1. It’s one of the most heavily, and famously, sponsored Ferrari F355 Challenge Cars in the North American Series. It’s sponsors included:
a. Discovery Channel – John Hendricks
b. Speedvision – Roger Werner – became Speed Channel then Fox Sports
c. STARZ!, BET, Encore Media, Showtime, The Movie Channel – John Sie
d. Commscope – Frank Drendel – designs and builds the connectivity for many of the world’s most advanced cable and internet networks.
e. General Instrument – specializing in semiconductors and cable television equipment – past CEO was Donald Rumsfeld… / Acquired by Google then Arris
f. Antec – John Egan – pioneered development of optical products for the cable television industry / Acquired Nortel then changed name to Arris

2. Original owner / driver was Tim Robertson of Virginia Beach, VA – The Family Channel CEO, Co-founder of Major League Lacrosse, and son of evangelist minister and presidential candidate Pat Robertson
3. Car is a factory built Challenge Car and is one of 40 Final Evoluzione versions – authentically restored with all original parts and correct livery.
4. Fully documented race history, maintenance and ownership history.
5. Very well maintained example – It has a new gas tank and all new fuel lines – those two simple items should tell you plenty on it’s current condition and caretakers.
6. Lower mileage example
7. No leaks or drips. No Check Engine Lights. No Slowdown Lights.
8. Honest, knowledgable Seller, and regular on Ferrarichat.com with multiple F355 in the same garage

Car has the following Upgrades

1. Steel Valve Guides
2. Factory Challenge Exhaust (designed similarly to a tubi) – also includes a second original Straight-Pipe Challenge Exhaust (the very loud one)
3. Fabspeed straight pipes without bypass valve
4. All Plastic Parts (that are known to get sticky) have been refinished and restored with lazer-etched , proper graphics by Sticky RX.
5. Carbon Fiber Door Panels
6. Lightweight Headlight Buckets
7. Wired with roof antenna for radio communication capability

Cons

1. Minor rock chips on nose and 2” crack on front bumper from track curbing
2. Typical buttress cracks seen on all F355 berlinetta’s
3. One rear heat shield over cv boot is worn and should be replaced
4. Undertray fiberglass has some chips from track curbing
5. Leather pulling on dash instrument pod
6. Rear Window is curved Plexi – some might call that a pro as it is lighter weight and cannot crack
7. Does not include headlights or headlight motors (rules allowed deleting these items for racing)
8. Horn does not operate
9. Has correct North American Turn Signals but they do not do not operate – (rules allowed deleting these items for racing)

Detailed Maintenance History

1. Replaced Engine – Foreign Cars Italia – at Road Atlanta using the North American Ferrari Service Truck – August 1998 – Foreign Cars Italia
2. Rebuilt Gearbox – March 1999 – Ferrari of Atlanta
3. Replace Clutch and Flywheel – June 1999 – Ferrari of Atlanta
4. Replace Windshield – October 2002 – Ferrari of Atlanta
5. Engine Out / Belts – April 2005 – Lake Forest Sportscars
6. Engine Out / Belts – December 2009 – Lake Forest Sportscars
7. Brake Rotors / Pads – January 2011 – Lake Forest Sportscars
8. Replaced all Fuel lines / hoses / gas tank / Fire suppression system – January 2012 – Lake Forest Sportscars
9. Engine Out / Belts – February 2015 – Lake Forest Sportscars

Ownership History

1. Tim Robertson – Virginia Beach, Virginia – Feb 1998 thru March 2001, Media CEO and son of evangelist minister and presidential candidate Pat Robertson, also owner of Ferrari 360 Challenge raced in the series
2. Bob Mayer – Atlanta, Georgia – March 2001 thru May 2003, raced in the SCCA Atlanta T1 series, owner of Ferrari F355 Berlinetta
3. Gary Kachadurian – Chicago, Illinois – May 2003 thru Sept 2004, real estate magnet – multiple Ferrari owner including 512tr, F355 berlinetta and others
4. Rick Mancuso – Chicago, Illinois – October 2004 thru January 2011, President of Lake Forest Sportscars – an official Ferrari dealer in Chicago, multiple Ferrari owner of many rare street and race cars. Is an original sponsor of the Ferrari Challenge Series
5. Ken Griffin – Chicago, Illinois – February 2011 thru February 2015, CEO of global investment firm “Citadel”, multiple Ferrari owner including LaFerrari, Enzo, etc…
6. Robb Williamson and his brother – February 2015 to Present –Corporate Location Photographer and Doctor, owners of other Ferrari F355 Berlinetta, Ferrari F355 GTS, Ferrari 328 GTS.

Additional Items Included

1. OEM Speedline Challenge Rims in silver with slicks currently on the car (used one weekend) – Extra spare Set of OEM Speedline Challenge Rims in silver (without tires) to use for additional slicks or rain tires
2. OEM Window Safety Netting and mount
3. OEM OMP Fire Extinguisher Tank
4. OEM Leather owner’s pouch with all books, manuals, and papers – 1998
5. Scanned OEM Challenge Rules and Regulation booklets for 1998, 1999, and 2000 seasons
6. One OEM Key – one aftermarket copy
7. Two OEM A.E. Lorioli keychain – 1998
8. Original Leather Key Fob from Foreign Cars Italia – 1998
9. OEM steering wheel cover, two seat covers, and red nylon carry bag – aftermarket red car cover to fit over wing
10. OEM emergency service light
11. OEM Leather stereo blank plate installed in car
12. Original History Monograph with all complete scanned race records and team paperwork
13. Original Team crew Shirt from Race Team
14. Original T-Shirt from Race Team
15. OEM F355 Press Kit Brochure
16. OEM F355 Leather tool case – missing some tools and 2 trays
17. Binder with Hard Copies of all maintenance service records
18. B&W Xerox Copy of MSO (Manufacturer Statement of Origin – Certificate of Origin of Vehicle)
19. USB thumb drive with digital copies of all history and records
20. IN-car video of training sessions
21. Digital copy of Montreal Challenge Race in 1998 with letter documentation
22. Historic Photos of car racing in Ferrari Challenge series
23. Current Photos of Car on track

