Had to push this indpeth up the queue since the owner couldn't wait to see it featured. And considering his next car will be damn interesting too, I need to make him as happy as possible, to be able to shoot that one too
I always wanted to hitch a ride in a CS since it was launched. I saw tons of them racing on track, on the road, at meetings. But never managed to make contact with an owner till some weeks ago when everything went fast forward and I found myself strapped into the passenger seat, ready to go-
Then this guy registered on the swiss board asphalte.ch and started to attend our monthly meeting. What the hell, I had to try my chance, we quickly met at march's meeting, but too many ppl asking him questions about his beauty and I had no real opportunity. So I went the PM way, and well, the indepth now is done! And this is a hell of a CS. Typical color combo, red w/ stripe and red/black interior, it is lowered and it has a big wing. You can argue about the need of the wing, but just so you know, this car covered 9'000 km so far, and a good 80% on track, where the owner says he can feel the added downforce in long, fast corners. If it's usefull, it's ok to have it there, ok?
I adored the CS since the first day it was presented, and to be allowed to take a good look at it, to touch it and so on is really priceless. Maybe not the more exotic car I shoot, but a damn fine Maranello product.
What about the passenger experience? Well, bloody brillant. We shoot at three different locations and covered quite some km inbetween, which is something I always appreciate. Strapped in those racing seats with 4 point seat belts is fur enjoyable, even if the slow cruising lasted longer than I thought. This car runs racing oil, which is dense, and take sensibly more to reach the perfect temperature. Isn't it cool?
Luckily the time came for hell to break loose and the way the car is transformed by the press of a button is beyond words.
I saw literaly tons of CS being flored on track and on the road, and I know how the dull low revs sound has nothing to do with the above 4000 rpm firing range experience, and yet, when the owner first reached for the magic button, and went for it, I was like :shock:.
You expect it, and yet it's so totally mad and different that you'd swear there are two engines behind you. Believe me, it's amazing! It's like ON / OFF.
But well, what is really impressive, and I mean, REALLY, is when a corner approach. We were doing around 170 kmh when I realized there was a long sweeper at the end of the straigh. A 90 to 100 km/h corner I'd say. Well, we reached what I considered being already a late braking point and my instinct made me press my feet against the carpet. Nothing, not a flinch from the owner, who actually pulled the right paddle, engaging an higher gear and kept accelerating. I was sure we were about to die since the corner was just a few meters down the road when he jumped off the gas and on the left pedal while quickly downshifting. All I know is I had to look for my eye balls under the seat and that my ears were just pierced by the BLAM-BANG of the automatic trottle blipping. Holy shit those braking. He did me this trick twice, and it's just imprissive how close to a corner you can go, at 200 km/h, before even thinking about braking.
The way the car stays flat through the bends is also mesmerising.
The main feature is for sure the way the car transforms itself
Here are the pics. It was actually my first day with the 30D which I picked up the evening before, so it was quite tricky and the very strong and low on the horizon sun didn't help a bit, but I think most pics are still ok
Enjoy!
Click any preview to be taken to the full 46 high-res pics update
Apr 11: Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale indepth!
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