All the latest models of supercars have graced the tracks at the venue for the 2017 China GT Championship, with German cars making up over half of them. Among this array of German cars, those hailing from the Apennine Peninsula certainly make a deep impression. All racing fans know the name Ferrari from their countless victories in the F1 competitions. However, beyond the F1 arena, the prancing horse is also a serious contender in the GT field, and is always one of the most powerful competitors on the tracks.

Power

The Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 was built in cooperation with racing development team Michelotto and was unveiled in 2011. The GT3 car once again uses a F142 4.5-litre naturally-aspirated V8 engine, capable of producing a maximum of 550 HP and reaching a peak torque of 550 Nm.

Aerodynamics

The Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 is equipped with aerodynamic features such as a large-scale front splitter, winglets, rear diffuser and rear. The weight of the new model has been substantially shaved off at a mere 1250 kg. The combination of this aerodynamic effect and the lighter weight has allowed the Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 to pull ahead of its competitors.

In the current China GT season, Xu Wei and Naoki Yokomizo of KINGS are behind the wheel of the only Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 in the competition. The 2016 season of the China GT Championship was the first time that this car appeared in the competition, where the driver earned second place in the GT3 class. In the opening race of the new season in Beijing, Xu Wei and Naoki Yokomizo co-piloted the #17 Ferrari 458 Italia GT3, which was complete with new livery, finishing in fourth in the first round – just one step away from a podium finish. We look forward to seeing how this partnership fares in the future rounds!