The replacement of the system’s resin brake pads with a new carbon-ceramic material ensures bettter performance even when applying the brakes the first time from cold, thus guaranteeing more consistent pedal response. This boosts the system’s predictive accuracy and ability to intervene. The carbon-ceramic pads also ensure that the chemical and physical structure doesn’t change even at the highest operating temperatures which thus avoids the reduction in the coefficient of friction which would impinge on braking efficiency and results in sharper deceleration even after repeated braking from high speeds.
The CCM2 system’s constant coefficient of friction meant that the ABS could be calibrated for high performance. Working in tandem the two systems cut deceleration times and deliver shorter stopping distances.
Special F1-derived fairings known as wheel doughnuts have also been employed inside the wheel rim. As well as their role in improving aerodynamics, these also improve braking efficiency by optimising brake cooling.
AERODYNAMICS AND STYLING
The 599 GTO’s aerodynamics have benefited significantly from Ferrari engineers’ experience in F1 and with the 599XX which allowed downforce to be greatly increased without impacting on drag. Thanks to solutions transferred from the track car to the road-going version, the GTO generates downforce of 144 kg at 200 km/h. The focus was on all the areas that have the greatest direct impact on aerodynamic performance: the front, sides, rear, underbody, and, obviously, the cooling flows. The cooling ducts for the discs and pads have been optimised while the wheel doughnuts
reduce the energy loss caused by turbulence created by the rims themselves. The front bumper was widened to improve the fairing-in of the wheels and there is also a new wider sill design to improve the fairing of the rear wheels. The sill also features a more pronounced leading edge that improves the efficiency of the central section of the underbody. Work on the nose of the car was aimed at narrowing the width of the wake generated by the front and thus reduce drag. The car is also equipped with a splitter, an aerodynamic surface between the front wheels which diverts the air flow to the rear of the car. In transferring this feature from the 599XX to the 599 GTO it has been transformed into a separate wing that improves downforce over the front of the car and increases the flow of cooling air to the oil radiator. At its rear, the geometry of the splitter guarantees the flow always separates at the same point and thus the efficiency of its pressure is maximised, also greatly lowering drag. The underbody itself incorporates a new, lower front section with 599XX-inspired diffusers ahead of the front wheels to optimise downforce, and a new double-curve rear diffuser, the result of F1 research. Behind the wheel the effect is of a very short wheelbase, almost as if it was cut short just behind the driver’s seat.
CAR-DRIVER INTERFACE
The car-driver interface was designed to maximise car and driver performance with a layout of the main commands that ensures absolute efficiency and minimum distraction. The fact that the tyres, brakes and engine unit are being continuously monitored for performance and potential will prove reassuring indeed to both professional and less expert drivers alike. The ergonomics are designed for very press-on driving both on the track and on the road.
The Racing manettino puts the emphasis firmly on track-specific sporty driving offering the driver greater freedom in configuring the car’s electronic control system parameters. The CT OFF setting, which deactivates traction control, has been incorporated to give the driver control of the car on the limit without losing the assistance of the stability control on the edge. The fact that the control systems can be deactivated is proof of a handling set-up that is balanced in any condition and on any surface.
The five options are:
LOW GRIP for slippery surfaces; SPORT for good grip conditions; RACE for maximum performance in optimal driving conditions, particularly suited to the track; CT-OFF for maximum driving involvement in ideal grip situations. Ideal both for having fun or for improving driving skills, it allows power oversteer right to the very edge of control but still with a good safety margin. CST-OFF (Stability and Traction Control Systems deactivated) instead eliminates all electronic control systems leaving the driver absolute freedom in his track driving.
In addition the GTO also features the Virtual Race Engineer (VRE), a system that monitors the status of the car and gives the driver immediate updates on vehicle performance. Lastly, the GTO is also fitted with specific carbon-fibre F1 paddles for easier, distraction-free use in high-speed driving.
INTERIOR AND PERSONALISATION
The 599 GTO’s cabin reflects its sporty character. It is also quite functional as a result of the significant weight savings made to boost performance. However, although use has been made of lightweight technical materials, the interior is in not Spartan in the least. Bare aluminium has been used for the floor and there are numerous carbon-fibre features too. The standard version of the car offers a cordura and 3D technical fabric trim with matching stitching and Alcantara®. Alcantara® and leather trim is also available on request too. The ergonomics of the F1 gearbox console have been completely redesigned to ensure that the controls are within even easier reach of the driver. The entire interior is trimmed in matte carbon-fibre and technical fabric. The
overall result is that although there is no question that this is an extreme car, it remains both classic and elegant.