Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 2015 Review

Even hard-bitten professional racing drivers like Luke Youlden go weak at the knees at the prospect of driving a Ferrari. OK, it’s not a Formula 1 car, but a 458 Italia GT3 and the Phillip Island GP track are a pretty decent combination.

And it’s a red Ferrari too. So even better.

Just like the road car on which it is closely based, the GT3 version is heading for the end of its life with the turbocharged 488 GTB set to debut in 2016.

So one last chance to sample the mid-engined glory that is this Fazza, generously loaned to us by the Capewell family, a bunch of true enthusiasts who run the car to promote their own business, Camati Food & Beverage.

Predictably Luke emerges from the cockpit like he’s just had a massive caffeine jolt, beaming about the thing of beauty that is the 4.5-litre DOHC 32-valve engine behind him.

“It is a great engine; it just feels like it wants to keep revving and revving and revving. And it’s ‘c’mon shift lights, no not yet’, more revving, then shift lights, then you finally shift.”

Unlike the other three GT3 racers in this test, Luke is testing the Fazza on worn Pirellis and they do tend to exacerbate the other side of the Ferrari coin.

“It’s understeering a bit too much because of the tyre condition in the faster stuff,” he explains.

“But it is very direct; it feels really responsive in the steering.

“I could see how it would unnerve some amateur drivers by being so responsive, but it’s great.”

Team Camati Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 specifications:
Engine: 4.5-litre naturally-aspirated V8
Displacement: 4498cc
Bore x stroke: 94x81mm
Max power: Up to 410kW
Max torque: 550Nm
Transmission: Hewland six-speed sequential, paddle-operated
Suspension: Double-wishbone front, multi-link rear
Brakes: Six-piston front callipers, four-piston rear callipers
Wheels: Motegi 18x12.5-inch front, 19x13-inch rear
Tyres: 315/680 R18 front, 325/705 R19 rear
Length: 4599mm
Width: 2034.5mm
Height: 1157mm
Wheelbase: 2650mm
Weight: 1250kg
Weight distribution:Not given