2006 – Ferrari F430 GTC

2006 - Ferrari F430 GTC

Chassis no. F131 EVOGT 2410

Unregistered competition vehicle

Unregistered competition vehicle

- The F430 GTC, winner of the 2006 Nürburgring 1,000 km

- Formerly entered in the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, unique livery

- Eligible for Peter Auto’s new ‘Legends of Le Mans’ series, held during rounds of the World Endurance Championship and Le Mans Classic

- Undeniable authenticity, still fitted with its original engine, gearbox, chassis and bodywork

- Only two owners since leaving the factory, kept out of the public eye for nearly 10 years

Michelotto: the wizard of Padua who became the stepping stone to Ferrari’s successes

It is 1973 in Maranello: Enzo Ferrari, faced with the relentless economic difficulties plaguing his firm and Fiat’s reluctance to increase the budget, is forced to abandon part of his racing calendar… Historically, the Cavallino has competed in the World Endurance Championship and Formula 1. The Italian’s heart wavered, but it was the single-seater that won his favour, with the recent arrival of television and sponsors!

Faced with this painful decision, some die-hard Ferrari enthusiasts attempted to prolong the adventure by entering cars privately in certain races. Between 1977 and 1978, the Gr. 4 class reigned supreme and some major clients (Charles Pozzi among others) asked Maranello to enter the series. Il Commendatore then proposed to Giuliano Michelotto, who was already involved in preparing the Daytona Gr. 4s (three class victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans) and certain Stratos models in the early 1970s, to develop a specification based on the 308.

The result was a resounding success, establishing Officina Michelotto as the new breeding ground for Ferrari’s racing triumphs. Shortly afterwards, Il Commendatore entrusted him with the 288 GTO Evoluzione project, which was abandoned after just a handful of examples were built following the demise of Group B, and which would become – no less – the Ferrari F40… At that time, Michelotto was preparing Ferrari’s most special prototypes! Unsurprisingly, it was also Michelotto who was pushed by Ferrari (once again under pressure from the importer Charles Pozzi, cocorico) to build a racing version of the F40. Seventeen examples of the LM were produced, and it racked up a few successes and victories before the arrival of the F50.

Once again, history repeated itself and the F50 GT, although well advanced in its development, fell victim to changes in the GT1 class regulations, rendering its performance obsolete compared to the 911 GT1 and others… The project was therefore abandoned after just three examples and no racing experience, in favour of one of the most exciting cars in Michelotto’s history: the 333 SP. Derived directly from Formula 1, only 40 examples of the barquette were produced.

After a few more low-profile projects, Michelotto returned to the Ferrari scene with the production of V8-powered GT berlinettas entered into competition: the 360, 430 and 458… During those few years, success was certainly on the cards, with honourable results when not outright victories!

The F430 GTC: on the way to the podiums…

Following the success of the 360 GT, Ferrari asked Michelotto to update the company’s flagship model for endurance racing. The new production berlinetta, named the F430, was effectively the first model to propel Ferrari into the world of supercars… Commercial ambition was therefore at its peak, and it was essential to complement this with sporting success in a physically identical model!

In 2006, the Padua-based Officina unveiled the result: the F430 GTC was capable of taking on the competition in the GT2 class. The aluminium chassis of the standard F430 has been stiffened by the addition of an aluminium tubular roll cage integrated into the cockpit and a body featuring composite panels and extensive use of carbon fibre on secondary structural elements. Mechanically, the engine capacity was reduced to 3,996 cc to meet the requirements of the GT2 category, which stipulates a range between 3.8 and 4 litres. Despite these modifications, the F430 gained around 50 kg, bringing its weight to 1,130 kg. Power, restricted by intake restrictors, varied between 430 and 470 hp depending on the championship, available between 6,600 and 7,500 rpm.

The F430 GTC’s racing career got off to a remarkable start, with FIA GT2 manufacturers’ and drivers’ titles in 2006 and 2007, an ALMS GT2 manufacturers’ title in 2007, and class victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2008 and 2009. It subsequently paved the way for the 458 GT2 and 488 GTE models.

