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Replacing the 458 Speciale was never going to be a simple task, but Ferrari left no stone unturned in the development of the 488 Pista. The question is how quick is it against the clock on Anglesey's Coastal Circuit? Steve Sutcliffe has the stopwatch. Read our online review of the Ferrari 488 Pista at: https://www.evo.co.uk/ferrari/488/pista and subscribe to evo at: https://subscribe.evo.co.uk/
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The Ferrari 488 Pista
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is one of those cars that makes you wonder where we are all going to end up in 10 years time
0:37
Its rate of progress over the 458 Speciale that it loosely replaces is that incredible and that
0:44
massive objectively. You almost wonder if there's a model in between that you've somehow forgotten
0:52
about. Based on the already rapid 488 GTB, the Pista is lighter, louder, more powerful and a lot
1:02
more focused in its chassis setup. It also generates 40% more downforce than a regular 488
1:10
so it's much quicker around the track. Not least because it also wears a set of Pilot Cup 2R tyres
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and, in this instance, a set of optional carbon fibre wheels that help bring the unsprung mass even further down
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allowing it to deliver even quicker lap times. So just how quick is the Mighty Pista around the coastal circuit at Anglesey
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On the instructions of the numerous Ferrari engineers present I switched the Manitino to CT off and headed out on a drying but still slightly damp circuit to begin to find out
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So eventually the circuit just about started to dry
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And there were still a couple of damp areas. Ferrari's engineers said these wouldn't really matter
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so long as the Pista's Cup 2R tyres could reach at least 50 degrees C
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which they just about did. so sit back relax and enjoy the ride this thing feels absolutely not raving mad but just
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rabid in everything it does its acceleration is bonkers it's gearing because you are accelerating
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so fast you just go up the gears i'll show you in a minute how fast you have to upshift in order
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to not hit the limiter. The traction it's got is monster. But it's the chassis. The
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chassis on this thing feels so nicely developed. The front end, the back end, the middle of
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it it just feels so nicely balanced and so perfectly precise And that the steering I know Ferrari steering you do have to get used to you have to reprogram your brain a bit But half a lap and you just steer this thing
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with your mind, it is absolutely phenomenal around this track. And on Cup 2Rs, it's got
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insane amounts of grip as well and as you can hear it makes quite a nice noise too
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right have a look at this down the pit straight second third fourth fifth
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it's just barking mad this car It feels utterly different from a regular 4.8, hey
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I mean, come on! This is a road car! And so there you go
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In the end, the Pista did a 1 minute 10.8. Making it the fastest supercar we have ever timed around Anglesey
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And the mad thing is, I reckon it might have gone a good half second quicker in bone dry, warm, perfect conditions
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It's quite a car, is the Ferrari 488 Pista. It's not just the speed it can generate that blows your mind, but also the noise it makes whilst doing so
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the balance it has near the limit, the way it stops and the way it changes gear
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It is an astonishing thing to experience at any speed and on any road, but especially at full beams around a circuit like this
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As we said at the beginning, it does make you wonder what on earth they'll come up with next
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