Ferrari has released the first official pictures of their new GT2 racer, the 458 GTC.

The 458 GTC, based on the 458 Italia road car, will be replacing the F430 GT2 as Ferrari’s race car for the FIA GT2 class. While official details are sparse, it is said to have 470 horsepower, a six-speed sequential gearbox, and a weight of 1245 kg.

Ferrari is currently running tests at the Fiorano racetrack, with Jaime Melo at the wheel. The company says that development is progressing very well, and will continue throughout the winter. The car will make its racing debut at the 2011 12 Hours of Sebring.

Press Release

458 GTC takes its first steps at Fiorano

Maranello, 10 December 2010 –A few days after the official launch of the 458 Challenge at the Bologna Motor Show on 2 December, today saw the end of a two day shakedown carried out by Ferrari at Fiorano of the 458 GTC, the latest jewel to emerge from Maranello, which will be taking on the opposition in the most important GT races at international level.

The car’s development on track has been entrusted to Jaime Melo, the Brazilian who competed in this year’s American Le Mans Series with the Risi Competizione team. He also teamed up with Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander in the AF Corse squad’s F430 GT2 to bring the Prancing Horse the Constructors’ title in the 2010 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup.

Antonello Coletta, head of the Ferrari Corse Clienti Department had this to say about the initial testing of the 458 GTC: “We are pleased with the feedback we have had from the engineers and drivers about the car.” Development is in its initial statges and this is just the third test the car has undergone at Fiorano. “Thanks to the good weather these past two day, it has been possible to gather more data than in previous sessions, which were run in snowy and rainy conditions.”

The next step? “We will continue development over the winter months, which will culminate in the car’s debut in the Sebring 12 Hours, the famous endurance race and the first race in next season’s American Le Mans Series.”

Source: Autoblog