Guide: Ferrari 430 Scuderia & 430 Scuderia Spider 16M
Background
Following the successful introduction of the hardcore 360 Challenge Stradale in 2003, Ferrari unveiled a highly anticipated performance-tuned version of the subsequent F430 in July 2007.
Dubbed 430 Scuderia, this latest iteration of the critically acclaimed junior Ferrari followed a similar approach to the aforementioned Challenge Stradale, but unlike that car was not conceived to homologate any updates for GT racing. Instead, the Scuderia focused purely on taking the F430 platform to its absolute limit.
With that in mind, the 430 Scuderia adopted several Formula 1-derived updates and the firm’s seven-time F1 Drivers’ champion, Michael Schumacher, played a significant role in the car’s development.
In addition to having been lighter and more powerful than the base F430, the 430 Scuderia came with a revised aero kit designed to optimise downforce and ground effect. Under the skin, Ferrari re-tuned the suspension and installed an uprated carbon ceramic brake system. Inside was an array of sporty cockpit equipment and a different steering wheel-mounted Manettino switch that enabled the driver to better exploit the car’s potential.
Unsurprisingly, the 430 Scuderia emerged as the fastest mid V8-engined road car that Ferrari had built up until that point. Impressively, the Maranello firm claimed the new car was just as quick as an Enzo in terms of its 0-62mph time and an astonishing two seconds per lap faster around Fiorano. It retailed at circa 30% more than a regular F430 Coupe and was given a physical launch at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2007.
14 months later, Ferrari announced a limited run of 499 open top variants known as the 430 Scuderia Spider 16M, ostensibly to celebrate the firm’s 16th Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship. While the fixed head 430 Scuderia followed in the footsteps of the 348 GT Competizione and 360 Challenge Stradale, the Spider 16M marked the first time Ferrari had offered its track-focused junior model in drop head form.
Chassis
Each Scuderia was was built around a standard F430 aluminium spaceframe constructed at the Scaglietti works in Modena. Although derived from the outgoing 360 (which meant identical wheelbase, track, width and height characteristics), the updated F430 version was 20% stiffer and had a reinforced front end to comply with the latest crash regulations.
Suspension was once again via lightweight double wishbones all round, but unlike the regular F430 the Scuderia’s settings were not linked to the car’s other electronic driver aids. Instead, the driver was provided with a separate central tunnel-mounted button that enabled him or her to manually configure the damper settings to their liking.
The Scuderia also came with lightweight titanium springs, stiffer dampers and hollow anti-roll bars. Ride height was 15mm lower than a base F430.
Although the F430 could be optioned with carbon-ceramic brakes, the set-up fitted to the Scuderia as standard was a significant evolution. Disc diameter went from 350mm all round to 398mm up front and 350mm at the rear. The four-piston front calipers were also exchanged for beefier six-piston items and the whole system was re-tuned to give optimal feel in all driving conditions.
New lightweight 19-inch double spoke forged alloy wheels came with titanium wheel nuts (but stayed at 7.5-inches wide front and 10-inches wide rear). Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres were used (235/35 ZR19 front and 285/35 ZR19 rear) with the fronts 10mm wider than before to increase turn-in grip.
The speed sensitive power steering was adjusted (lightened) to reflect the new tyres.
As before, duel fuel tanks with a combined 95-litre capacity were fitted either side of the engine, up against the rear bulkhead.
Engine / Gearbox
Instead of the Tipo F136 E motor fitted to the base F430, the Scuderia came with an enhanced F136 ED unit with an array of special equipment.
The compression ratio was increased from 11.3:1 to 11.88:1 which necessitated the use of modified pistons with re-profiled crowns. The Bosch Motronic ME7 engine management system was re-mapped. There was also a new spark advance management system with a separate sensor for each cylinder that detected if detonation was taking place too early and, if so, was able to adjust the spark accordingly. This did much to improve engine efficiency in regions with low octane or poor fuel quality.
Engine breathing was improved thanks to a lightweight sports exhaust with single silencer that was routed to exit higher up in a similar fashion to the F430 Challenge one make racer (so as not to disturb underbody airflow). There was also a free-flow hand-polished carbonfibre intake manifold with matching separators and air boxes.
In addition, carbonfibre was now used for the engine bay shrouds, valve covers and coolant reservoir cover.
Otherwise, the F136 ED motor was another normally aspirated 4.8-litre all-alloy flat-plane crank 90° V8 with dual overhead camshafts per bank, variable timing on both the inlet and exhaust cams and four valves per cylinder. It featured dry-sump lubrication with the sump and main bearings integrated within a single casing.
Displacement was 4308cc thanks to a bore and stroke of 92mm and 81mm respectively.
Peak output was 503bhp at 8500rpm and 347lb-ft at 5250rpm.
For comparison, the base F430 produced 483bhp at 8500rpm and 343lb-ft at 4750rpm.
Ferrari offered the F430 Scuderia exclusively with a six-speed semi-automatic F1-style paddle-shift gearbox that utilised the latest generation Superfast2 software which reduced shift times to just 60 milliseconds (down from 150).
There was also the latest iteration of the F1-Trac traction control system. Developed for the 599 GTB, F1-Trac worked in conjunction with an integrated E-Diff-2 electronically-controlled active limited-slip differential along with the car’s other systems such as engine, gearbox and braking.
A new Racing Manettino switch mounted on the steering wheel allowed the driver to coordinate gear change timing, traction, suspension compliance and stability through five alternative settings. A new setting enabled the driver to turn off the traction control independent of the stability control (replacing the Ice setting on the standard F430).
