Ferrari have addressed an obvious gap in their range with the long-anticipated announcement of their first purpose-built car to fully embrace the modern Track Day phenomenon - a souped-up Enzo to be called the FXX.

The FXX is powered by an 6,262 cc V12 engine that "can punch out over 800 bhp at 8,500 rpm", according to the factory announcement. It is equipped with a paddle-shift gearbox and adjustable aerodynamic spoilers.There is no indication in Ferrari's press release of a base vehicle but it clearly has similarities with the Enzo and may well utilise componentry from the Maserati MC12 programme. Digging deep into Ferrari's wonderful racing heritage, the rear winglets have the look of the 1983 126C3 F1 car.

The experience will be restricted to 20 or so of Ferrari's "most dedicated and passionate Clients", who will be able to take part in a series of private track events to be organised by Ferrari at various international-level circuits over the coming two years. They will also be able to take their cars out on the track independently during private sessions and share the experience with a friend as the FXX is fitted with a passenger seat!

Ferrari have announced that "the FXX is the most advanced GT ever created at Maranello and its mission is to involve Ferrari’s most valued Clients as genuine Prancing Horse Test Drivers in their own right. The wealth of data and experience gathered in the course of this very special programme will be exceptionally important".

"In fact, the feedback from these highly skilled, non-professional Client Test Drivers will be compared and supplemented with suggestions from Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello and Ferrari’s professional in-house Test Drivers".

However they also say "Given the car’s exceptional performance and the unique nature of the package, delivery of each FXX will also include an ad hoc driving course....a training session dedicated to test driving methodologies".

The first cars will be delivered by the end of the year. If you wish to sign up "applications to join the programme are being evaluated by a special in-house committee" and you will need to have € 1.5 million (excluding taxes) at the ready.

Ferrari are to be congratulated on this truly innovative technical collaboration programme. The FXX has not been homologated for road use and thus will not be a competition model, which is disappointing as Ferrari badly need a new GT race car, given the performance of the new Prodrive Aston Martin DBR9.

However, € 30 million extra revenue will be helpful to the bottom line and will assist financial recovery in the post-Maserati era.

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pics by Ferrari Media