How does the 488 challenge evo drive? Considering purchasing for HPDE use

I like the car. It's a big 458 with some new electronics. The turbos are addictive. It is a very balanced fun car to drive. The Ferrari licensed software is a pain, but otherwise great car.

Red Flags:
Engine and tranny - find a newer one. They were all raced. Get a lower KM car from a good shop.
Make sure you get the stupid dongle (USB Chip) that matched the DCS unit in the car. If you don't have that you are in for a ride.
Make sure you get the licensing for the Ferrari software.
Make sure you get the right seat. Large, medium?
Most of the Ferrari dealers have no idea about any of this because the dealers subcontract out the racing side which makes it difficult to support this car for HPDE events.
For HPDE:
It's a lot of car for this but whatever. Steel brakes reduce the cost for HPDE. Make sure you bleed the brakes with the software.

 

I'm subscribed to this thread. I'm interested as well. Thanks op for the post.

 

Do you drive the 720s to and from the track? Or do you store it at the track or trailer it? It is a big leap from a street car to a 488 challenge evo. You might want to consider a track car that doesn’t need a race team at first while you are going through your learning curve you can minimize some of the costs. That is my personal observation in hindsight. For my track car I went from an sf90 to a 488 ch evo. I can track a street car by myself. I can’t track a 488 ch evo by myself. It needs a race team to support it. The car stays with the team. A cheap hpde weekend is 10k. This is just my experience and everyone I know that has one does the same, but maybe it is possible to support it yourself for hpde without a race team if you are very mechanically inclined. I am using my car for club challenge.

If you are only doing hpde you could also consider an older 488 challenge car without the evo kit, it will obviously be cheaper. The 488 challenge evo cars will likely drop a bit in price later this year if they only run the 296 for the challenge series next year instead of both the 488 and 296 like this year.

 

What Andy said……I have the 458 Ch evo and it’s manageable - I change my tires if need be and bring a set of brake pads which I use track support to change when I run out. When it becomes too much it’s easy to lose focus on driving, not a good thing.

I would have loved to move into the 488 Ch evo, but I’ve never seen them at HPDE events without a crew…..they are certainly more complex to run. So, I went another route with a 992 Cup.

$10k isn’t too far off for an HPDE weekend from what I spend on track fees, car prep, consumables, fuel, hotel, etc. Not an inexpensive hobby……..

 

Following to see owner replies.

 

https://preowned.ferrari.com/en-US/a/north-america/used-ferrari/usa/ferrari-of-washington-/488-challenge/ZFF87EXX000225889-1711974826521 Someone can pick this car up for a great deal. PM me if interested. 14km not miles. Some spare parts and wheels.

 

Aside from support, there are many potential expenses. Everything from gearboxes, tires, engines, etc. Nothing is a cheap on a Ferrari, especially race cars. Support is an absolute requirement, there is much to know. With this said, it's a ton of fun and certainly better than running a street car.

If you don't want this much complexity and expense, a 430C or 458C would also work well.

 

And we just picked up a 458 C so we are going to be selling what is probably the best documented 430 C in the country - one that has had a recent engine rebuild, new clutch and actuator rebuild.

 

I have both a 458 Challenge Evo and two 488 Challenge Evos. Question by the OP was how does it drive…

I enjoy both and speed wise the 458 holds up well against the 488. In Club Challenge - where both are permitted to run together - a capable driver in a 458 can almost keep up with many of the 488s running at the same time.

I prefer the 488 due to the ability for the traction control and abs settings to be changed dramatically to suit he driver and track conditions. The 488 Evo has a F1 type steering wheel which took some getting used to but now I prefer that.

Running cost…that’s a whole different deal that’s been answered here.

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Hi can you please expand on these 2 things? What is the DCS unit and what is the dongle for? Ferrari software for what; the car or did the diagnostic software?

Thanks

 

The car has a GPS enabled unit called RCS. It is made by DSA (super confusing). You can purchase it separately or the car comes with an encrypted USB chip or dongle. This dongle must be synced with the RCS unit. The dongle and the RCS unit are made by the DSA company.

All of this communication is done through licensed software from Ferrari to access the race telemetry and car functions. The RCS unit has it's own software from a company called DSA.
1. RSC unit installed in the car.
2. A laptop
3. Dongle from Ferrari to match the RSC.
4. Software from DCA.
5. Software from Ferrari. licensed.
6. Cable to connect everything.

I hope this helps.

 

Wow. Amazing information. Thank you so much for taking the time. Most helpful! No wonder I was confused. I think we're going to have FF Corse on speed dial by the time we're done!

