The opening Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli 2005 race will took place last weekend at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari autodrome, Imola. The Italian GT championship also kicked off at the same time with the Ferrari 575 GTC Evoluzione 2005 and the 550 Maranello appearing in the top GT class, and the 360 GTC, in the N-GT category.

It marked the debut race for the modified and improved for 2005 Ferrari 575 GTC. The Ferrari Corse Clienti department has made changes to the original version with the collaboration of the technical GT head, Maurizio Nardon.

The aerodynamics have been completely revised with the addition of a new splitter and air intake on the modified bonnet. These changes help to improve the internal air flow. The engine has been totally re-designed and, together with a new cooling tank, results in greater power and better handling. The current torque curve guarantees improved power management and the work on the steering column means that the new car is easier to point into curves and performs more smoothly when in them.
 

The testing and development of the Ferrari 575 GTC Evoluzione 2005 was carried out by the Brazilian driver Jaime Melo, who drove the previous model during a number of races for JMB Racing in the FIA GT Championship last season.

The new model is destined to be used by private teams competing in various GT series, including GPC Sport in the FIA GT series.

Meanwhile GPC Sport has announced that their second FIA GT Championship Ferrari  575 GTC will be driven by Brazilian driver Jaime Melo and Frenchman Jean-Philippe Belloc, the 2001 FIA GT Champion.

Melo raced for both JMB Racing in a Ferrari 575 GTC, winning the Donington Park round alongside Karl Wendlinger, and with GPC Sport in an N-GT class Ferrari 360 Modena, for whom he won the final round in Zhuhai. As for Belloc, he won races in both 1999 and 2001, all in a Chrysler Viper.