Two years after the debut of the iconic Ferrari F40, a new, more aggressive version was developed—one that would take the legendary supercar from road to racetrack. The project was initiated by Charles Pozzi, Ferrari’s French importer, who commissioned a competition-ready variant specifically to contest the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The first two cars built were designated F40 LM (Le Mans), featuring a significantly uprated 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8, producing over 700 horsepower, along with reinforced suspension, racing brakes, revised aerodynamics, and stripped-down interiors. These changes transformed the F40 from a street-legal performance icon into a full-fledged race car.
Following their competitive debut and positive reception, Ferrari began receiving additional requests from privateer teams and collectors. Development and production were managed by Michelotto, Ferrari’s long-time racing partner in Padova. To accommodate wider racing use beyond Le Mans, the designation evolved to F40 Competizione—a broader term that reflected the car’s applicability in GT and endurance racing globally.
In total, Michelotto produced 19 competition-spec F40s, including the original LM examples. These cars participated in numerous events throughout the 1990s, including IMSA, JGTC, and various European GT series, achieving notable success thanks to their raw speed and reliability. While they never captured an overall Le Mans win, they were highly competitive in their class and remain revered in historic motorsport circles today.
The F40 LM/Competizione stands today not only as a symbol of Ferrari’s race-bred engineering, but also as one of the most desirable evolutions of a modern classic—built for purists who craved the unfiltered connection between Ferrari’s road and racing worlds.
Ferrari F40 Competizione Technical Specifications
| ENGINE | ||
| type | rear, longitudinal 90° V8 | |
| bore/stroke | 82 x 69.5 mm | |
| unitary displacement | 367.03 cc | |
| total displacement | 2936.25 cc | |
| compression ratio | 7,7:1 | |
| maximum power | 515 kW (700 hp) at 8100 rpm | |
| power per litre | 238 hp/l | |
| maximum torque | - | |
| valve actuation | twin overhead camshafts per bank, four valves per cylinder | |
| fuel feed | Weber-Marelli electronic injection, twin turbos | |
| ignition | Weber-Marelli electronic, single spark plug per cylinder | |
| lubrication | dry sump | |
| clutch | multi-plate | |
| CHASSIS | ||
| frame | tubular steel with composite elements | |
| front suspension | independent, unequal-length wishbones, coil springs over telescopic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar | |
| rear suspension | independent, unequal-length wishbones, coil springs over telescopic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar | |
| brakes | discs | |
| transmission | 5-speed + reverse | |
| steering | rack-and-pinion | |
| fuel tank | capacity 120 litres | |
| front tyres | 24.5-12.5-17 | |
| rear tyres | 27.5-14.5-17 | |
| BODYWORK | ||
| type | two-seater, berlinetta | |
| length | 4535 mm | |
| width | 1980 mm | |
| height | 1150 mm | |
| wheelbase | 2450 mm | |
| front track | 1580 mm | |
| rear track | 1545 mm | |
| weight | 1040 kg (with liquids) | |
| PERFORMANCE | ||
| top speed | 367 km/h | |
| acceleration 0-100 km/h | - | |
| 0-400 m | - | |
| 0-1000 m | - | |