It might be a little extravagant for what is essentially a mountain road, but Lucio Peruggini seems content with the challenge. Taking a modern 458 GT3 racer onto a crowned public road with no runoff seems a trifle absurd, but despite its track-oriented design, it still manages to cover the course with a surprising amount of precision and compliance. We’ve seen other high-end Ferrari circuit racers try this discipline before, but never has it looked so at-home on a public road.

Though the 550 GT and the 458 GT3 hold a similar sort of presence on the road, it’s the mid-engined machine made by Michelloto Automobili that seems more comfortable on a course like this. Of course, the 458 GT3 has its engine in the middle of the car, and that does help with direction change and rear traction, but there’s just so much sure-footedness on display. That sort of predictability and poise makes the 550 GT look like a home-built drift car.

Unlike the 550 GT, the 458 GT3 seems to soak up the bumps effortlessly.

Whereas the 550 GT had roughly 600 horsepower and 455 lb/ft of torque, the 458—due to inlet restrictors—can only produce somewhere in the vicinity of 500 horsepower. It’s a much smaller motor as well, and the power delivery is slightly more progressive. Therefore, Peruggini has no trouble administering that power through the 325-section slicks in the rear. Clearly, they’ve made the car compliant enough to handle the undulations and imperfections of a public road.

Aside from engine location, gobs of aerodynamic grip is probably the biggest factor in the difference between the two cars’ performance. While the 550 GT slides and slithers all over the crowned course the, 458 GT3 looks utterly composed—especially at speed. It must be noted that the 550 is running at lower speeds, despite looking busier at the wheel. Though the raucous, V12-powered GT takes the cake in the show department; dripping with violence and wildness, but it’s the nimble, neatly-driven 458 GT3 that would take the quicker lap time, undoubtedly. Which would you prefer?