Bodywork
As per the 360 Challenge Stradale, the 430 Scuderia incorporated a series of aggressive wind tunnel-honed refinements designed to increase downforce, aid ground affect, improve cooling and cut weight.
Mass was reduced thanks to light new plastic composite bumper and sill assemblies plus a Lexan rear screen.
The front bumper featured larger, more angular oil radiator intake apertures, the upper edges of which were contoured to direct air along the car’s sides. Jutting lower sections increased downforce. Located centrally was a re-profiled vent that more effectively directed air to the underbody. A supplementary blade was added to the re-shaped pressure vents ahead of each front wheel.
Down each flank, subtly wider front fenders were needed to accommodate the broader front tyres, but appeared almost imperceptible to the naked eye, unlike the enlarged sill intakes further back.
At the rear, a Challenge grille was mounted above the new bumper through which the high-rise twin exhausts were routed. Up top was a slightly larger rear spoiler.
A six instead of four-blade carbonfibre diffuser was another striking addition and also incorporated additional vents to assist gearbox and clutch cooling. Rear wheel well ducts channelled air to the back bumper to create a washing effect of the overpressure. All told, the 430 Scuderia generated nearly 10% more downforce than a standard F430.
Other distinctive features of this latest machine included exposed carbonfibre exterior mirror casings with matching engine bay vents and strut supports. The central front spoiler element, front grilles and headlight units were given a Gunmetal effect to match the wheels. Enamel Scuderia Ferrari wing shields were fitted as standard.
Interior
Inside, the 430 Scuderia’s competition-inspired cockpit was conceived with a view to further weight reduction and a more driver-focused ambiance.
Sound insulation was greatly reduced while alcantara suede was used to replace most of the leather and some of the carpeted surfaces. Anti-slip aluminium footwells were installed while the rest of the floor and sills were left in unlined metal that exposed the bodyshell.
New carbonfibre-shelled racing seats with adjustable backrests were trimmed in a mix of alcantara and synthetic 3D technical fabric. Ferrari-branded four-point harnesses were fitted as standard as was air-conditioning, electric windows, electric mirrors and a full complement of airbags. An audio system with satellite-navigation and Bluetooth compatibility was standard in certain markets (like the USA) but not others.
In between the seats was a new exposed carbonfibre central tunnel complete with passenger grab handle.
More exposed carbonfibre was used for the door panels, paddle shifts and instrument fascia, the latter of which came with a new typeface. The instrumentation layout itself was as per the regular F430 with a large yellow-faced 10,000rpm tachometer flanked to the right by a speedometer and to the left by a trio of smaller gauges for oil temperature, oil pressure and water temperature.
The dimpled leather, alcantara and exposed carbonfibre steering wheel incorporated a bank of five upshift lights.
Instead of an F430 plaque, a 430 Scuderia-branded insert was installed above the centre console’s bank of three fresh air vents.
Options
The 430 Scuderia was offered with a wide variety of optional extras.
Externally, customers could specify carbonfibre panels for the front (front spoiler and headlight shrouds), rear (engine lid with carbon instead of aluminium support frames), underdoor (rocker panels) and diffuser.
There was also the popular racing livery (matt finish Scuderia stripes), Gold, Black or White wheels (instead of the standard Gunmetal) and Red, Yellow, Aluminium Grey or Scuderia Red-coloured brake calipers. Out of range paint colours could be requested as well.
Inside, 430 Scuderias could be upgraded with a roll cage (not legal in certain markets), extended alcantara or leather upholstery, a coloured dash and steering wheel (in leather or alcantara), carbonfibre for the door sill covers and radio blanking plate, a silver dedication plate, contrast stitching and the underdoor mouldings and wheelarch linings in either alcantara, technical fabric or leather.
Other optional cockpit equipment included a fire extinguisher, a luggage set with or without trolley, a radio with satellite-navigation and Bleutooth, an integrated radio with CD and Bluetooth, iPod installation, a six CD shuttle and a space saver wheel kit.
Weight / Performance
At 1350kg, the 430 Scuderia weighed 100kg less than a base F430.
The 0-62mph time dropped from 4 seconds flat to 3.6 seconds and top speed went up by 2mph (198mph as opposed to 196mph).
430 Scuderia Spider 16M / 2009 Model Year
In November 2008, Ferrari announced a limited run of Scuderia Spiders would be produced to celebrate the company’s 16th Formula 1 Constructors’ title. The ‘08 season had seen drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa accumulate a combined 172 points which eclipsed the 151 of second-placed McLaren.
Aside from having been based on the heavier 430 Spider bodyshell, the new 430 Scuderia Spider 16M imported all the equipment from the fixed head variant in addition to custom intake manifold resonators (for optimised sound) and a variety of special badges (a silver dash plaque, a rear grille plaque and 16M Scuderia front fender plaques under the Ferrari wing shields).
There were also a couple of unique new options such as a different stripe scheme and new wheels with a darker finish.
An audio system with iTouch control and an iPod supplied in an alcantara case was also introduced (an option that could be specified on the fixed head version as well).
In terms of the fixed head 430 Scuderia, this now came with the carbonfibre diffuser and front spoiler / headlight shrouds as standard in certain markets.
The 430 Scuderia Spider 16M was built in a limited run of 499 units. It weighed 1440kg which was 80kg less than the base F430 Spider (1520kg).
Top speed was 196mph (up from 193mph) and 0-62mph took 3.7 seconds (down from 4.1).
End of Production
Production of the 430 Scuderia and Spider 16M was discontinued during the summer of 2009.
The Spider 16M was limited to 499 units and while Ferrari have not yet published production figures for the fixed head 430 Scuderia, somewhere in the region of 1750 to 2000 are believed to have been completed.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Ferrari - https://www.ferrari.com