Conclusion

You will find very few Ferrari Challenge cars anywhere in the world more complete. Few F355 Challenge cars come up for sale in a year. When you see one, look closely for what it is “not” coming with. Look at all the parts that are not original or what it is missing. Many of the cars in the US ran in the SCCA racing series and lost much originality with changes to the car because of their different regulations. Then look to see if the car looks like rats have made it home with owners that just did not care and put away very wet without much care. You will find many challenge cars in this condition. It will take quite a lot of money to bring them back and that is just the aesthetics. All the small things add up. We have seen other challenge cars with mechanical difficulties due to lack of use and owner neglect. I’d think most buying a Ferrari for the track would love it to run like an industrial sewing machine – one that just purs and goes and goes, and goes without issues. If a car is missing parts – they are likely to never be seen again. Then there is the question about the car’s sponsorship. Was it sponsored by a local dentist or did it have backing like The Discovery Channel, Speedvision, and major Cable Entertainment Channels? It would seem that the latter is likely to look great anywhere and will continue to hold interest and demand throughout the future. Does the car have interesting history? Do you know what place it finished or is there no clue as to it’s original driver and their story of how they got involved in the series?

So if you are looking for a complete car and one that you can proudly put in your collection, look no further. We started with a good Ferrari – it is now a great Ferrari. It’s now up to the new owner to pick and choose how to enjoy. The sky is the limit.

Pricing

F355 Challenge car values seem to float around $130k for a car without history – these are usually missing many original challenge parts like seats, the roll cage, brakes, etc – or one that looks like it has sat with the rats and was put away very wet. There is a huge difference between the lower priced cars and the higher priced cars. There is also a difference in value for the Factory Challenge cars and Evolutione cars which are rarer in number. The nice cars have been sold for as high as $245,000 to collectors in Europe in recent history.

This car is priced firmly at $185,000 based on completeness of records, parts, and famous corporate sponsorship. We are open to trade(s) of other Ferrari’s or challenge cars.

The car comes with a B&W Xerox copy of the MSO (Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin). Depending on different states or countries, this may enable a collector to register the car for street driving. We are still working with the original driver who is searching his storage for the original document. – But the car is definitely better suited on track with its precise, and tight suspension, lower ground clearance, and other track focused features. It shines on the track and will leave many newer street Ferrari’s in the dust there.

If you are a collector and want a Challenge car with unique history and fame, then look no further and just enjoy. Contact me for further information.

Full Race History

1998 Ferrari Challenge Season
Tim Robertson – # 91
April 25-26 – Homestead, FL
Race One – 15th
Race Two – 15th
Endurance Challenge – 5th
May 9-10, 1998 – Texas World Speedway, TX
Race One – 18th
June 5-7, 1998 – Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Race One – 18th
June 26-27, 1998 – Lime Rock Park, CT
Race One – 16th
Race Two – 14th
Endurance Challenge – 14th
August 1-2, 1998 – Road Atlanta, GA
Race One – DNS
Race Two – DNS
Endurance Race – DNS
Septmber 19-20, 1998 – Pikes Peak International Raceway, CO
Race One – DNS
Race Two – DNS
Endurance Race – DNS
November 7-8, 1998 – Imola, Italy
Did not attend

1998 Season Final Drivers Standings – 21st with 260 points
1998 Season Endurance Challenge Championship – 16th

1999 Ferrari Challenge Season
Tim Robertson – # 91 – Ferrari of Atlanta
Phoenix, AZ
Race One – 10th
Race Two – 10th
Endurance Race – 5th
March 5-7, 1999 – Willow Springs, CA
Race One – 16th
March 19-21, 1999 – Sebring FL
Race One – 12th
April 16-18, 1999 – Homestead, FL
Race One – 14th
Race Two – 10th
Endurance Race – 9th
June 25-27, 1999 Lime Rock Park, CT
Race One – 20th
Race Two – 18th
Endurance Race – 6th – Tim Robertson / Matt Drendel
August 6-8, 1999 – Road Atlanta, GA
Race One – 11th
Race Two – 9th
Endurance Race – 6th
October 9-10, 1999 – Laguna Seca, Salinas, CA
Race One – 22nd
November 5-7, 1999 – Vallelunga, Rome, Italy
Did not attend
December 3-5, 1999 – Homestead, Florida
Challenge Enduro 6-hour race – Tim Robertson raced in the # 77 car with Jim McCormick, Sandy Reddin, and Allie Ash – 4th

1999 Season Final Drivers Standings – 9th
1999 Season Endurance Challenge Championship – 3rd
1999 Season Dealer Championship – 4th
1999 Season Dealer Endurance Championship – 2nd

2000 Ferrari Challenge Season
Tim Robertson – # 16
May 19, 2000 – Road Atlanta, GA
Race One – 8th
Race Two – 5th
Joe Masessa / Michael Louli / Philip Shearer – # 16 – Ferrari of Atlanta
29 Nov -3 Dec, 2000 – Homestead, FL
Challenge Enduro 6-hour race / race concluded early for safety concerns with 17 360’s and 5 F355’s – 12th overall