The Pinnacle (Ferrari 430 Scuderia )

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Ferrari 430 Scuderia
The Pinnacle
It was October and I was awakened by the ring of my mobile phone.
“Would you like to cruise along the Fiorano Circuit in a Ferrari 430 Scuderia?”
“Yes, of course.” I lightened up
instantly.
Bumping into Jean Todt
Ferrari Headquarters is located in Maranello at the foot of Apennines. It 18 km away from Modena and 48 km away from Bologna, the capital of Emilia Romagna. On the map, Maranello is barely noticeable. I spend a lot of time traveling every time I go there. (We flew to Milan and took a bus to Maranello in order to attend the 60th anniversary of the automaker. This time, we took a transit flight to Bologna.) As usual, we spent a lot of time traveling but no one grumbled about anything because we craved a ride in a Ferrari 430 Scuderia.
It turned out to be a quite different experience. Tranquility was the word that popped up in my mind when we arrived at this town. There are few restaurants in Maranello and the shops sell Ferrari souvenirs. Pedestrians are rarely seen. We stayed at the hotel opposite the Ferrari factory and we had a grandstand view of the famous Wind Tunnel Laboratory. We saw Ferraris zip by occasionally but pedestrians would take no notice. Obviously, people in this town have already assimilated Ferrari in their lives.
Before dinner, we attended a technical brief in the conference room of the Scuderia Ferrari Team next to the Fiorano Circuit. Suddenly, I got a friendly slap on my back. I turned around and saw the smiling face of Jean Todt, the greatest, world-famous spiritual leader of Ferrari F1 team after the passing of Enzo Ferrari. We briskly exchanged greetings but we listened to his words. The most amazing thing of all was that he was supposed to be on his way to St. Paul, where the last race of 2007 was to be held.
Although we were mostly concerned about Ferrari's upcoming F1
tournament, Todt managed to keep abreast of the purpose of our tour
– the 430 Scuderia. “F1 racing cars and production cars have built
the Ferrari brand image. They manifest themselves in their own
special ways but are deeply connected,” he said. This statement is
etched in my mind.
The situation before the last GP is that Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen stood a fair chance of clinching the ultimate honor. We were eager to hear Todt’s thoughts on the coming race. “We will be the champion because we have secret weapons,” he said. However, he did not tell us about the secret weapons. After toasting the guests, he left.
The 2007 F1 season came to an end before I finished this article. The fact that he led Ferrari to championships in both driver and manufacturer’s titles vindicates him for his confidence about winning the race. The “secret weapon” he mentioned might well be the uncompromising attitude of Enzo, the Ferrari spirit, except for the good luck.
Ferrari 430 Scuderia is a 510-hp car model with a 4.3-liter
engine based on the Ferrari 430. The record of 0-100 km in 3.6
seconds is a miracle.
Only Ferrari can do it.
The Light of Wisdom
It was 17th October. I was on the Fiorano Circuit under the blue sky.
Although we already had some knowledge of the 430 Scuderia, Ferrari was kind enough to provide a briefing session before we hit the road. The session was held by a manager of the V8 Engine Department, an engineer from the GT Department and aerodynamics experts.
In the session, the engineers emphasized that the 430 Scuderia is a high-performance car of the highest order, using the most advanced technology in terms of power output and applied aerodynamics.
The features of the Ferrari 430 Scuderia are its extreme light weight and a front air grille with two lines that run the length of the car. It is 100 kg lighter than the Ferrari F430. Materials commonly found in F1 racing cars such as carbon fibers, titanium suspension springs and plastic rear windows are used in the new car. All luxury equipments have been eliminated. Ceramic-carbon brake discs have been used, and even the indoor sound insulation has been removed. Drivers and passengers can see car sections clearly, eliciting a primitive force.
Laymen would not know that the 430 Scuderia and the F430 have equal air resistance coefficients but because the air grille and the aerodynamic changes to the chassis have helped increase the downforce significantly. This force of 300N (equal to the weight of two adults, one in the front and one in the back) presses the car to the ground. Optimization of the engine and improved stability in the electronics are also selling points for the 430 Scuderia. Its horsepower is 510 hp and its top speed is 320 km/h with acceleration of 0-100 km/h in 3.6 s. The numbers could tell.
Ferrari has incorporated the in-line F1 manual transmissions in their manufacturing since the late 1990s. It has now become the leading company in developing the system. The F1-Superfast gearbox of 430 Scuderia has reduced the gear-switching time to 60 milliseconds, the shortest of all Ferrari car models and passenger cars. Please take note that the time for F1 racing cars to switch gears is around 50 milliseconds only.
In the session, Ferrari specialists also explained how Ferrari experienced a shift of F1 technology from “military use to civilian use”. When a Ferrari cruises along the Fiorano Circuit, the cameras along the track will take pictures of the car. Sensors will then send messages back to computers in the pit, showing the car’s speed instantaneously, centrifugal acceleration, engine speed and torque. A comprehensive report with graphical analyses will be ready by the time the driver finishes a lap. People from the Ferrari team say that this system has also been applied to the research and development of F1 racing cars.
Pushing the Limit
I was in a state of euphoria when I rode the 430 Scuderia on the Fiorano Circuit. It was different from the feelings you get in the spectator stand. This private circuit has nurtured so many race drivers. What it surrounds is Enzo’s home.
Like many European circuits, Fiorano has many curves and straight portions for drivers to push the limit. The track runs up and down a hill and the “Blind Curve” which is a high-altitude hairpin. Fiorano is really an adventure.
Pulling out from the maintenance area with the manettino on in sports mode, the car speed soared to 150km/h within 200m. The brakes, gearbox and self-refilling engine kept the engine speed at above 6000 rpm. The great traction force let the car pass every curve without a hitch. As the exhaust pipes roared, the 430 Scuderia dashed off. I wish I could live on the Fiorano Circuit with this extreme high-performance car.
Time is probably the best parameter we can use to assess the performance of the 430 Scuderia. Michael Schumacher finished one lap in 1 minute and 25 seconds. This is comparable to the Enzo priced at RMB15 million, which was turned out 399 units only.
An exciting morning on the track came to an end. We had a quick lunch and drove off to the hills of Maranello in the 430 Scuderia. We were lucky enough to do a test drive in the afternoon. We didn’t need to travel with other cars or even follow a particular route. All we needed to do was to return within the scheduled time. It was such a generous offer because we were in high-performance cars with a top speed above 300km/h.
A tour around Maranello in a 430 Scuderia was a bit over the top. A passenger car might have been a better option. It was amazing to see Ferraris shoot off at top speed and hear the powerful roar of the exhaust pipes on the 430 Scuderia on the hilly roads under the trees.
What is the definition of the ultimate road car? It is no doubt a combination of light weight, strong horsepower, unparalleled aerodynamic parts and accessories, an F1 racing control system and extremely quick gear switching. These are the most destructive weapons of the 430 Scuderia compared with other high-performance sports cars.
I think the 430 Scuderia also symbolizes a life attitude, serene but very powerful.