Ferrari Daytona SP3 revealed

This is the Ferrari Daytona SP3. It’s the second model in the brand’s Icona range, which draws inspiration from some of Maranello’s most famous models and reinvents them with 21st century materials and technology.

It celebrates Ferrari’s 1-2-3 finish at the 1967 24 Hours of Daytona, wrapping sleek composite bodywork inspired by sports prototypes of the 1960s and ’70s around a mouth-watering set of mechanicals.

At its core the Daytona P3 is based on the LaFerrari Aperta. It shares its carbon monocoque, though differs dimensionally being slightly shorter in length, wider and taller at 4686mm, 2050mm and 1142mm respectively.

12

The styling draws plenty of cues from classic Prancing Horse racing cars like the 330 P3 and P4 and 512 S and M that competed at Daytona, Le Mans and the Targa Florio. Devoid of spoilers, the Daytona P3 uses a variety of underbody devices and blown surfaces to be Ferrari’s most aerodynamically efficient road car ever.

It’s this efficiency that makes the P3 capable of over 340km/h, though the enormously powerful V12 mounted midships also plays a key role. Ferrari’s engineers have managed to squeeze a little extra from the new 812 Competizione’s engine, the 6.5-litre V12 now producing 618kW at 9250rpm (+8kW) and 697Nm at 7250rpm (+5Nm).

12

Unlike the LaFerrari, the P3 forgoes any form of hybrid system, keeping weight to 1485kg (dry). This combination results in acceleration claims of 0-100km/h in 2.85sec and 0-200km/h in 7.4sec.

Attempting to tame Ferrari’s most powerful ever road car engine is a specifically-developed Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyre. Measuring 265/35 front and 345/35 rear, they’re wrapped around staggered rims 20 x 9.0-inch front and 21 x 12.5-inch rear.

12

The Daytona P3 benefits from all Ferrari’s latest and greatest chassis gizmos, including the first application of the Dynamic Enhancer on a mid-engined V12 model, E-diff 3.0 and version 6.1 of Side Slip Control.

Inside, the seats are integrated into the monocoque a la LaFerrari with the wheel and pedals adjustable to accommodate the driver. Elsewhere it’s full of Maranello’s latest tech, including the curved 16.0-inch instrument display and capacitive touch pads that control virtually every function of the car.

12

Just 599 examples of the Daytona SP3 will be produced, with the price of entry starting at almost A$4m. A price that is essentially irrelevant, as any customers on the invite-only list certainly won't be struggling to make the repayments.