1993 Ferrari F40 LM

Ferrari F40/LM #97881, the 16th of only 19 F40/LMs built. This F40/LM was built new in European GTC specifications and was quoted by Michelotto, when delivered to the first owner, at a staggering 785BHP. The Ferrari F40, the name alone makes grown men weak in the knees. Second in the line of Ferrari Supercars, supplanting the 288 GTO, and built to compete in the market place against Porsche’s brilliant 959 as both companies were eager to demonstrate the technology they were gaining in racing at the time into their production lines. Unlike, the 959 which Porsche raced only sparingly as the 961, Ferrari had success racing the F40 for several years (as the F40/LM) in sports car racing, mainly in Stephane Ratel’s BPR Global GT Series (rebranded FIA GT) and in the IMSA GTO category entered by Ferrari of France with top drivers such as Jean Alesi, Jacques Laffite, Michele Ferte and Hurley Haywood in selected events In Michelotto LM spec, the twin-turbocharged Ferrari V8 Type F 120 B was uprated to more than 785BHP using enlarged turbochargers, bigger intercoolers, and a better Weber-Marelli fuel injection system. Utilizing technology learned from the Group B 288 GTO Evoluzione development, it also had a stiffer chassis, an upgraded transmission, better brakes and altered exterior aero equipment. Rated at about 2,350 pounds, it was one of the fastest cars on the planet at the time. Still seen by many as the ultimate Ferrari, the F40 has enjoyed a long ride atop the motoring world’s many lists of all-time favorite cars and the F40/LM is the ultimate development of the original road-going version. Originally, three F40/LM chassis were prepared and two were used in races. The first two cars, #79890 and #79891 raced while the third, #88521 was built as a spare which stayed with Michelotto but never officially raced. The first official competition came in 1989 when the F40/LM made its racing debut at the International Motor Sports Association’s (IMSA) Laguna Seca Raceway (now Weather Tech Raceway) GTO/GTU round for modified performance cars and driven by former Ferrari F-1 great Jean Alesi, ultimately finishing third. As Hurley Haywood remembered of the F40/LMs at the time, “It’s either podiums or DNF” as when the cars finished, they were usually on the podium or would fail to finish. In the 1990 IMSA GTO series the F40/LM’s best finishes included three second-places and one third-place accounting for their best results. The F40/LMs did not return to IMSA in 1991 but did make appearances in important European series such as BPR Global GT Series and Japanese Grand Touring Championship (JGTC) with the most significant finish being an overall win in the 1994 4 Hours of Vallelunga BPR event. In 1995, the numbers of active racing F40/LMs increased to four, developed independently by Pilot-Alxis Racing and Strandell, winning at the 4 Hours of Anderstorp and appearances at Le Mans. While no longer really competitive against an army of new McLaren F1 GTRs and Porsche bi-turbos in the BPR, F40/LMs made appearances through 1996 and scored another win at Anderstorp along the way. Ownership History. 1993 Delivered to Ferrari North America. 1993, 6 Aug., delivered new to Ed Wettach, Jackson, Mississippi, USA. 1997, 8 Apr., as per Ed, the IMSA cars were 700hp and his is quoted by the factory at 785hp! 1998, 03 Jan., for sale in Ferrari Market Letter Volume 23, no.1, by Mike Sheehan. Sorted and ready to go. Ferrari trades considered. Priced to sell. Half page display ad. 1998, 31 Jan., listed for sale in FML Volume 23 no 3. by Mike Sheehan, half page display ad. 1999, 3 Sept., sold to Tony Raftis, (Melbourne, Australia). 1999, 09 Oct., flown to Melbourne Australia on Quanta’s, flight 7556. Shipping $7,062.00. 1999, 04 Nov., shown and demonstrated at the FCA (Ferrari Club Australia) National meeting track day at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Red/black. 2000, sold to Gil Mathews (Australia) 2000, 29 Feb., shown and demonstrated at Phillip Island GP circuit. Red/black. 2000, 8 July, shown and demonstrated at Phillip Island, Ferrari Club of Australia track day. 2000, 17–21 Oct., shown and demonstrated at the Ferrari Club of Australian National Rally, Canberra. Red/black. Unregistered. Victoria. 2001, 24–25 Feb., shown and demonstrated at Phillip Island Circuit Concours, Australia. Red. 2002, 18 Feb., e–mail from Scott Davis to telaio: Subject: Re: F50GT1 S/N 003 I believe that Noske lapped Phillip Island in the F40LM at around 1 minute 32 seconds. The 360 Challenge cars go around in about 1 minute 42 seconds. I think the lap record is 1 minute 22 seconds; but I am not entirely sure on that. 2002, 24 Feb., per D. Duigan, this car was at the Phillip Island Classic Motor Races. 2006, September, on consignment During its stay in Australia s/n 97881 had a full cosmetic restoration by Ferrari Australia. 2008, the car was bought by Stéphane Ratel (France), well known in the sport cars world, and founder of BPR and FIA GT, through Michel Mhitarian. The car has been fully revised by Michelotto. S.Ratel drove the car two times, first at Le Castellet for a test and in GT 90 round at Magny-Cours. 2009, March, Christian Chavy a French gentleman driver bought the car and participated to the Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge in 2009 including the world final in Valencia, Spain . The car had a full service done and new clutch The car is equipped with 2 set of wheels. 2012 sold to present owner It was the last GTC LM built and was made for Le Mans specs with Le Mans gearing – top speed 378 kph Michelotto made only 4 F40/LM to the Le Mans GTC specs on a total of 19 LM – 20 considering the prototype. The first GTC is in the Ferrari Museum in Maranello. Power in race mode is 785 HP 2,35 bar, for qualifying 850BHP 2,5 bar. Track Appearances. 2009/jun/05-07 Ferrari Maserati Historic Challenge, Le Vigeant Christian Chavy #114 2009/jun/05-07 Sport & Collection – 500 Ferrari Contre Le Cancer, Val de Vienne Christian Chavy 2009/sep/04-06 Ferrari Maserati Historic Challenge, Brno Christian Chavy #114 2010/jun/04-06 Sport & Collection – 500 Ferrari Contre Le Cancer, Le Vigeant Christian Chavy 2011/jun/04 Sport & Collection – 500 Ferrari Contre Le Cancer, Le Vigeant #104 2011/oct/15-12/apr/08 – displayed at Ferrari Exhibition Pantheon, Basel, CH 201. – Jean-Pierre Clement, F 2013/may/31-jun/02 Sport & Collection, 500 Ferrari Contre Le Cancer, Le Vigeant Jean-Pierre Clement 2019/apr – ………………………., MEX