Ferrari F40 defied all expectations by drifting on the snowy slopes of Japan’s Ryuoo Ski Park
- A Ferrari F40 supercar holds its own in off-road and snowy conditions
- It drifted down snow-covered slopes at Ryuoo Ski Park, Japan
- It had been specially modified for the project
Published on Jan 19, 2025 at 12:00 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on May 14, 2025 at 2:57 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
While it might seem out of place in snowy and rugged off-road conditions, this Ferrari F40 supercar holds its own.
This majestic creature can be seen drifting up and down the snow-covered slopes of Ryuoo Ski Park, Japan.
It had even been specially modified.
Japanese racing driver Takeshi Kimura put it through its paces.
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The Ferrari F40
In Ferrari’s own words: “The F40’s performance was that of a true supercar: its claimed top speed was 324km/h.
“It accelerated from 0 to 100km/h in just 4.1 seconds, covered 0 to 400 m in 11.9 seconds, and reached 0 to 1000m in 20.9 seconds.”
Driving the coveted car was said to be ‘simply superb and exciting’ – that being said it seems out of place on the snowy off-road environment of the slopes.
Enter this specially modified Ferrari F40 that was part of a 2016 Red Bull project.
Its off-road performance
Seemingly at home in the rugged winter conditions, the eye-catching red supercar can be seen charging up snowy slopes before sliding down sideways toward basecamp.
Driven by Kimura, modifications to the Ferrari include rally lights, a storage roof rack, tire studs, and snow chains.
The transformation turned the sleek, rear-wheel-drive car into an unlikely contender for wintery weather.
Despite the stunning visuals, the F40 suffered several mechanical, and physical issues.
It endured a dead battery, failed front struts, damaged paint due to the tire chains, and at one point, was stuck deep in the now during the shoot after veering off course.
However, even rugged cars like the Tesla Cybertruck can struggle in snowy conditions.
It’s not as comfortable as this Chinese EV which has an incredible feature to shake off snow like a puppy.
That being said, EVs are known for struggling in cold weather.
That being said, the footage of the ICE-engine supercar kicking up snow is an iconic testament to the Ferrari F40’s unexpected adaptability.
All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
