<< Prev Page 2 of 2 When the first 288 GTO Evoluzione was being readied, in 1985, the Group B cars were under ever closer scrutiny for being too quick to be safely used in rallies and even received the ominous nickname 'Killer Bees'. The final straw that broke the proverbial camel's back was the fatal accident of Henri Toivonen at the 1986 Tour de Corse in a mid-engined Lancia Delta. The sports governing body had no choice but to ban Group B and from 1987 the World Championship was run for the altogether more docile Group A cars.
Ferrari had intended the 288 GTO Evoluzione to be run predominantly in tarmac events of the World Championship by privateers. With Group B cancelled, the Evoluzione effectively lost its purpose and development of the competition car was halted. By that time six examples were built; one using an existing 288 GTO chassis and a further five from scratch. These were all prototypes and were not part of the 20-car production run intended for the potential customers. Needless to say these cars were never built.
The 288 GTO Evoluzione program had by no means been a futile exercise as from it Ferrari's 40th anniversary model, the F40 evolved. Using a similar drivetrain, the F40 also sported a toned down version of the Evoluzione's aerodynamic design. When the development work was eventually completed, Ferrari did sell several of the 288 GTO Evoluzione prototypes to its most prominent customers like Jacques Swaters and the Sultan of Brunei. Still a very rare sight, it is believed that all six still exist with one being on permanent display in Ferrari's engine building facility. << Prev Page 2 of 2
Ultimatecarpage.com
> Cars by brand
> Italy
> Ferrari
288 GTO Evoluzione
When the first 288 GTO Evoluzione was being readied, in 1985, the Group B cars were under ever closer scrutiny for being too quick to be safely used in rallies and even received the ominous nickname 'Killer Bees'. The final straw that broke the proverbial camel's back was the fatal accident of Henri Toivonen at the 1986 Tour de Corse in a mid-engined Lancia Delta. The sports governing body had no choice but to ban Group B and from 1987 the World Championship was run for the altogether more docile Group A cars.