Ferrari kicked-off the start of its 2011 Challenge series this past weekend at the famed Monza circuit. This year’s season is particularly exciting as it’s the first competition use of the new 458 Challenge cars (based on the 458 Italia), competing alongside last year’s 430 Challenge cars that are still being used by some teams.

The 458 GT cars than competed in the recent 12 Hours of Sebring failed to surpass their older 430 siblings, but that was not the case at Monza, with the newer model showing how much of advancement Ferrari has made with the car.

To celebrate the occasion, Ferrari has released a video of the 458 on the Monza circuit, piloted by Ferrari Challenge defending champ and this past weekend’s winner Stefano Gai.

So turn up your speakers and watch the video after the jump:

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For most of us, the SEGA arcade game Ferrari F355 Challenge is the closest we’ll get to the famed one-make Ferrari Challenge series, but for some lucky wealthy folks, every few years they get to change rides, with each one getting progressively better.

When Ferrari released the new 458 Italia, most people suspected that a new 458 Challenge car wasn’t far behind, and now we have the video evidence to prove it. The short but sweet video posted below gives you a hint as to what the new car will sound like, but we’ll need better footage to figure out what it can do on track. Enjoy this morsel for now.

Hit the jump to see video of the Ferrari 458 Italia Challenge

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The Ferrari 458 Italia has been spied in what appears to be full “Challenge” getup. For years, Ferrari has run the 355, 360 and 430 Challenge, a race series for wealthy playboys enthusiasts who want to arrive at the track, drive a fully prepped Ferrari race car, and let others take care of the oily bits.

The 458 seems like a naturally successor, and the single-lug wheels, rollcage, single racing bucket seat, lexan windows and revised aero bits suggest that this car is not suited for street duty, but as a new Challenge car being prepped for a series featuring the 458 Italia. Don’t think that would stop any of us from slapping some temporary tags on one and going for a blast down our favorite road (or tunnel).

[Source: Axis of Oversteer]

Gallery: Ferrari 458 Italia Challenge

Over the weekend Maserati revealed its GranTurismo MC race car at the FIA Media Days at the Paul Ricard circuit in France. The completely stripped down car will weight less than 1,400 kg (or 3,087 lbs) and while Maserati hasn’t released horsepower output numbers, they have said that the car will use the 4.7-liter Maserati V8 powerplant and boast a power to weight ratio of 3.4 kg/hp (which would put the horsepower rating at about 411 ponies).

The car will initially only be for sale directly from Maserati to race teams who intend on participating in the European FIA GT4 championship – a series in which close-to-stock vehicles participate. In 2010, however, Maserati intends to use the GranTurismo MC more extensively by organizing a one-make racing series for gentleman-drivers, much like the Ferrari Challenge or Lamborghini SuperTrofeo.

The GranTurismo MC is priced at 130,00 Euro, or roughly $170,000.

GALLERY: Maserati GranTurismo MC

Official release after the jump:

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