Ferrari 348 Challenge

The 348 Challenge was the first car in the limited edition "Challenge" series, a factory racing program that is still run today. In North America, the cars were converted street spec 348's, modified with a full roll cage, racing seats and harnesses, slick tires, and a few other small changes.

 

This particular example was at James Fund Exotic Car Day last year, where I was lucky enough to catch a full throttle passenger run of the autocross course. It was a tight squeeze, (I'm not sure I would fit while wearing a helmut due to the intruding roll cage) but it was quite the experience! It pulled very hard on the straights, especially for an older car, and it had an incredible amount of grip through the tight corners of the course.

 

This is one of those cars that you actually have to drive, too. Even though it is so light and nimble, the owner worked up a sweat wrestling it around the course. Because of the racing slicks and lack of power steering, he said it was "like driving a truck!"

 

The owner, a gentleman racer, competes in the 348 along with a small collection of other vintage race cars.

Done