This is the spectacular Ferrari P80/C, a one-off for the track inspired by the Cavallino sports cars of the 60s

Being a client of Ferrari is something very special, so special that if you have a substantial current account balance the brand can build you a made-to-measure car, a one-off as we usually call it. An example of this is the P80/C model you can see alongside these lines. It is an exclusive model designed to give its all on the track, so you can imagine the preparation hidden beneath its bodywork.

The client asked Ferrari for the P80/C to take as reference such iconic models of the Italian brand as the 330 P3/P4 or the Dino 206 S, racing models that made this one-off project challenging, since when these preparations are carried out brands usually focus on translating an earlier design into modern lines. This time, however, it is different, as the aim is to create a vehicle that, to a degree, sets design aside to focus on its performance. So much so that the Ferrari P80/C project began in 2015, making it the longest-running one-off project in the Italian brand’s history.

When the project began, Ferrari decided to use the racing 488 GT3 as its base, not only because it is a track vehicle, but also because its chassis is 50 mm longer than that of the road-going 488 GTB, giving engineers greater freedom in their development work. This shows up in design details that give the P80/C a different character: while on the 488 GT3 the design tends to place the cabin at the centre of the vehicle, on the P80/C it makes the cabin appear further forward, making the rear look longer, giving it a more aggressive design.

On the outside, the Ferrari P80/C is truly spectacular, with an aggressive front end that Ferrari describes as “catamaran style”, in which the specially created front splitter stands out, although the absence of a light cluster is somewhat unusual. On the flank, its 18-inch wheels with single-lug nuts stand out, which can be swapped for 21-inch wheels made to order for the client and bundled into a package called “exhibition”. Meanwhile, at the rear, an aggressive, finely worked diffuser catches the eye, together with the enormous carbon-fibre rear wing; also, if you look closely, at the rear edge of the car there is an aerodynamic appendage inspired by the T-Wing fitted to the 2017 Formula 1 cars.

Inside there are no concessions to comfort: it has only the elements necessary for track use, also drawing inspiration from the interior of the 488 GT3, such as the new design applied to the instrument panel. As you can see, it includes a roll cage integrated into the bodywork itself, a colour digital display that provides the driver with the necessary information, and carbon fibre everywhere, on the dashboard, the rear of the seats and the door panels.

Under the bonnet, the Ferrari P80/C will also have the 3,900 cc V8 engine of the 488 GT3, which the brand says is free of the mechanical restrictions that must be applied in competition, with its output reduced to 550 CV. It is therefore no surprise that the P80/C has the 720 CV in all its glory that this engine delivers in models such as the 488 Pista.