Endurance Championship (WEC): three class wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (2012 and 2014 with AF Corse in LM GTE Pro, 2015 with SMP Racing in LM GTE Am), the FIA World Endurance GT Constructors Cup for Ferrari (2012-13-14), Endurance Trophies for the LM GTE Pro teams (for AF Corse in 2012-13-14) and LM GTE Am (for 8Star Motorsports in 2013), double FIA World Endurance GT Drivers Cups for Gianmaria Bruni, crowned solo in 2013 then with Toni Vilander in 2014...and that wasn't all. The day before the 6 Hours of Bahrain, closing round of the 2015 WEC, SMP Racing is in the lead of the LM GTE teams standings and Ferrari is in the lead of the GT Constructors World Cup. More trophies are sure to come for the 458 Italia at Bahrain on Saturday, November 21st at 9:00 p.m. (local time) as the checkered flag is waved before the 488 hits the track in 2016...

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SUNDAY JUNE 17 2012, FINISH. The Ferrari 458 Italia won the first of its three class wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with at the wheel Gianmaria Bruni, Toni Vilander and Giancarlo Fisichella.