The Ferrari 458 GT3 was launched in 2011 and superseded the F430 GT3, which had achieved over eighty class victories between 2006–2013. Like its predecessor, it was developed as a ground-up racing car and built in collaboration with Michelotto Automobili, the same factory-endorsed organisation responsible for countless racing Ferraris as well as the development of the 288 GTO and F40.

The engine is a bespoke 4.5-litre V-8 built for motorsport purposes, with only the engine block carried over from the road-going 458 Italia. It produces 550 bhp at 9,000 rpm, with 550 Nm of torque with GT3 specification restrictors in place and over 600 bhp without them. Power is channelled through a Hewland MLS six-speed sequential gearbox with steering-wheel-mounted paddles and Hewland’s ‘Paddle Shift’ gear-change system. The entire transmission weighs just 66 kg and, like the rest of the car, is an exercise in weight saving; the bodywork is nearly all carbon fibre and features the fully race-optimised aerodynamic package, including a colossal rear wing and diffuser at the rear and splitter at the front. A lightweight aluminium chassis, MR630 Technomesh forged Motegi racing wheels and Lexan polycarbonate glazing complete the package and together reduce kerb weight to just 1,250 kg. It is thus over 200 kg lighter than the road-going variant, with immeasurably more downforce and mechanical grip.

As with all racing Ferraris, the 458 GT3 was expected to be a potent package, and so it proved with an endless list of wins, the most notable of which are six victories in the 24 hours of Spa as well as Pro-Am victories in the Blancpain Endurance Series in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015.

This particular 2011 example has a rich racing history with notable victories at Spa and Nürburgring and podiums in the British GT Championship from 2011 to 2014, along with the 2012 Blancpain Endurance Series and 24 Hours of Spa. During this time it was campaigned by AF Corse and Mtech Racing with Ferrari factory drivers Matt Griffin and Alessandro Pier Guidi. More recently, it was successfully campaigned by the current owner in the Britcar Championship, where it won the 2016 GT Class 1 Championship, 2017 and 2018 Sprint Class 1 Championship. It is appropriately painted in its factory colour of Rosso Corsa and is fitted with a passenger seat, Multimatic DSSV three-way adjustable dampers, and a Vbox lite data-logging and video system. It also benefits from having been updated in accordance with the 2014/2015 regulation change and has been fastidiously maintained by marque expects FF Corse of Silverstone, who have ensured the car is in fine fettle and ready to be raced by its next owner.