In October 2016, iRacing officially announced a landmark partnership with Ferrari to bring the 488 GTE to the service. This announcement was a watershed moment for the community, marking the first time the Prancing Horse would be officially represented on the platform. Steve Myers, iRacing’s Executive Vice President, described the deal as a “monumental achievement,” confirming that the 488 GTE would be the first of many Ferrari models to join the digital stable. The car is set to be the centerpiece of the 2017 Season 3 build, bringing Italian flair and mid-engine precision to the GTE and IMSA categories.
Recreating the Maranello Masterpiece
The Ferrari 488 GTE iRacing official specs highlight a car built with uncompromising attention to detail. Utilizing official factory data from Ferrari’s Competizioni GT unit, iRacing has modeled the 3.9L twin-turbo V8 to produce an estimated 490 horsepower and a staggering 479 lb-ft of torque. The announcement emphasized the car’s unique suspension geometry and its advanced aerodynamic profile, which was designed to capitalize on the FIA’s mid-engine-friendly regulations. This partnership ensures that sim racers are driving a car that feels, sounds, and reacts exactly like the one that won the 2016 World Endurance Cup for GT Manufacturers.
A New Era of Competition
The Ferrari 488 GTE iRacing announcement also revealed that the car would be priced at the standard $11.95 and would debut with a full array of factory and community-led paint schemes. The partnership goes beyond just the car, as Ferrari has agreed to collaborate on future content and official series. The arrival of the 488 GTE is expected to boost participation in the GTE class to record levels, as drivers from around the world fulfill their dream of racing a Ferrari at tracks like Le Mans, Sebring, and Road Atlanta. The Prancing Horse has officially arrived, and sim racing will never be the same.
