711bhp Ferrari 488 Pista shown at Geneva

The dry weight is 90kg less than a standard 488 GTB’s, at 1280kg. In addition, an extra 49bhp in engine power has ensured this is Ferrari’s most powerful V8 yet.

The weight decrease comes from features used on the 488 Challenge. These include Inconel exhaust manifolds and lightweight crankshaft and flywheel, plus titanium con rods and carbonfibre intake plenums.

The 488 Challenge also supplies turbos with integrated rev sensors, while the air intake line has been moved from the flanks to the rear spoiler to help achieve better airflow.

Torque is higher than the 488 GTB’s at all engine speeds, and the quality and intensity of the engine sound, Ferrari says, are higher than the 488 GTB in all gears and at all revs.

Overall, there is a 20% improvement in downforce, according to Ferrari. The Pista has an F1-inspired S-duct and redesigned front and rear diffusers from the 488 GTE.

The Pista also introduces the Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer, which is a world first. It uses Ferrari software to adjust the brake pressure at the calipers, benefiting handling in corners.

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Ferrari has also updated its Slideslip Angle Control system, first seen on the 458 Speciale, which offers advanced stability control akin to a drift mode. The car uses Ferrari’s magnetorheological suspension set-up.The Pista will be available with 20in carbonfibre wheel rims, a first for Ferrari. Other carbonfibre parts include the engine cover, bumpers and rear spoiler.

Order books for the 488 Pista will open after the car’s official debut at the Geneva show in March. It costs £252,695.

The arrival of the 488 Pista, which has been rumoured for many weeks, follows in the footsteps of models such as the 458 Speciale, 430 Scuderia and 360 Stradale, all considered the halo variants for their respective models. None was a limited-production model but was typically in production for only two or three years. 

History of the GTO

Although the Ferrari 250 GTO was the first to receive the GTO moniker, it was the 288 GTO – known simply as the GTO – which began an era of creating more powerful, lighter versions of existing Ferrari road cars, an ethos that has continued to this day with the 488 Pista.

The Ferrari GTO was built to race but, due to poor participation in the race series, the car never did and all 272 cars built were only ever used on road. Enzo Ferrari gifted the last-built GTO to Formula 1 driverNiki Lauda.