Description
The Ferrari 308 GTB Competition was a specialized racing version of Ferrari’s mid-engined V8 berlinetta, developed to compete in Group 4 and Group B rallying as well as endurance racing events. Based on the standard 308 GTB road car, it was heavily re-engineered to meet homologation requirements and withstand the rigors of motorsport, while still retaining the core layout and silhouette of the production model.
The first 308 GTB Competition cars emerged in the late 1970s, with several being built or modified by Michelotto, a Ferrari-associated workshop in Padua that became the primary developer of Ferrari’s customer competition cars during this era. Using the early lightweight “Vetroresina” (fiberglass) body as a starting point, the cars received extensive strengthening to the chassis, revised suspension geometry, and upgraded brakes for racing. The interiors were stripped of unnecessary trim, fitted with roll cages, competition seats, and harnesses, while lightweight components were used wherever possible to reduce mass.
Power came from a race-tuned version of the 2,926 cc 90-degree V8 with four Weber carburetors, which in competition specification could produce well over 300 horsepower — a significant jump from the road car’s 255 hp. Depending on the category and rules, some engines were fitted with higher compression ratios, more aggressive cam profiles, and upgraded exhaust systems to maximize performance. The five-speed manual gearbox remained, but often with closer ratios suited to racing or rally stages.
Visually, the 308 GTB Competition cars could be identified by their wider wheel arches, deeper front spoilers, roof-mounted air scoops on rally cars, and prominent additional lighting for night stages. Many wore bold sponsor liveries, making them some of the most visually striking Ferraris ever to compete in rallying. In endurance racing form, they often featured flared arches, wider wheels, and aerodynamic tweaks, though they retained the essential wedge-shaped Pininfarina design.
The 308 GTB proved particularly successful in rally competition, especially in the hands of private teams in European and Middle Eastern events. Michelotto-built 308 Group 4 cars scored class wins and notable finishes against more established rally machinery, benefiting from their mid-engine balance and strong reliability. Later Group B-spec cars, developed in the early 1980s, were even more potent, taking on the likes of the Lancia 037 and Porsche 911 SC RS in tarmac events.
Today, the Ferrari 308 GTB Competition models — whether period-built Group 4 and Group B examples or authentic Michelotto conversions — are highly sought after by collectors and historic racers. They represent a rare period when Ferrari was directly involved in rally and GT competition with its V8 sports cars, blending the elegance of the 308’s road-going design with the raw, purposeful engineering of a true race machine.
If you’d like, I can give you a breakdown of the exact Group 4 and Group B specifications Michelotto used on the 308 GTB Competition cars. That would make the history even more precise.