Ferrari Engine Testbed Spied

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Ferrari458Italia

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For his part, di Montezomolo commented that, “We have won with the 458 GTE, but I also quite like the idea of racing at Le Mans in the highest category: who knows, maybe one day we can return and win, say thanks and come home. Maybe we should give it some serious consideration…”
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2014/01/ferrari-le-mans-prototype-spied.html

Ferrari-LeMans.jpg
 
It's the car thought to be used for testing the new F1 engine, so I doubt it has anything to do with Le Mans as it doesn't seem to fit any of the regulations(although it could just be an overall test mule for their racing efforts).
 
Looks more like a test hack, but with the LaFerrari-like panels on it. I'm thinking Ferrari might be working on a FXX version of the LaFerrari.
 
As for the Ferrari LMP, I think Audi has a strong competitor looming. I think Porsche will be in LMP racing, IIRC, but Audi better pull out all the stops if they want to continue their dominance, if you ask me.
 
Johnny1996
As for the Ferrari LMP, I think Audi has a strong competitor looming. I think Porsche will be in LMP racing, IIRC, but Audi better pull out all the stops if they want to continue their dominance, if you ask me.
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Sometimes I feel like Audi's dominance is more based on political pull than anything else... A few years back everyone would have been chasing down the R8 but Audi had regulations changed so the new (at the time) R10 would be able to run diesel.

I wouldn't be surprised to see some other sort of rule changing if Audi wants to stay on top. Otherwise I'm expecting to see a new top dog come out of Le Man in the next few years.

Porsche seems to be due for some LM love since I know they were interested in doing an LMP years ago but scrapped the program (supposedly ending with a bi-product known as the Carrera GT).

Bottom line:
I'll be looking forward to seeing Ferrari make an entry. Though I admit the car pictured above doesn't really get me excited or make me think of any current Ferrari.
Maybe some paint and stickers will help? :sly:
 
I'd like to see Ferrari go back to business with a top spec LMP car, but, I think there is more glory in GTE. Not that it is the highest technical achievement, but, that it's closer to production spec, and has a larger effect on what we see on the road. That, and of course, they get to go toe-to-toe with Porsche, Chevrolet and SRT. Gotta love that.
 
The body style of the car reminds me of the R390. The Ferrari LMP looks weird in my opinion.
 
It's definitely a restyled MC12 GT1. The length, width and cockpit are the same as this:

Vitaphone_MC12_GT1.jpg
 
I've read rumours that this car was used to test the new F1 engine. There is a video some guy took and it sounds like a turbo.

If Ferrari were to announce some kind of LMP1 programme, could they do as many test runs at Fiorano as they want and use this data for their F1 team?
 
hsv010
It's definitely a restyled MC12 GT1. The length, width and cockpit are the same as this:

Vitaphone_MC12_GT1.jpg
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It's nothing like it, so it definietely isn't! Proportions are all wrong for a start not to mention that design is a decade old now. Why on earth would Ferrari use such an old platform when they have far more modern and capable assets at their disposal ?!

Kent
Sometimes I feel like Audi's dominance is more based on political pull than anything else... A few years back everyone would have been chasing down the R8 but Audi had regulations changed so the new (at the time) R10 would be able to run diesel.

I wouldn't be surprised to see some other sort of rule changing if Audi wants to stay on top. Otherwise I'm expecting to see a new top dog come out of Le Man in the next few years.

Porsche seems to be due for some LM love since I know they were interested in doing an LMP years ago but scrapped the program (supposedly ending with a bi-product known as the Carrera GT).
Click to expand...

Very true about Audi. Many years back when I first started to attend the LM24 it had a quaint feel and look to it in the main food and retail village within the circuit. But slowly as Audi's dominance of the race took over so did their impact upon the circuit. The village has since been plowed down and replaced with a cold, soulless Audi village, everything is Audi sponsored there and it has absolutley ruined it.

As for Porsche, they are 100% returning this year in LMP1, that was Mark Webbers main reason for completely quiting F1 and not just moving teams. He is the lead driver, even above Porsches works drivers. Lets hope he doesn't have a repeat of his infamous flip in the Mercedes all those years back!
 
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XPOWER180
It's nothing like it, so it definietely isn't! Proportions are all wrong for a start not to mention that design is a decade old now. Why on earth would Ferrari use such an old platform when they have far more modern and capable assets at their disposal ?
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Because it's a cheap platform for them to shove a new engine in for testing? It could be an LMP engine, so they would rather use this than build an LMP just for testing. If you think this is an LMP, or even remotely looks like one, you're mistaken.
 
hsv010
Because it's a cheap platform for them to shove a new engine in for testing? It could be an LMP engine, so they would rather use this than build an LMP just for testing. If you think this is an LMP, or even remotely looks like one, you're mistaken.
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At no point did I ever state 'it's an LMP'. People who believe they are using a decade old platfrom are the mistaken ones!!
 
