Ferrari 488 Challenge Screams Around Laguna Seca

By Brett Foote - June 6, 2018

The incredibly forgiving yet inherently capable Ferrari 488 Challenge racer is also quite the delicious sound machine.

Motorsports experiences vary greatly. Maybe you’re simply dodging cones and fighting the clock at a local autocross event. Or then, on the other side of the spectrum, you could be navigating the corners of one of the world’s most famous circuits in a factory-built Ferrari racer. Such is the life of The Drive‘s Lawrence Ulrich, who recently tried his hand in a Ferrari 488 Challenge car at Laguna Seca.

It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it. So in preparation of piloting the 670 hp, sub-3,000 pound racer, Ulrich, um, plays some video games. Which doesn’t go so well, as he promptly puts his virtual U.S.-spec Ferrari 488 Challenge racer in the wall. But as Ulrich notes, “I feel like video game crashes are an ideal preparation for heading onto the race track.” We’re sure Ferrari appreciates that, too.

Still, the prancing horse doesn’t hesitate to hand over the keys to their $330k racer. Which also happens to be the first turbocharged racer in the series’ 26-year history. This particular car actually belongs to Michael Fassbender, an actor best known for his work in the X-Men movies. Which is just another reason to avoid walls. Getting beat up by a ripped, well-known Hollywood type is kinda embarrassing, too.

Despite all of this intimidation, the Ferrari 488 Challenge car proves to be a pretty forgiving car to drive. It’s incredibly well-balanced, with monstrous brakes and prodigious grip. Just the kind of thing that instills confidence and removes fear from novice drivers.

But perhaps the best thing about this racer is the way it sounds. Screaming around the infamous corners of Laguna Seca, this thing produces intoxicating noises at every RPM level. All of which just motivates us to work on getting our own wheel time in this incredible machine.