In total, the F430 GTC has amassed an impressive list of honours: 11 titles in FIA GT2 (4 manufacturers, 4 teams, 3 drivers), 4 in the LMS (2 teams, 2 drivers), 4 in the ALMS (1 manufacturer, 2 teams, 1 driver), 2 in the Asian Le Mans Series (1 team, 1 driver), 1 in the ILMC (manufacturer), and 12 in the GT Open (split between teams and drivers). Added to this are numerous successes in various national championships, notably in Italy and Spain.

The Ferrari F430 GTC #2410, queen of the Nürburgring!

#2410 was the fifth car to roll off the Michelotto production line and was sold new to the Spanish team Ayrton Intermotor, which leased it to GPC Sport and Team Icer Brakes for two seasons! Following successful pre-season testing, #2410 was entered in May 2006 in the Spa 1,000 km race under number 84. It qualified in 42nd place, but a crash prevented it from finishing the race. With its front fairing damaged, #2410 was taken back to Michelotto’s workshops where it was repaired in time to resume the LMS season.

In July 2006, we saw #2410 back in action at the 1,000 km of Nürburgring! It now bore the number 83, and the results were not the same… The Zonca / Belicchi / Cioci crew qualified our F430 GTC in 26th place, just behind the Prodrive Ferrari 550, despite it being in the GT1 class! Starting from pole position in the GT2 class, our crew drove a perfect race and claimed the top step of the podium.

At the end of August 2006, our victorious crew entered #2410 in the 1,000 km of Donington. Qualifying was less successful than the previous month, and the car was withdrawn from the race after 2 hours and 32 minutes of action. A month later, at Jarama, #2410 did not ultimately start the race, as the team preferred to save it for the race of its life…

We see #2410 back on the Le Mans circuit for the preliminary tests for the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans. By then, it had been upgraded to the 2007 mechanical specification, featuring the necessary components for

endurance races (additional lights, special spoiler, etc.). Its livery had also changed to reflect the colours of its sponsor and equipment supplier. The tests were conducted by the Marsh / de Simone / Rosenblad crew, who finished 53rd overall, with a best lap time of 4:11.629, ahead of one of AF Corse’s F430 GTCs!

Two weeks later, the Rosenblad / Villaroel / Marsh crew took the wheel of our F430 GTC. Qualifying ended just as it had two weeks earlier: #2410 would start from 51st place, ahead of the AF Corse F430 GTC then driven by Adrian Newey, Joe Macari and Ben Aucott. After a blistering start and a race masterfully managed, a broken drive shaft would prove too much for our crew’s courage. #2410 came to a halt 20 hours and 42 minutes after the start, at Mulsanne.

Our F430 GTC was then sent back to Michelotto to be restored to its original configuration, whilst retaining its new white livery, which had become distinctive to our car. Ayrton Intermotor took the opportunity to ask the Officina to upgrade #2410 to the latest available specification. Over €100,000 was invested (invoices available on file) for this work!

#2410 subsequently competed in four races in the Spanish championships between 2008 and 2010, driven by Jesus Diez Villarroel. From 2011 onwards, it was used for advertising purposes by Icer Brakes, the long-standing sponsor of #2410’s adventures. It did not change hands until 2015, when it came into the possession of a French collector, a true connoisseur of the Prancing Horse marque. Having previously owned some of the finest Ferrari race cars of the 1970s (among others), this gentleman driver had set his sights on our F430 GTC and, more specifically, on its historical significance. After a outing on a legendary French circuit, the car was put into storage, almost jealously hidden away from prying eyes…

A few years after its last public outing, #2410 re-emerges in a stunning state of preservation. Its engine, gearbox, chassis and bodywork are all still original. It is sold with the stock of parts handed over by the previous owner, a comprehensive inventory of which is available on request.

Today, the F430 GTCs are highly eligible for the finest fields in the historic racing calendar, notably at Le Mans Legend, in Field 9. In addition to their colossal historical significance, they are highly competitive cars that have been climbing to the top steps of the podium for several years now… Where the 360 N-GTs are no longer competitive enough, and the 458 GTEs demand more demanding driving skills (and far larger budgets!), the F430 GTCs are easy to get to grips with and can be driven to the limit more quickly!

So, take note, you most discerning enthusiasts wishing to compete in the Legends of Le Mans from July 2026… Here is one of the F430 GTCs with the most impressive track record, unknown on the historic racing scene, missing for nearly a decade, featuring a unique livery, and boasting the highest level of authenticity! What more could you ask for?