Exi Ferrari F355 Challenge

Exi Ferrari F355 Challenge A850


Exi's F355 Challenge at speed on Mugello


It's a new year, but here at ForzaTimes we still have a lot of 2007 to cover. So while we try to catch up, why not start off with a review from one of the newest garages in FM2.


I received this car at the end of the year, but unfortunately we were remodeling the office and preparing for Car of the Year. While BK and Slacker were cleaning up after the New Year's party, I had a chance to sneak the Exi Ferrari F355 Challenge out for some tests.

Billed as a short track car, I expected this one to be very difficult to drive. We have a track prepared F355 on loan from Ferrari at our shop, but haven't been able to get it to stick. Short track gearing sounds like it will be the second Ferrari this month taken to the collision center down the street.

Surprisingly, the tight gearing was perfect for short tracks. It shifted often, but without the hard hit and wheelspin we'd come to expect from our own car.

The F355's steering felt great, and the car has a very predictable grip. Owners that have already picked up the car have stated that you'd really have to try to lose the rear, and they were right.

The car grips well, turns in well, and exits corners with little drama. I'd have to say that this is the first Ferrari (non-Enzo) I've driven that really could be classified as tuned for grip.




Even better-looking than in the press release...


I took the car out one of the tracks I haven't hotlapped the AWD shop car, and promptly set a personal best.

The Ferrari flew around the track, but I really had to watch the rumble strips. Amazingly, the car did not slide over them and off the track. Just the same, loss of traction costs time, so I avoided them as much as possible.

My wide lines felt slow, but I knew this was the fastest I've went, so I decided to compare it to our other rear wheel drive cars we've been working on, a Viper and Ferrari GTO.

Our RWD shop cars could keep up with this car for the first few turns, then the stability of the Exi car proved too formidable. I'd heard that gearing can really affect the way a car handles, but this is ridiculous. I handed three sets of keys to the attendant back at our shop.

"These two go back to the drawing board..." Then I pointed at the F355... "Call Exi, get the settings off that one and put them on the shop car."

Kudos to Exi for making a Ferrari we can actually drive consistently. This is a "must own" for the Ferrari guys out there.


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