Hi Keith -
I was talking to the support engineer (Jason) of
Tim Smaways - Sporting & Historic Cars Ltd
and apparently it was the #3 development car for the 'F40' - I think he said it was a very modified 288 (which I'd not heard of
) but now running Motec M48 engine management - which they were looking to change to M800/M880 in the near future.
It ran about 1.8Bar? - and they recorded 656BHP on their dyno with it
which in a chassis weighing about 890Kg must make it flippin' quick!
I saw Peter Hardman out in it and on returning to the pits reported a loose front wheel, which turned out to be a broken front wishbone. This was replaced and then out again it went.
Funnily enough, Jools was hanging on to it, in fact right up it's chuff for 2-3 laps at one point, and then they put their foot down and Jools said it 'LEFT HIM FOR DEAD' on the straight as the boost kicked in. Ooh the wonder of turbos........
Addendum: - Found the following link to a '288' conversion - not the same, but interesting none the less. Not sure about the rear scoops though - look a bit 'wacky racers' to me...
1981 Ferrari 308/288 GTO Conversion Serial Number 034555*-*Front view