Ferrari News

Foskers race car is a Flying Machine

Back to News Listings

Foskers have been building our own race car; you may have heard us mention it once or twice!!!

At the end of 2009 our client Paul Brooks mentioned he was keen to go racing again in a Ferrari but there was a catch, he didn’t want a “normal” race car, he wanted something a little different. Foskers thought this was a fantastic idea so after a few months of searching the race car project started with the acquisition of a 1994 Nero 456 GT.

In January 2010 the project started with the stripping, the most important stage was to remove as much unnecessary weight as possible with 350 kilos being removed from the car. The rebuild and transformation began in March, with the team spending many nights working late into the evening. Final tweaking and adjustments were carried out and the team’s excitement and apprehension culminated in the first test session at Brands on Friday 21st May.

As Paul got behind the wheel at Brands for the first time, fear of what lay ahead was evident as the colour ran from his face! Final checks and wheel torques were carried out before Paul proceeded down the pit lane for the first time into Paddock Hill Bend, warming the tyres up, the car was still facing clockwise on the circuit, huge relief! After the first session Paul came in for some adjustment to the suspension settings and tyre pressure changes. As Paul returned to the track with the tyres warm and confidence in the car, he began to learn what she could do, the lap times hitting 56 seconds we could not have asked for anymore from our black sheep 456 race car. As Paul got out of the car all he had to say was “It’s a flying machine”. We had done it, turned a luxury 4 seater Ferrari into a corner loving race car!

With some adjustments to be made we have just a few days left to finalise the car set up, fire up the van and arrive in Spa for our first race. We can’t wait, a 456 race car, a driver and probably the best track in the world it’s bound to be exciting, although it is Spa so probably wet! Can someone pack the brollies and wet tyres? Did someone say we blew our budget and are camping at Spa?

 

VN