After being succeeded by the 360 Modena as the new 8 cyl. Ferrari, the days of the current Challenge race car, the F355 Challenge were counted. The new Single Brand Race Series car was consequently called 360 Modena Challenge. #112193 was the prototype; however, F-Register’s database shows with #111818 an even younger car. The prototype was used for display during Frankfurt’s 2001 IAA as well. Many things had changed compared to the F355. You might remember well, that the F355 Challenges mostly have been cars that were upgraded by a Factory delivered kit. The 360 Challenge was a completely Factory produced car, ready to be raced from the 2000 Challenge season on.
The car was not road legal from the start, due to various modifications compared to the 360 Modena Stradale. The car has about 100 kgs less weight than the Coupé and an additional 5 hp. The Challenge car ran from zero to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds, making it 0.6 seconds faster than the street car. Big Brembo brakes with floating two piece discs tried to slow it down safely at any time. Instead of the regular instruments, digital instruments and Bosch race tuned ABS software became standard configuration as well as Lexan windows and a cleared out passenger cell. The cars did have the option of a passenger seat but during competition, this was usually dissembled what was a pleasure for spotters, the VIN is stamped into the chassis just below the passenger seat. But still, the 360 Challenge was a Factory produced” conversion built on 360 chassis. Therefore, the 360 Challenge bears the model digit “51” as the 360 Modena does. The tipo F131-engine produced 410 hp producing a top speed of 298 km/h –to be honest, that is only 3 km/h faster than a standard F355, but fully sufficient for a race track and I doubt they ever tried it during a race-.
Out of the 360 Challenge a road going model emerged for the first time, the Challenge Stradale. Beside this, the Factory returned to the production of GT-cars that looked like further race updated 360 Challenge cars.
F-Register’s db show 364 examples of the 360 Modena Challenge with the highest serial number in the early range of 136500.