My FH5 Log: The 488 Challenge

The world of Horizon is all about road cars but why would the producers like to put race cars in the Horizon Festival anyway? Isn't that an antithesis to what is known to be the sub-franchise of the Forza series? This race car is one of them.

What you're looking at here is the Ferrari 488 Challenge, one of the cars that can be obtained via DLC in Forza Horizon 5, and this is nothing more than the racing-spec version of the Ferrari 488 range offered in the game from the normal to the Pista. Seems that the producers are big fans of the Ferrari 488 after all and looks like they sure love to feature different kinds of it.

So, what's it all about the 488 Challenge? Built exclusively for the one-make Ferrari Challenge series in 2017, the 488 Challenge differentiates itself from its GT3 equivalent because, unlike the 488 GT3, the Challenge lets all of its 670PS power output loose from its turbocharged V8 engine, the first for a Ferrari Challenge race car. Aside from the power, the 488 Challenge is the first Ferrari Challenge machine to feature Slide Slip Control which improves longitudinal acceleration on corners by 4.2%, and better corner management that prevents performance losses due to rear axle skidding.

Because of its racetrack capabilities orchestrated by the Scuderia men, the 488 Challenge transforms the everyday supercar into the ultimate thoroughbred only a select few can master. The drivers involved in the Ferrari Challenge series really got the chance to experience the 488 Challenge's true power while fighting around the world to see who's the perfect 488 Challenge driver.

Of course, while I got flabbergasted by the 488 Challenge's capabilities, it's pointless and silly for me to drive the 488 Challenge around Horizon Mexico because it's a race car built for racetracks, not for the streets. It's common sense but my mind just hatched an idea. Instead of taking it to the streets of Horizon Mexico...

I brought the 488 Challenge to a life-sized Hot Wheels playset to demonstrate the race car's true power while unleashing the kid in me with my Hot Wheels lifestyle. Now that's common sense to you and me.

As I'm busy having fun with the 488 Challenge at the Hot Wheels park, the kids at the block want to challenge me with a race. I'd say, hey, challenge accepted. See what I did here? Anyway, let's get it!

Not the outcome I'd hoped for but hey, it's mission accomplished for the 488 Challenge.

Although pointless to drive across Horizon Mexico, the 488 Challenge completes the trio of the Ferrari 488 catalog ranging from the normal one, this, and the hardcore version called the Pista. Given the choice, I'd rather pick none because...well, now that the 488 served its purpose, there's no need to drive the entire fleet anymore, well almost.

From the GTB, the race-spec Competition, to the hardcore Pista, the Ferrari 488 will go down as the turning point in the history of V8-powered Ferraris. The more you know.