840 hp for the new Icona ‹Monsieur Vintage

Ferrari has just unveiled the new Ferrari Daytona SP3 “Icona” at the Mugello circuit, as part of the 2021 Ferrari Finali Mondiali. A model inspired by the legendary victories of sports prototypes of the 1960s.

The new Ferrari Daytona SP3 “Icona” has been unveiled alongside the Monza SP1 and SP2 models at the Mugello circuit. A Targa inspired by the sixties models in a limited edition of 599 pieces and sold for 2 million euros. Ready to break your PEL? Follow the guide.

Back to the 60s

On February 6, 1967, Ferrari achieved one of the most spectacular feats in its history by seizing the first three places at the 24 Hours of Daytona, in the first round of the International Sports Car Championship. The first three cars to pass the checkered flag on this legendary neck-and-neck finish on Ford lands were a 330 P3 / 4, followed by a 330 P4 and a 412 P.

They represented the pinnacle of development of the Ferrari 330 P3, a model for which chief engineer Mauro Forghieri had dramatically improved each of the three fundamental elements of racing cars: engine, chassis and aerodynamics. The 330 P3 / 4 perfectly embodies the spirit of the sporting prototypes of the 1960s, a decade today considered the golden age of closed wheel racing and a lasting benchmark for generations of engineers and designers.

The name of the new Icona evokes this legendary hat-trick and pays homage to the Ferrari sports prototypes that have helped the brand to acquire its unique status in motorsport. The Daytona SP3, presented this November 20 on the Mugello circuit during the Ferrari Finali Mondiali 2021, is a limited edition which joins the Icona series, which debuts date back to 2018 with the Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2.

Playing on contrasts, the design of the Daytona SP3 alternates voluptuous, sculptural surfaces with sharper lines, which reveal the growing importance of aerodynamics in the design of racing cars such as the 330 P4, the 350 Can- Am and 512 S.

The bold choice of a “Targa” body with removable hardtop was also inspired by the world of sports prototypes: thus, the Daytona SP3 not only offers exhilarating driving pleasure, but also usable performance.

From a technical point of view, the Daytona SP3 is inspired by the sophisticated engineering solutions already adopted in the competitions of the 1960s: today as then, maximum performance is obtained by working in the three fundamental areas previously mentioned.

840 hp V12

The Daytona SP3 is fitted with a naturally aspirated, rear-mounted V12 in typical racing car styling. Undoubtedly the most iconic of all Maranello engines, this engine block, based on that of 812 Competizione, delivers 840 hp, making it the most powerful engine ever built by Ferrari, as well as a torque of 697 Nm and a maximum speed of 9,500 rpm.

F1 technologies

Entirely made of composite materials, the chassis takes advantage of Formula 1 technologies that have not been seen on a road since the LaFerrari, Maranello’s latest racing car. The seat is an integral part of the chassis to reduce weight and provide the driver with a driving position similar to that of a competition car. Finally, as with the cars that inspired it, aerodynamic research and design has focused on achieving maximum efficiency using only passive aerodynamic solutions.

0 to 100 km / h: 2.85 seconds

Thanks to new features, such as chimneys that extract low pressure air from the underbody, the Daytona SP3 is the most aerodynamically efficient car ever built by Ferrari without the use of active aerodynamic devices. The intelligent integration of these technical innovations allows the car to accelerate from 0 to 100 km / h in 2.85 seconds and from 0 to 200 km / h in just 7.4 seconds.

Outside

From behind the wraparound windshield, the interior of the Daytona SP3 resembles a dome encased in sultry sculpture, whose sinuous fenders boldly emerge from either side. The car’s overall balance is underlined by monolithic volumes, which powerfully articulate the long-prized strengths of Italian bodywork at its peak.

The double-crested front fenders are a nod to the sculptural elegance of Ferrari’s old sports prototypes, like the 512 S, 712 Can-Am and 312 P.

Another key element, the butterfly doors incorporate an air box that channels the air to the side radiators. The resulting sculptural forms give the doors a marked shoulder, which houses the air intake and is visually linked to the vertical cut of the windshield.

The front of the Daytona SP3 is dominated by two towering fenders with outer and inner ridges. The latter plunge into two vents located on the hood, giving the fenders a wider appearance.

Inside

The cockpit of the Daytona SP3 is also inspired by historic Ferraris such as the 330 P3 / 4, 312 P and 350 Can-Am. Starting from the idea of ​​a high-performance chassis, the designers developed a refined space that offers the comfort and sophistication of a modern grand tourer model while maintaining a rather minimalist aesthetic approach.

The dashboard, which focuses on the essentials and functionality, is no less contemporary. The interior of the Daytona SP3 intends to offer the driver and passenger a comfortable driving environment by drawing inspiration from the aesthetic elements typical of competition cars. The main idea was to visually expand the cabin by creating a clean break between the dashboard area and the two seats. The latter are in fact part of full textural continuity, their casing extending to the doors and reproducing the elegant functionality typical of sporting prototypes. This extension of the trim is also visible on the sills when the doors are open.

In order for Daytona SP3 drivers to feel perfectly in harmony with their car, its engineering draws heavily on the ergonomic expertise that Maranello has developed in Formula 1. Thanks to the integration of the seats into the chassis, the position of the driving is lower and more inclined than in other Ferraris in the range. In reality, the position is very similar to that of a single-seater. This reduced the weight and kept the height of the car at 1,142mm, which reduced drag. The adjustable pedals allow each rider to find the most comfortable position.

The wheel of the Daytona SP3 has the same man-machine interface (HMI) as the SF90 Stradale, Ferrari Roma, SF90 Spider and 296 GTB, thus continuing the Ferrari philosophy: « hands on the wheel, eyes on the road « . Touch controls allow the driver to control 80% of the Daytona SP3’s functions without moving their hands, while a 16-inch curved HD screen instantly relays all driving information.

Both the chassis and bodywork of the Daytona SP3 are made entirely of composite materials, a technology directly derived from Formula 1 that offers an excellent weight-to-structural stiffness ratio. In order to make the car as light as possible, to lower the center of gravity and to guarantee a compact architecture, several components, such as the seat structure, have been integrated into the chassis.

Engine

For the engine, Ferrari took the engine from the 812 Competizione as a starting point, but moved it to the rear center position to optimize intake and exhaust layout as well as dynamic fluid efficiency. The resulting F140HC engine is the most powerful internal combustion engine Ferrari has ever built. It delivers 840 hp with the exhilarating power and tone typical of a Prancing Horse brand V12.

Celebrate Ferrari history

The Ferrari Icona series was launched in 2018 with the Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2, inspired by the racing barchetta of the 1950s which helped give the brand its legendary status in motorsport through numerous prestigious victories.

The Icona series celebrates the history of Ferrari by reinterpreting the timeless style of the brand’s most iconic cars for a radically modern effect that uses the most innovative materials and technologies. The inspiration drawn from a particular moment in history, which is at the heart of the Icona concept, goes far beyond the simple reuse of aesthetic elements from the past. The objective is rather to distill the very essence of an era and to make it a springboard for creating new concepts, themselves unique enough to become icons of future generations.

Crédit photo : Ferrari©