The championship originated with the Ferrari Challenge Italy, which launched in 1993 with backing from Pirelli. Its two-class format — distinguishing between professional competition drivers in the Trofeo Pirelli and amateur gentleman drivers in the Coppa Shell — became the template for all subsequent regional series. The North American series was added in 1994, organized by Ferrari North America and sanctioned by IMSA. The Ferrari Challenge UK followed in 2019, contested at iconic British circuits including Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, and Snetterton. The Ferrari Challenge Japan launched in 2023 with five rounds at Fuji (two rounds), Autopolis, Suzuka, and Sugo.
The Ferrari Challenge Europe now runs as a four-class championship: Trofeo Pirelli, Trofeo Pirelli Am, Coppa Shell, and Coppa Shell Am. The Ferrari Challenge Asia-Pacific operated from 2011 to 2022, covering Japan, China, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. A new Australian-based series, Ferrari Challenge Australasia, launched in 2025 with five rounds at the country's largest motorsport venues, running both 296 Challenge and 488 Challenge Evo machinery. At the 2025 Finali Mondiali, Ferrari announced a Middle East series for the 2026–27 season, racing at Bahrain International Circuit, Lusail International Circuit, Jeddah Corniche Circuit, and Yas Marina Circuit.
From 2013 onward, the major Ferrari Challenge series have united for a common World Final event. The Finali Mondiali brings together competitors from all series in both Trofeo Pirelli and Coppa Shell classes, culminating in a combined race whose winners Ferrari formally recognises as world champions.
The championship uses a single car from Ferrari's road car lineup, suitably modified for competition safety and parity. Nine models have served the series since its founding:
Ferrari 348 Challenge (1993–1995)
Ferrari F355 Challenge (1995–2000)
Ferrari 360 Modena Challenge (2000–2006)
Ferrari F430 Challenge (2006–2011)
Ferrari 458 Challenge (2011–2013)
Ferrari 458 Challenge Evo (2014–2016)
Ferrari 488 Challenge (2017–2020)
Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo (2020–present)
Ferrari 296 Challenge (2024–present)
The 360 Challenge was the first competition model marketed directly to the public. The F430 Challenge introduced carbon-ceramic brake discs and gained 80 hp over its predecessor, reducing lap times to within approximately three seconds of the F430 GT2. The 458 Challenge was the first car in the series to offer driver-controlled aids such as traction control, stability management, and adjustable ABS. All cars used in the series are track-only, though some 360 Challenges were made road-legal in Australia prior to legislative changes that prohibited the practice.
The Ferrari Challenge has inspired several officially licensed racing simulations. In 1999, Sega producer Yu Suzuki created Ferrari F355 Challenge: Passione Rossa, a video game based on the F355 Challenge series. In 2008, System 3's Mark Cale produced Ferrari Challenge: Trofeo Pirelli, the official game of the championship covering the F430 Challenge Italian, European, and North American 2007 seasons. The series featured in Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends in 2012. In 2024, iRacing added the 296 Challenge car to its platform, replacing the Ferrari 296 GT3 in the iRacing Ferrari Challenge Series.
The Ferrari Challenge pioneered the one-make customer racing formula that has since become a template for many manufacturers. Its Trofeo Pirelli and Coppa Shell class split, accommodating both professional drivers and gentleman amateurs within the same championship weekend, remains a defining characteristic of the series and a model widely copied in the premium motorsport sector.
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