Ferrari’s->ke252 outrageous FXX K track car will soon finish its final two days of testing before making an official debut at the Ferrari Racing Days in Budapest, where it will launch a two-year research and development program in the hands of a select few “client-test drivers.”
The finishing tests will be performed at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit in Imola, located roughly 25 miles east of Bologna and 50 miles east of the Ferrari factory in Maranello. The cars will go through 30-minute runs to sort out any lingering issues. In attendance will be Ferrari’s Senior Vice President for Commercial & Marketing, Enrico Galliera, and the head of GT and Corse Clienti Sporting Activity Director, Antonello Coletta.
The FXX K->ke5022 is not designed for official competition, and is therefore unburdened by the constraints of official race homologation restrictions. Ferrari says it was “developed to be completely uncompromising, incorporating technological innovations that will guarantee an unprecedented driving experience to the exclusive group of Client-Test Drivers with whom the Prancing Horse will roll out a test program over the coming two years.”
Only 32 FXX Ks will be produced, each of which is already spoken for, with asking price for entry into the program set at $2.7 million per vehicle.
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Why it matters
If you’re confused by this whole “client-test driver” thing, then let me explain. The FXX K isn’t “sold” like a normal car would be, where you give the company the money and then take the vehicle home to do with as you please. Rather, Ferrari first approaches a handpicked group of individuals with the offer of purchasing entry into the XX development program. If he or she decides to pony up the cash, the client is then invited to take part in select events at race tracks in Europe, Asia and North America, where he or she is allowed to drive the car alongside a group of engineers and professional racers.
Simply put, the clients pay to play race-car driver at events of Ferrari’s choosing, while Ferrari collects heaps of data and development information to put towards its road cars and racing programs.
Sounds like a pretty good deal for Maranello, no? Ferrari has been doing it for quite some time now, with the FXX K being the latest in a line of XX vehicles that also includes the 599XX and FXX. All the cars are designated as track-only machines, and Ferrari retains them between each event.
When not on track, I’m guessing the XX cars are locked up in a climate-controlled garage, surrounded by stern-looking portraits of Enzo gazing into the distance and various accolades collected over the prancing horse’s illustrious racing->ke447 history. You know, for motivation, or whatever.
Regardless of the hefty price for what basically amounts to a collection of high-end track days, the FXX K program entries sold out almost immediately back in December.
The first of the track days for the FXX K will be in Hungary, between June 26th and 28th, during the Ferrari Racing Days event. The event will be held at the Hungaroring racing circuit, which is also the location of the Hungarian Formula 1->ke190 Grand Prix.
Included in the event will be the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, a one-make series that pits novices and more experienced drivers against one another as a way to advance towards a career in professional GT racing. There’s also the Ferrari Challenge Coppa Shell, a gentleman-driver-oriented series for hot-shoes over the age of 55. Both Challenge series will be running the Ferrari 458 Challenge EVO.
Finally, the F1 Clienti show will put various Ferrari Formula 1 cars from 1970 to 2013 on track for a display of historical motorsport goodness. Wunder kid Sebastian Vettel will also be on hand doing his thing in a F60 Scuderia F1 car.
Sounds like the perfect place to debut the over-the-top FXX K.
Ferrari FXX K
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