Forza Motorsport 7: The F Word

As Daytona continues to heat up in the dead of the race, how about a little re-enactment from a certain Top Gear episode about Chris Harris driving the Ferrari FXX K round Daytona? I know, with the next season of Top Gear on the horizon, it would be the perfect time to reenact stuff as seen from the previous season.



But first, to understand more about the FXX K, I need to go to the Top Gear Track to see what's what about Ferrari's extreme track toy.



It's no wonder why Ferrari gave their LaFerrari-based racer a cursed word because by the time drivers experienced the vicious power of this Prancing Horse, this cursed word in question will always come out from their mouth, especially someone riding shotgun with it. With the LaFerrari-derived powertrain improved for this car and the cutting-edge aerodynamics that is too extreme to be called a racecar, the FXX K really is a million-dollar toy for the brave and the bold drivers who wanted to experience that kind of rollercoaster ride like when my grandma awaken to the thrill of becoming the hero of a Smithsonian thriller in a Mad Max-esque outfit. Now that's wild.



Speaking of wild, I did a little digging just to show how the FXX K is done and while in a middle of my Top Gear Track session, I tried beating the real-world lap time set by Schumi in its predecessor, the FXX in 1:10.7, and while trying to beat the clock, I got the impression that aerodynamics really played a key part in the FXX K, not the raw power itself because with capabilities too extreme to be called a racecar, you'd better be prepared for the inevitable in case the FXX K has gone nuts. Anyway, let's roll the tape.



After a hot lap round the Top Gear Track, I did it in 1:09.880, which is amazingly almost a second quicker than its predecessor that Michael Schumacher set in real life. It's incredible that Ferrari made a track toy that can outpace its predecessor in a heartbeat. So, with that done, let's go back to Daytona so I can savor the moment with the FXX K.



Back in the Season 24 opener of Top Gear, Chris Harris managed to get a taste of what is like to be driving the Ferrari FXX K and he was impressed about how wild it performs and man, you got to love the KERS mode where you can use all of the power from the engine-electric motor combo. Anyway, no time for sentimental steps, it's time to drive the FXX K like it's the last lap for the day.





The FXX K is pointless as a car because it's too extreme for both road and track but it doesn't really have to because with this car, you are part of the most prestigious club of all with the last member-only benefit you can't get enough of. It's great to be part with Ferrari's ultimate track toy and I'm going to savor this very moment.

Forza 4 Head To Head: Track-day Ferrari ballers

Track-day Ferrari racers

I've already tested the F40, F50, and the Enzo Ferrari and I have to say that these hyper Ferraris really are nothing more than horses bolted with some blasters at their backs and they came faster than the announcer would speak who would have won the bet. What about these track-only versions?

The F40 Competizione, F50 GT, and the FXX, those three track-only stallions that you can't use it on the road and you can't race it on a particular race series? Those million dollar toys are hyper when it comes to speed and extremely brutal when you hear their exhaust notes. For me, I think it was the F50 GT because that noise really is the same as a baby crying uncontrollably. It reminded us like the baby we have in our home. E he he he....

Anyway, which one is the best? Let's start with the F40 Competizione.

The Competizione is a race-spec version of the F40, which only 10 units were made while the first two are dubbed as "F40 LM" and the remaining 8 being F40 Competizione. It was developed out of the Maranello car company's GTO Evoluzione project and it should theoretically have been suitable for a wide range of racing series. However, with the demise of Group B and sports car racing in crisis during the late 1980s, Ferrari customers were left with very few options for their cars. A lone F40 Competizione was on display at the Automobile Museum in Turin.

Across the line in 1:13.152.

Now, the F50 GT...

The GT version is a race-spec version of the F50 that should have been intended to use in the BPR Global GT Series but sadly, they didn't put it to production and only three cars were sold to the public; the prototype and two assembled specially for prominent customers. The 4.7 V12 engine produces about 750bhp of power and 519Nm of torque. It can go 0-60mph in 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 235mph.




The F50 GT crossed the line in 1:10.8.

And now, the FXX.


Based on the Enzo Ferrari, the FXX is a racing-spec version of the said car that has some of the new developments from Ferrari and its suppliers. Priced at $1.8 million, this car is allowed for special track-day use and after that, the owners are entitled to be briefed by Ferrari on the car's performance. Ferrari's sister company, Maserati, has developed a similar car, the MC12 Corsa.

It uses the same V12 as the Enzo but with increased size to 6.3L so it produces 800PS of power and 686Nm of torque. It also comes with other technological features such as traction control, anti-lock brakes, and a rear view camera in place of the rear view mirror because of the lack of the rear window.





In the Series 13 opener of Top Gear, Michael Schumacher, in The Stig's outfit, drove his special FXX (black without a stripe, having red trimmed wheels, matte rather than chrome exhaust tips, and his personal logo stitched on the racing seats) and lapped the Top Gear Test Track in 1:10.7, therefore resulting him to show himself in front of the audience and to Jeremy Clarkson.

Weird...it appears it did it in 1:13.315, less than the time set by Schumacher....Hmmmm....Is it because his FXX's different than the other FXX's?! Never mind...