Vicious Rumour Racing has taken the wraps off the first Ferrari 488 GT3 to arrive in Australia.

The Melbourne-based operation has confirmed plans to field Ferrari’s latest GT3 offering in elected rounds of the Australian GT Championship beginning at next month’s Australian Grand Prix meeting (March 17-20).

Ferrari test driver Andrea Montermini will share the car with Benny Simonsen, the brother of the late Allan, at the Grand Prix meeting.

The team has been allocated the second 488 GT3 chassis produced by the famous Italian operation ahead of the car’s global race debut at Albert Park.

Ferrari’s replacement for the 458 GT3 will be powered by a 3.9 litre turbo charged V8 engine.

A second 488 GT3 is due to arrive in Australia next week when Maranello Motorsport takes delivery of their new Australian GT challenger.

Maranello’s car is due to undergo its shakedown at Fiorano in Italy this week, which will be carried out by Montermini.

The 488 GT3 is the latest in a long line of Ferrari GT cars that Maranello has run in 20-year association with the marque.

Car owner Peter Edwards and co-driver John Bowe will debut the machine at Albert Park.