The new 458 GT2, which assumes greater importance as the Le Mans regulations for 2011 will focus the GT sports car category rules around the GT2 class, is built as ever by Michelotto (who were responsible for developing and building the outgoing F430 GT) and regular Ferrari factory contracted sports car driver Pierre Kaffer is behind the wheel in the single image seen so far.

The 458 GT2 prototype reveals bodywork refined for racing duties with improved cooling and aerodynamics being the most obvious visual changes. The front spoiler section has been reworked with the innovative production car's "tusks" being dispensed with on the race version, instead the section is given over to a large meshed area to push increased air flows into the car while the bonnet has become a mass of outlet slats in three distinct sections as a firm emphasis is placed on significant improvements to cooling. The car rides lower and features a new lip spoiler at the front, new skirts along the flanks and an engine-cooling inlet Naca duct above and just to the front of the rear wheels. Curving "winglets" on the front corners, jutting racing-style door mirrors, single hub nut fixed wheels (instead of the road car's 5-stud fixing), and a large rear wing complete the visual changes that get the road-projectile ready for life on the race tracks where it will take on rivals from Porsche, BMW, Corvette and Jaguar.

The 458 GT2 may make its international racing debut at the opening round of the 2011 American Le Mans Series (ALMS), the legendary 12 Hours of Sebring, Florida, which takes place on February 10, with Risi Competizione and Extreme Speed Motorsports earmarked to receive the first batch of cars to be built by Michelotto. However the tough, car-breaking nature of the Sebring endurance classic means that Maranello may well prefer to use the proven, long-distance reliable F430 GT2 for this encounter and instead hand an ALMS racing debut to the 458 GT2 at the second round which takes place on the streets of Long Beach, California, on April 16. In the hands of Bruni, Melo and Kaffer the Risi Competizione-run F430 GT won this year's 12 Hours of Sebring.

Ferrari will also take responsibility for developing and marketing a GT3 version. The GT3 category level is focused towards "gentleman" drivers and this in-house project will mark a change of direction as the most recent GT3 project, centered around the 430 Scuderia, was developed by Swiss privateer team Kessel Racing with the blessing of the Maranello factory.