Purpose-designed for racing in the FIA GT Championship, at Le Mans and in other endurance races, the 550 Maranello has been substantially altered: The car has received a new bodywork, replacing all body components except the roof by carbonfibre and Kevlar parts. The re-designed, aerodynamic body looks very aggressive, sporting large air-intakes in the huge frontspoiler and a giant adjustable rearwing which generates a remarkable downforce. A completely closed bottom section and diffusors to the front and to the rear are additional elements of the 550 GTS’ optimized aerodynamics. Needless to say that the standard interior has been replaced by a very Spartan racing interior featuring a very stable roll-cage and an additional protective tube structure to the driver’s side. Weight has also been reduced by the use of perspex windows and the massive use of carbonfibre on the modified dashboard and center console. In total, the car’s weight was reduced by almost 600 kg to about 1.100 kg – which are almost perfectly balanced in a relation of 51:49. Unibal parts were used on the suspension, which is adjustable. The 550 GTS runs on huge OZ wheels in the dimension of 12’’ x 18’’ to the front and 13’’ x 18’’ to the rear, tires are Dunlop 280s to the front and 315s to the rear. Substantial changes to the engine include the enlargement to six liters (the 550 GTS now has a bore and stroke of 88 mm x 82 mm) and the fitting of a stainless steel sidepipe exhaust system. The 550 GTS produces about 600 hp and a maximum torque of 655 Nm, the maximum rev-rate is 7.000 min-1. Due to the FIA regulations, the engine had to be equipped with two large air-restrictors; without these restrictors, the power output of the 550 GTS would be even higher. The massive torque is handled by a sequential sixspeed gearbox attached to a Fichtel & Sachs MFX 200 racing clutch. The Brembo-made braking system features discbrakes with a diameter of 380 mm to the front and with a diameter of 350 mm to the rear. According to FIA regulations, the 550 GTS does not have an anti-lock system. The conversion of the car was performed by Baumgartner Sportwagen Technik (who did already prepare Franz Wieth’s Porsche GT2) and engine specialist Völkl of Tirschenreuth.