Warm Up Racing introduced their Ferrari F430 Challenge race car in their Budapest showroom last week as they prepare to become the first-ever Hungarian team to take part in the Ferrari Challenge. Their brand-new F430 Challenge only left Maranello very recently, and now it is set to start on the grid in the 2007 season opener at Monza this weekend.

Warm Up Racing, is another name to memorise; it refers what is a newly-formed and highly ambitious team. They will be the first Hungarian team, which will have the chance to prove their talent in the Ferrari Challenge Series. This series first began in 1993, at that time the Ferrari 348 Berlinetta was the official racing car to be used. Then it was changed by Ferrari 355, before in 2000 the 360 Modena was introduced. This last mentioned model was still in use in the 2006 series alongside the debutant F430, but the rules for this year will allow only the use of F430 model.

The Hungarian Team’s new F430 Challenge racing car is a developed version of the road car which is mildly modified from standard. Like all the other cars set to be on the grid in Monza, the car is a Ferrari factory-made model, and at Maranello the roll protection cage, a shell seat and six-point safety belt are all fitted. In addition, a fire extinguisher, reinforced braking-system and other safety equipment features can be found in this agile and powerful racing version. The set-up of running gear has two modes, depending on the conditions of the track. The engine is identical with the road version’s. Fitted with V8, 90°, 4308cc petrol motor (490 hp).

Every team in the Ferrari Challenge Europa Series is supported by their country's official Ferrari importer. The new Hungarian racing team is thus named after Warm Up Ltd. The Lippi family – the owners of Warm Up Ltd – have introduced the Ferrari and Maserati marques into the Hungarian market. Not only the sales operation, but also the service aspect is also performed by the Warm Up Ltd.
 

The racing team has engaged two skilled pilots for its debut year in the Ferrari Challenge: Sandor Janosi and Gabor Grigalek. Both drivers have gained plenty of experience racing the Opel Astra and Renault Clio in highly competitive one-make 'Cups' championships in Hungary.

"The Ferrari Challenge Europa has high reputation in the world of motor sports, so we are proud of the first Hungarian team lining up at the start line in this year," said Alessandro Lippi, the managing director of the official importer. Meanwhile "By the starting of our team, we would like to build a tradition, and we hope that the ‘Ferrari Challenge Europa’ becomes a well-known race in the sight of the Hungarian motor-sports’ fans," added Emanuele Lippi, the marketing and Public Relations director of the Warm Up Ltd. "The races of the series are entertaining and exiting, because of the same car, the victory depends only on the qualities of pilots and the service groups’ skills."

This year the Ferrari Challenge Europa will be made up of fourteen races which will be run during the next seven months. The first event will be run this weekend at Monza; it will be followed by races at Misano, Silverstone, Spa, Le Castellet, and Hockenheim. At the end of October the Ferrari Challenge will return to Italy for the last race.