XPOWER180
At no point did I ever state 'it's an LMP'. People who believe they are using a decade old platfrom are the mistaken ones!!
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Well what is it then? It conforms to no current regulations, and looks like nothing except for an MC12 GT1 that's been covered in Ferrari panels and tarted up with GTE bits. It can't be anything else. You would have to be utterly stupid to build a car that has nothing to do with any series regulations rather than using a cheap platform. It's for an engine, not for aerodynamics or suspension info.
 
I was watching that car race for real when you was 4, I've followed GT racing for 25+ years, this car is NOT an old Maserati! For a start it's wheelbase is completely different, far longer than the MC12's plus it appears to be narrower. What bodywork it wears is of little importance, it's purely to cover things up and give it some form of aerodynamic quality. Ferrari do not recycle old chassis. They want to win at any cost and will use all they have at their disposal, regardless of financial impact. You need to get the MC12 idea out of your head! This article here is interesting, squashes the rumours of this being an LMP prototype for sure. http://www.racecar-engineering.com/news/mystery-ferrari-could-be-f1-v6-test-hack/
 
XPOWER180
I was watching that car race for real when you was 4, I've followed GT racing for 25+ years, this car is NOT an old Maserati! For a start it's wheelbase is completely different, far longer than the MC12's plus it appears to be narrower. What bodywork it wears is of little importance, it's purely to cover things up and give it some form of aerodynamic quality. Ferrari do not recycle old chassis. They want to win at any cost and will use all they have at their disposal, regardless of financial impact. You need to get the MC12 idea out of your head! This article here is interesting, squashes the rumours of this being an LMP prototype for sure. http://www.racecar-engineering.com/news/mystery-ferrari-could-be-f1-v6-test-hack/
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Tell me what you think it is then? It is not designed and fabricated completely by Ferrari, the tub has to be from something. Tub reuse is everywhere in motorsport, there are only a handful of completely unique designs. And please don't bring age into it, it's not a deciding factor in the argument - plus the MC12 GT1 did not race in 2003, it was 2004 ;).
 
My point was is that I've witnessed these cars 1st hand many many times and even back then they weren't great! I'll tell you what I think it is, it's a development mule for the F1 engine, nothing more. Now, you tell me this. If Ferrari was going to use a 10/11 year old chassis, would it use the realtivley restricted by the FIA/ACO chassis, or it's own Ferrari FXX chassis that had near endless development due to not being restricted by rules and regulations or better still, it's current LaFerrari tub that would be easier to adapt? Would they spend a small fortune modifying an ageing chassis to fit a small blocked 1.6 litre V6 with compact transmission where a large block V12 once sat with an equaly large drivetrain? Would they lengthen it's wheelbase? Or would they use a development of a chassis that they are currently producing, a chassis that will be more open to such modifications? I'm not normaly a gambling man but on this occasion I'll wager a high sum it's the latter!
 
Firstly, it won the FIA GT1 World Championship, it wasn't that bad. And secondly, I never thought about the FXX. But I would still rather use an actual GT1 tub and shove LaFerrari-esque bits onto it. Also, why is it running GTE wheels?
 
Because they fit???!!!! How should I know!! And that was your problem in the 1st place, you made a difinitive statement by saying it definitely is an MC12 and then offered absoloutely no reason why it can't possibly be anything else. I highly doubt they would use an old GT1 tub designed for a V12 to test a brand new compact V6!!! Also, the body work is obviously a mixture of the current parts bin, the front is clearly derived from a 458 but like I said, body work on test mules is irrelevant. All what we know for sure on this car is it is NOT an LMP/GT racer and it IS testing a new engine.
And as a final word on the subject, the article in post number 1 clearly states it is a modified LaFerrari chassis!
 
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Kind of something that crossed my mind. Get rid of the intake and add a more flat rear wing and you got what could look like a Daytona Prototype. Hard to tell from the photos but, the wheel base is likely too long but, it's a thought.
 
Kamuifanboy
Kind of something that crossed my mind. Get rid of the intake and add a more flat rear wing and you got what could look like a Daytona Prototype. Hard to tell from the photos but, the wheel base is likely too long but, it's a thought.
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That would explain the running of GTE spec wheels as well, good thinking 👍.
 
What's really intriguing me is that no other Ferrari appears to look like this. It may have LaFerrari headlights but that body is completely unique to that one car.

Whether it's an old chassis or something else remains to be seen, but the size of the wheelbase and body would lead people to assume its a restyled MC12 or FXX, but like XPOWER said it wouldn't make too much sense to put a compact V6 inside of one of those. I think we could also rule out the possibility that this is another street car they're going to release.
 
Giygas
What's really intriguing me is that no other Ferrari appears to look like this. It may have LaFerrari headlights but that body is completely unique to that one car.
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Exactly. It has to be either brand new with no plastic camouflaging, which wouldn't make much sense, or based on an existing tub/design.
 

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