360 Challenge

Schumacher will unveil the 360 Modena Challenge
Copyright: Ferrari

On July 4^th 1999, at the Nürburgring Circuit, Michael Schumacher will unveil the 360 Modena Challenge, the race version of the latest Maranello 8 cylinder car, officially presented to the German market at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The Challenge version of the 360 Modena has been created to give those Ferrari customers who like to take to the race track a strong racing and performance package. Next year, the Ferrari Challenge Pirelli Trophy, a championship fought out around the world and which dates back to 1993, will see the F355 joined by the 360, the two cars competing in different classes. 360 Modena – technical specification 8 cylinder 90 degree V engine. 3586 cc, 400 ps F1 style gear change Minimum weight, ready to run without fuel: 1,170 kg (150 Kg less than the F 355 Challenge car.) Digital instrument panel by Magneti Marelli with data acquisition system. Aeronautic standard fuel cell to FIA standards with a 100 litre capacity and two quick-fillers. Automatic fire extinguisher system, racing seat with six point harness, FIA standard roll over bar. Pirelli P Zero Slick tyres, Shell oil and lubricants and BBS wheel rims. The 360 Modena Challenge will go into production at Maranello at the end of 1999 and the first production run will include a limited number of cars exclusively for drivers registered for the Challenge. 

Ferrari Racing Days at the Nürburgring
Copyright: Ferrari

Nürburgring, 4th July 1999. On the dot of 12.30 the helicopter touched down on the start/finish straight of the Nürburgring circuit to an enthusiastic welcome from the spectators packed into the grandstands: Michael Schumacher jumped down from the chopper and stepped straight into the new 360 Modena in its brand new Challenge version. After a brief demonstration drive, the German made a short speech. First of all he thanked the thirty thousand spectators for their rapturous welcome on the track and then he underlined the qualities of the new model, destined for customers to race starting in the 2000 season. He stressed the advantages of its light weight derived from its all alloy construction. Schumacher admitted to having collaborated a great deal with the engineers in the development of the car, driving it at both Fiorano and Mugello. He said that the 360 Modena was just like a kart to drive, with great manoeuvrability which produced a very sporty ride. This car follows in the best traditions of Ferrari and the 360 Modena is thus a tribute to the marque. Asked if the F1 type gear change took much getting used to, Schumacher replied: “Some people reckon that with all the driver aids in the cockpit of a Formula 1 car, anyone can drive a racing car. We have seen on several occasions recently that this is not the case, but in road traffic the electronic change makes all situations easier to deal with. Not only are gearchange and clutch problems eliminated, but in some critical situations the car is simply safer. Naturally, it is also more enticing as the 360 uses the same system as a Formula 1 car. Above all, it makes it fun to change gear.” Schumacher also confided that his favourite car is still the 456M; “The 2+2 configuration is best for me as I have two children, but for a real blast, I recommend the 360.” Of course, Schumacher also spoke about his work with Scuderia Ferrari, which for him is much more than simply fulfilling a contract. “The best thing about it is that there is a real family atmosphere at Ferrari. The good relations between every part of the team contributes to the on-going development of the F399.” Questioned about the team’s eight point lead in the world championship, the driver said he was confident. “As we have seen in the past few tests, the new engine is going really well. We have done an entire grand prix distance. With the new engine we have made a major step forward and not just in terms of performance. The entire package is improved and while Silverstone is a track which should favour McLaren, we can still be optimistic. Also, the situation in the world championship is much better compared with this time last year.” Asked if he and the team were angry about the outcome of the French Grand Prix, Schumacher said: “Weather conditions at Magny Cours were extreme. I had so much water in the cockpit that the electronics could not cope. Then I experienced a few other small problems, so I think we can be happy to have come away with two points.” He was also asked if Frentzen would be one to watch from now on. “The situation in the French Grand Prix was peculiar. Frentzen is a very good driver, but I do not think we have to worry about Jordan at Silverstone. Schumacher also did a few laps of the German circuit at the wheel of a F399, which had been at the Silverstone test. He was joined by around twenty historic cars. Among these, the former King of the Nurburgring Jacky Ickx was at the wheel of one of the Ferraris he used in the World Championship. The huge crowd were also treated to some great racing. There were four races from the Shell Historic Ferrari Maserati Challenge. In the race reserved for Sports cars with disc brakes, Jacky Ickx scored a double at the wheel of a 1972 312 PB, while second on both occasions was the 512 M of the Swiss driver Patrick Stieger. On Saturday they were joined on the podium by France’s Jean Guikas (Maserati B GrlV) and on Sunday by Englishman David Piper (Ferrari 275 LM.) Maserati took its revenge in the race for Sports cars with drum brakes: on both days victory went to the Englishman Peter Hanen, first beating Germany’s Burkhard Von Schenk (third in the second race and then finishing ahead of the Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France of the Swiss Plino Haas. In the first race, third place went to another Maserati, the 300S of Germany’s Klaus Werner, who crashed in race two. The Ferrari Racing Days programme also featured a round of the European series of the Ferrari Challenge – Pirelli Trophy. Winner was Austria’s Karl Baron who beat Spain’s Villamil and from the Netherlands, Merksteyn. 

Ferrari Challenge: The 2001 season
Copyright: Ferrari

Maranello, 10.02.2001: The seven Championships of the 2001 season (five for the Challenge and two for the Historic Challenge,) will be held in Europe, North America and Japan and will start around March – April time without any great changes to the way they are run, given how successful they have been in the past. A quick glance at the figures from the season just ended is enough to confirm its success. 197 modern day Ferraris were entered, made up of the 360 Modena Challenge and the F355 Challenge, while there were 94 historic cars, made up of 22 single seaters, 41 sports and GT drum brake cars and 31 with discs. The figures are due to increase for 2001 with over 175 of the 360 Modenas and around thirty of the F355. Also getting bigger is the Shell Maserati Historic Challenge with over a hundred cars in Europe and around forty in the United States.Among the main innovations for the Ferrari Challenge Pirelli Trophy this year, is the introduction of a standing start instead of the rolling one. This was decided last year, when the F1 type gear change made its race debut. Another change concerns race length, with the 360 Modena tackling a greater distance than the F355. Also new are the criteria for admission to the World Final, with the exclusion of drivers who have not taken part in at least four races during the season. The traditional “Tutte le Ferrari in pista (All the Ferraris on track) meeting will take place at Monza on 20 and 21 October 2001 and will count as a the final race of the individual series as well as the overall final. Partners for the new season are Pirelli, Shell, Imiweb, Lineltex, OMP, BBS, Saima Avandero and Magneti Marelli. The Historic Challenge will also be supported by Shell, Delphi and Regione Siciliana. 

The ‘Race of Champions’ in Paris with Schumacher and Ferrari
Copyright: Ferrari

Paris, 5th December 2004 ‘ In the splendid setting of the Stade de France in Paris, around sixty thousand people attended the ‘Race of Champions’ which saw racers and rally drivers go head to head on a special one kilometre course, with the Ferrari 360 Modena Challenge car featuring in the various duels.Part of the revenue from ticket sales went to the ICM (Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle epiniere) which boasts Jean Todt and Michael Schumacher among its patrons.Watched by the Ferrari Managing Director, the Scuderia’s German driver took victory in the special challenge between world champions, with two wins out of three, going up against French rallyman, Loeb.Schumacher got the better of the Brazilian Massa and the Frenchman Bourdais and then however, in the semi-final of the ‘Race of Champions’ he came up against Kovalainen, with the win going to the young Finn.The French crew of Loeb and Alesi won the ‘Nations Cup,’ in which Michael was partnered by rallyman Schwarz.