Photo : Michel JAMIN / ACO

 

In 2004, the F430 GT presented itself as an evolution of the 360 Modena, from which it borrowed its lines and curves. It has a distinct visual signature, with vents on either side of the front which bring to mind the 1961 156. This single-seater was the first rear-engine Ferrari to win the title in Formula 1 thanks to American driver Phil Hill, the only driver in history to have been F1 World Champion and winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the same year. The F430 graced La Sarthe with its presence for the first time in 2006. It won two consecutive class victories in 2008 and 2009 thanks to the American team, Risi Competizione, close Ferrari partner in the U.S. In 2009, it was also at the wheel of an F430 that Patrick Dempsey raced in his first 24 Hours of Le Mans. For his premiere, which also served as a fundraiser for charity, the actor-driver passed under the checkered flag.

A few weeks later, in September of 2009, Ferrari presented the 458 Italia at the Frankfurt Motor Show. This newcomer marked a complete style break from the F430. Still attributable to Pininfarina, the Italian manufacturer's favourite fashion designer, the lines of the 458 are more angular, more aggressive, particularly in the headlights mounted on its front wings, the taillights pushed to the edge of the wings and even a spoiler integrated at the front, which morphs as speed increases. As of its first appearance at the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans, it reached the second step on the podium in the LM GTE Pro class, thanks to Gianmaria Bruni, Giancarlo Fisichella and Toni Vilander. This trio won in 2012 and 2014 making the car the veritable queen of the class, crowned in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2012 and 2013. And its story is not over yet: thanks to the Italian team AF Corse, it is in the lead of the 2014 World Championship GT Constructor title race and the World Endurance Championship GT Driver race, with four rounds left to roll, while Ferrari just presented at the Mondial de Paris a special version called the 458 Speciale A, the most powerful spider ever produced by Ferrari.

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 15 2014, RACE. The Ferrari 458 Italia of Bruni-Fisichella-Vilander on its way to its second victory in La Sarthe in the LM GTE Pro class.