Michelotto Revives Ferrari 308 Rally Car as 2,094-Pound V8
The independent Italian engineering firm built a 375-horsepower V8 rally tribute that cannot compete in modern WRC events.
Italian engineering firm Michelotto Group has unveiled the Gruppo 4 Tributo, a ground-up rally car built with AC Motorsport that resurrects the silhouette of the Ferrari 308 GTB. The vehicle weighs 2,094 pounds and runs a naturally aspirated 3.4-liter V8 producing 375 horsepower. It will not race in any FIA-sanctioned series.
The project operates independently of Ferrari. According to CarBuzz, Michelotto developed the machine as a tribute to its own motorsport history rather than a factory-backed continuation. The Padova-based specialist prepared Ferrari rally entries throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, culminating in a second-place finish at the 1982 Tour de Corse — the Prancing Horse’s sole top-level WRC podium.
When the FIA outlawed Group B racing in 1986 following a series of fatal crashes, Michelotto shelved its 308 GT/M development program. The engineering work did not disappear. Ferrari absorbed elements of the aborted rally platform into the 288 GTO and, subsequently, the F40 supercar.
The new build rejects modern forced induction and hybrid systems. Power routes through a gated 5-speed manual transmission to the rear axle. Torque output peaks at 268 lb-ft. That power-to-weight ratio benefits from composite body panels and a stripped chassis that undercuts a current Mazda MX-5 Miata by roughly 270 pounds.
Rolling stock consists of 18-inch wheels fitted with Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tires. Inside, Alcantara-trimmed bucket seats, four-point harnesses, and a three-spoke steering wheel occupy a cabin dominated by a digital instrument cluster.
Current World Rally Championship regulations mandate 1.6-liter turbocharged engines and four-wheel drive for Rally1 and Rally2 competitors. The top tier relies on compact hatchbacks and crossovers, specifically the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 and Ford Puma Rally1, leaving no regulatory pathway for a mid-engine V8 coupe.
Michelotto has not announced pricing or production numbers for the Gruppo 4 Tributo.
