Ferrari 458 Grand Am To Make Racing Debut at 2012 Daytona 24 Hours

Although the dazzling Ferrari 458 Italia Grand Am racecar has been revealed, it won’t make its competition debut until next month’s 2012 Daytona 24 Hours. The 458 Italia Grand Am is the latest racing model of the Ferrari sports car, and it is derived from the GT3 version of the 458.  The 458 is a collaboration with Michelotto and was made specifically for the American series.

Competing in all but two of the 49 Daytona classics, Ferrari has won overall five times among 15 class victories. Ferrari’s most successful year was in 1967, when Ferrari drivers held all three spots on the podium.

Scuderia AF Corse, winners of the Le Mans Series, Intercontinental Le Mans Cup and the FIA GT3 will be running the car and it will be also be crewed all year by Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip, North American Rally Champion Travis Pastrana, and two endurance race veterans Rui Aguas and Robert Kauffman.

Next month’s 2012 Daytona 24 Hours takes place from January 26 to 29.