 

The whole system is complex. When it works it is very functional. You can preload the system with race tracks. The GPS system knows what track you are running. It turns on the lap timing. You can drop a pin for sector times. The data from the car is fascinating with over 200 channels. The dash is customizable but you need ANOTHER cable.

 

Biggest red flag on a 488 Challenge?

The depth of your bank account! These are not cheap cars to run on the track. Tires, brakes, malfunctions here and there, wear and tear. They all quicklly add up.
A street car is considerable cheaper to run o a race track..... However the drive certainly isn't.
Keep in mind you need a crew to maintain/prepare this car properly.

 

Great and timely thread.

I love my 488 GTB so much I decided to buy an 2017 EVO. There is a recreational track 10 miles from my Lake house and my intention is to track day it from time to time with my two boys and display it in my collection.
My car has the Remote Dongle, radios, is fresh certified, basically everything and tons of spares.

I am contemplating taking delivery at Watkins Glen in a couple of weeks and I need to contact the dealer to see if it’s sensible to participate in the club Challenge for the weekend.

My question is, if I just want to “fool around” with it on a local track occasionally and display it, what are the cost implications
$5k per year ?
$10K per year ?
$25K per year?
What are the support requirements?
Remote updates?
A dealer Once over each year?
Michollotti on-site team support? ( Half kidding)

Thanks

 

traveling atm so limited answer. Take year and replace with day.

Cost for club challenge - not regular challenge - can easily run $50k per weekend.

 

i have heard and read a spectrum of costs associated to the various levels of participation. $50k for a weekend at the Club Challenge level is the highest I have heard and likely includes the full gamut of race concierge and VIP events, or maybe a fender bender and full dealer team support (I don’t know).
I don’t have time for a regular schedule of racing.

thanks for that data point. What would that include?

what would a fun private track day weekend budget be?
Assuming no accidents.
What level of support would I need ?

 

$50k =
$10k per day for race support by team (depends on team) for 3 days
$9k entry by FNA for weekend
$7k for 2 sets of tires - can go up to 4-6 sets of tires per weekend
$$$$ for hotel /airfare/rental car

not counting VBOX subscription or pre race prep and fluids or any worn parts. Brakes and rotors are commonly replaced. I broke a wheel hub at Laguna Seca and it was $7k

 

Thanks for that info Ron. So that is the 5 ticket ride.

I understand that the 488 needs more tech support than a 458 and previous models.

if I want to go out with the boys, say 5 weekends a year, prob 400K/ Day, 1/2 days over said weekend what does that look like?

obviously we are pressing it 9/10ths. I have a **** ton of spares and costs are relative. If I choose to take delivery at WG and do an intro weekend, I’m counting on at least 30K with initiation etc… It would probably be worth it as I haven’t done it before.

 

I have done 488 challenge for a full season and still run the car at a track. The costs are astronomical, you need a mechanic and an engineer to run the car properly. Track support with a proper race team is $10k a day, tires are another $10k a day (3 sets), break pads, rotors etc. My spindles are starting to crack, they are $10k each wheel. This isn’t counting damage, my worst crash during racing cost $170k to fix. Yes 3 day weekends are $50k-$100k not including damages. The car is heavy, powerful, you drop a wheel on the grass you might be going sideways into a wall at 100mph. Not trying to put you off, the car once dialed in and driven well is very satisfying. To learn how to drive properly you need a coach, they are $2k a day plus expenses. You need to know what you are getting in to. The best racecar I have is my spec miata. Tires cost $1,000 and last for ever, each service is $200. Your choice.

 

PS your maclaren 720 is a street car, doesn’t have proper harnesses so you can’t wear a hans device, has glass everywhere, doesn’t have a racing fuel tank, doesn’t have a fire system. It isn’t safe to drive a street car on a track. Don’t drive it again. Get a track car, a miata, a porsche gt4 whatever. No street cars.

 

I digress guys, I think I got it.
Can’t wait to get the car and experience it in this format
Cheers

J

 

ROma1280 numbers are more accurate.

488 eats tires at an alarming rate.
All this being said, it is an amazing car. It is a trail braking monster with aero which actually works.

 

We service dozens of the 488 Challenge cars and Ran a Challenge team with 8-10 cars up until 2020. At a minimum you should be setting aside $10K-$12k per day on average to run the 488 Challenge. Some weekends will fair better others worst. Trying to go cheap on maintenance will quickly get more expensive and dangerous on these cars. Trackside support, entrance fees and transportation will be extra. Some tracks like COTA, Laguna Seca or Atlanta you can double the normal tire budget.