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After years of racing the iconic Pagani Zonda, Antonín Herbeck has moved to a Ferrari 488, which he now competes with in the GTX category of the GT Cup. We caught up with him at the Lausitzring to talk about the transition to a completely different machine and what he expects from his new car.
After years with the Pagani Zonda, you’re now racing a Ferrari 488. What led to the change?
We mainly wanted to try something new. The Zonda is an exceptional car, but it’s been through a lot and it has its limits. The Ferrari 488 is a completely different league, a modern race car with a lot of potential. But right now, we’re still learning how to get the most out of it. At the Lausitzring, we noticed that its higher weight creates a speed disadvantage on the straights. So now we’re trying to figure out whether to lighten the car or increase the boost pressure to get more out of it.
How much heavier is the Ferrari compared to the Zonda and how noticeable is it on track?
The difference is significant. The Ferrari is 160 kilos heavier than our Zonda, and that really shows, especially under acceleration and on the straights. Plus, the car’s gearing is set up for Le Mans, so in theory I should be able to reach about 300 km/h. But on most tracks, you just don’t get up to that kind of speed.
So there’s still a lot of work to be done on the car?
Definitely. It’s basically a development project, that’s also why we’re racing in the GTX class, where you have the freedom to experiment a bit. There are a few things on the car we want to fine-tune over time. The gearbox is something we’d like to sort out soon, but it’s not as straightforward as it was with the Zonda, where we could access the gearbox more easily. With the Ferrari, we have to remove the whole thing. Hopefully we’ll get it done before the race in Most, but whether it’ll be exactly to the driver’s liking, that I can’t guarantee just yet.
How does the Ferrari handle compared to the Zonda?
The Ferrari is incredibly reliable. You might’ve noticed, at the Lausitzring, we finished both races, which wasn’t always the case with the Zonda. In terms of braking and cornering, it’s a joy. The car works great in that department. The engine could still use a bit more punch, but overall I’m satisfied.
What’s the story behind this particular Ferrari? Where did it race before coming to you?
This specific car raced mostly in the Middle East, it competed in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, even did some 12-hour events. It was owned by the Baron Motorsport team from Vienna. I know them well, I used to race in Ferrari Challenge with them years ago. So I know they didn’t sell me a lemon. The car has a solid racing history and was well maintained.
And how did you enjoy your Ferrari debut at the Lausitzring?
Lausitzring is like a rollercoaster. The track is really bumpy, the car jumps around quite a bit. Honestly, it could really use a new layer of asphalt. But overall, it was a good experience. The races were fun, the car held up well, the team worked great, I’ve got no complaints.