Ferrari reveals one-off, track-focused P80-C

By: CAR magazine

Ferrari has taken the wraps off its latest commissioned supercar, the racetrack-ready P80-C.

The client’s brief to the Maranello firm? – Build a contemporary sports prototype inspired by two iconic Ferraris from the past, the 330 P3/P4 and 1966 Dino 206 S.

According to Ferrari, its design, engineering and aerodymics teams worked hand-in-hand with the client to create this “hero car”. And it wasn’t an easy feat. Ferrari approached this project differently than its previous one-off builds. The project took some four years to complete, making it the longest development time of any bespoke Ferrari to date. The P80-C is based on Ferrari’s 488 GT3; not only for its performance but for its longer wheelbase (50 more than that of the standard 488 GTB), which afforded the designers greater “creative freedom”.

Thanks to the GT3’s stretched chassis, the layout of the cockpit is designed to emphasise a cab forward-effect. Although the car’s tail is now elongated; the Maranello-based firm says the aggressively styled P80-C still has a compact character. The aerodynamics of the P80-C was influenced by that of the GT3 (the vortex generators have remained), but it didn’t have to meet the the restrictions imposed by international regulations. The front-splitter and external surfaces have all been revised, resulting in an “improvement of around 5% in overall efficiency”. For the record, the GT3 car’s 3,9-litre twin-turbo V8 produces approximately 492 kW and 700 N.m of torque.

As this special Prancing Horse is homologated for racing, there’s no need for head- and taillamps, their housings now redesigned to look like air-intake slits. Broad butresses, expanding toward the side air vents, emphasises the front and rear wings.

The aerodymanic profile, inspired by the T-wing adopted in Formula 1 in 2017, is situated aft of the roof, and designed to reduce the length of the air flow over the rear of the car. Finally, Ferrari’s engineers have considerably widened the rear spoiler to meet aerodynamic requirements, while incorporating two taillamps mimicking the headlamps minimalist design.

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