18.01.2004 CHALLENGE STRADALE HEADS THE FERRARI LINE UP AT THE BRUSSELS MOTOR SHOW

Ferrari have presented a compact display in Brussels, with a four model line-up headlined by the road-specification version of the new Challenge Stradale.

To create the Challenge Stradale, Ferrari took the 360 Modena, and introduced the essential principles of a racing car. Every feature that in no way improved performance and safety was reduced to the minimum or eliminated. It's possible to specify sliding windows, a feature last used on the F40. The end result was an extremely lightweight, fast sportscar , with a true racing-style set-up and impeccable handling.

The project's starting point was aerodynamics, where the aim was to obtain increased vertical load, or downforce, followed by all the vehicle-specific features, transmission, set-up and braking, in particular, the introduction of carbon-ceramic brakes as standard. And finally, that determining factor for all racing cars, achieving the lowest possible weight.

In fact the car's drastic weight loss is one of the most significant achievements of the Challenge Stradale project: the weight was reduced  by incorporating racing solutions for every single one of the car's components, in addition to the benefit of using only aluminium to build the chassis, just like the other 360 models.

The red Challenge Stradale is joined on the stand by a similar-coloured 360 Modena and a metallic grey Spider. Completing the Italian sportscar builer's display, the 360 range, is joined by a sole jet-black 575M.

Elsewhere in the Brussels Exhibition Centre, Michael Schumacher's F1 World Championship winning F2003-GA is positioned on the Fiat stand, emphasising the relationship between Ferrari and their parent company.