Ferrari 458 Speciale. FIRST DRIVE. Hot laps at Fiorano

My head snaps back as the right pedal goes down. No hesitation. The power delivery is just ungodly, 597bhp being thrown at the tarmac almost effortlessly. We’re already through the next couple of corners before I’ve stopped laughing. Clearly amused by my reaction, Raffaele starts walking my through the tricky turns three and four: “it’s your traditional S bend, so you want to sacrifice a perfect line through turn two to get the power down through the next one.” Somehow managing to steer through the sweeping chicane with one hand, Raffaele points out the five-way drive mode dial on the steering. Since we are still in ‘Sport’ – the softest setting for steering, gearshift ferocity and new Frequency-Shaped SCM-E dampers, which with new software offer more precise body control – the new Side Slip Angle Control (SSC) will kick in. The SSC amalgamates acceleration and steering angle data to allow smooth controllable oversteer and bring the car back to me should I make a clanger of my corner entries. To emphasise this point – and despite the track still being relatively slick from the light rain – Raffaele gives the Ferrari a bootful, and the engine gives a grunt of approval before roaring into life through turn three. The rear tyres immediately dart out, caught almost leisurely by Raffaele and we’re soon ploughing into the sharp left-handed turn four. Fiorano’s 12 corners – including the high-speed flick through turns 10/11 known hereafter as the ‘balls-out’ turn – can be toppled in just 1m 23.5s in the 458 Speciale compared with 1m 25s in the Italia, and our assimilation laps are over pretty quickly.

Confident that apparently I know what I’m doing, Raffaele unclips his harness and gets out, offers words of advice – “don’t turn in too early for the apex, you’ll go faster if you go wider” – as I’m buckling up my belts, and closes the door. Here I am. It’s just me, Ferrari’s official test track and a 305kph supercar. I’m concentrating so hard on soaking everything in that it’s a few moments before I notice the marshal giving me the thumbs up to proceed onto track.

My first out lap is taken easily, since I’m not keen to stick this near-$300k prancing horse into the tyre wall. And with Raffaele’s advice still rushing through my ears, I take a wide angle into the final arcing turn 12 before cutting back onto the main straight. Then I gun it.

The speed is no less ferocious with my ox-like approach to driving, and I’m up to well above 150kph as I begin braking – hilariously early – for turn one, cutting the apex only slightly too wide. The Ferrari’s power steering is remarkably light, meaning it’s difficult to feel much for the front end. Not that it matters since the grip and balance on the nose is beyond belief. Turn the wheel and the front end will point. Every time. My new ‘concern’ then is the rear wheels, which are already starting to step out on the slick surface. So composed is the front though that you’d be forgiven for thinking it was glued to the asphalt. The specially-designed Michelin Pilot Sport Cup2 tyres work better than is believable.

Sacrificing turn three for a better line through the left-handed turn four – as instructed – I begin feeding in the power, the rear wheels stepping out slightly and the SSC catching them before I have time to react. Firing up through the gears with the paddle shift seven-speed F1 dual clutch transmission, shift response is beautifully alert and bullet like in speed, both up and down, a sharp smack to the forehead as the speed picks up sending adrenaline through the roof. Braking hard for the tight turn five over the bridge, the Brembo brake kit, derived from that of the LaFerrari ,scrubs speed off just as quickly and with amazing ease: there’s plenty of feel in the pedal even though I’m effectively pulling an emergency stop into most corners.

Specifically stiffened suspension means the ride is a bit on the hard side, though of course that’s to be expected. The Ferrari 458 Speciale is no GT cruiser. Remarkably impressive fuel consumption (11.8L/100km) and a solid yet comfortable Sabelt seats mean it’s possible, but there’s no doubting the Speciale was born for the track. Firing down the box through the blind turn six and into the circuit’s second-gear hairpin, I’m quickly building up speed again to the balls-out corner. Though my brain knows where I can brake with the Speciale, my right foot refuses to obey and I bottle taking it flat. I do still manage a respectable speed, though at no point during the exercise do I dare look at the speedometer, my gaze fixed on the corners ahead. Still picking up speed I’m into the final corner, wide out, cut back, feed in the power, laugh maniacally, and onto the next lap.

My time on-track in the Speciale is limited – as you would naturally expect – but my mind is already made up as I cruise back onto pitroad, Raffaele opens my door, sees the enormous grin on my face and understands when I need a few minutes to compose myself. I’m spent the past 15 minutes laughing, swearing and getting so involved with the experience that I can scarcely contain it: I’m reminded of our own Phil McGovern’s comment that driving the 458 Spider brought a tear to his eye; I know exactly how he feels.

It’s been an intoxicating experience, with a phenomenal piece of kit. Though many may have wondered how much more the 458 had to give, the answer is an impassionate ‘lots’. Ferocious pick-up, unbelievable braking forces, barely conceivable grip at the front, and a slightly cheeky rear end keen to play along. To call the Ferrari 458 Speciale anything other than brilliant would be a grave injustice, and I dearly, dearly hope that my first experience at Fiorano does not turn out to be my last. There’s a balls-out corner I haven’t conquered and a track weapon I’ve not come close to taming.

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– Our thanks to Ferrari