The limited edition 550 LM road car, based on Ferrari's 550 Maranello and the result of a collaboration between Care Racing and ESMotorsport, is on display at the Autosport International this weekend.

The 550 LM has taken its place this past few days, at the Birmingham-held motorsports show, in the EVO 'Road & Track Gallery' where it has joined the new Ascari supercar, the Ultima GTR and the Autodelta GT Super.

The aim of this join venture was to produce a road-legal sportscar based around the race proven Ferrari 550 Maranello GT-racer. This strictly limited edition model commemorates the astounding GTS class victory that the Care-funded, Prodrive-entered racer achieved at Le Mans 2003 when it took on, and defeated, the mighty, factory-backed Chevrolet Corvettes.

The idea was conceived to build a “Care Racing 550 LM Limited Edition” road car for sale to collectors and enthusiasts alike to celebrate the Le Mans victory, allowing individuals to own a sportscar that is part of recent motorsport history.

The Project's focus was on creating a road going sportscar as closely related to the Le Mans winning car as possible, whilst retaining the everyday usability that clients would want to expect from such a vehicle. The result has been a 330km/h sportscar that is a clearly recognisable relative of the race version, and which is significantly lighter and more powerful than the standard Ferrari 550 Maranello. In fact, the Care version weights in at just 1400kg, a whopping 315kg lighter than the road car, which itself is actually lighter than the 575 M Maranello which replaced it two years ago.
 

With 537bhp on tap, it is 52bhp more powerful than the base 550 Maranello, while at the same time 22bhp up on the 575 M Maranello. Part of this increase is put down to a high performance exhaust system that exits through the rear bumper, and which Care claims, offers a 17bhp increase over the standard system. A comprehensively re-mapped ECU,  together with changes to the injection system, help the car to gain the claimed power spike.

The suspension of this sportscar, which achieves 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds, four tenths quicker than the base model, has been upgraded with new spring settings, while race-bred AP brake calipers and massive 385mm drilled discs give this monster additional stopping power.

With its 19-in OZ wheels, shod with low-profile Michelin tyres, the Ferrari 550 LM Limited Edition is easily distinguishable by its ultra-low slung appearance, as well as its carbon fibre air ducts, engine cover, spoilers and side skirts.

Just one hundred of these sportscars will be built, the conversions being undertaken by supercar specialist's, ESMotorsport, who also happen to be the sole UK importers of the Modena-built Pagani Zonda C12 S. This English firm, took on the project after Prodrive, who built the racer, deemed the concept unfeasible.

Inside it is a real functional sportscar cockpit. The smooth carbon fibre door panels are exactly what one would expect to see in the racer version, while use of carbon fibre extends to detailing around the cabin, including the instrument bezels, centre console, seat backs and gearknob.

These composite panels have been produced by Brooklands-based GTR Ltd, while the whole project has been overseen by Bill Harris, who includes the McLaren F1 on an impressiv CV.

Race harnesses complete an effect that says this is a 'road legal' version of the cars that blasted to victory at the legendary 24 hour French race.

by Edd Ellison in Birmingham