Fans of British auto journalist and racer Chris Harris know he has a love / hate relationship with Ferrari. He admires the Maranello automaker’s ware so much that he recently bought a Ferrari 599 on the used market. On the other hand, he doesn’t necessarily respect Ferrari, since it tends to supply (its hand-chosen) automotive journalists with, um, “improved” products.
In other words, the 458 Italia tested by Road & Track is likely to be a bit faster than the one you can buy from your local Ferrari dealer. When Harris made the mistake of revealing this inconvenient truth, he was hastily removed from the list of Ferrari-approved journalists. Harris bought a 599, then, as it was the only way for him to drive a prancing horse on a regular basis.
When recently “sublet” a Ferrari-owned 458 Italia Spider, Harris knew that a conventional review wouldn’t do the job. After all, the car has been on the market for a year or so, and everything that could be said about the strength of it’s 570 horsepower V-8 engine and impressively stiff chassis has already been penned. There are plenty of Ferrari-approved beauty shots and inspirational videos, but Ferrari 458 Italia Spider hoonage videos are in short supply, something Harris decided to address.
If you’re looking for a video review of the car, this clip isn’t going to do it for you. If, on the other hand, you want to see a 458 Italia Spider driven at its limits of adhesion, tail thrown sideways in glorious displays of oversteer, this is the video to watch.
If Harris was blacklisted by Ferrari before filming this spot, we’re pretty sure he’s earned a lifetime ban with this particular video.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
