Ferrari unveils aggressive new 296 GT3 racer

The first major point as above is that the 296 GT3 uses a development of the 120-degree V6 twin-turbo engine from the road car. It’s been moved slightly, with surrounding elements and architecture optimised to make the 296 easier to work on. The engine, and indeed the whole car, was born out of a close collaboration with the road car team right from the start of the road car’s development, with decisions made with this future racer in mind.

The obvious change to the GT3 is the removal of the hybrid system, meaning the GT3 is powered solely by the engine, which in this installation is good for up to 600PS (441kW) and up to 700Nm (516lb ft), though the balance of performance (BoP) will dictate states of tune on a case-by-case basis. The new V6 is said to be 24 per cent more efficient than the outgoing V8 thanks in part to its smaller, higher-revving turbochargers. That power goes to the rear wheels via a sequential six-speed transmission. The stated weight is 1,250kg without fuel and a driver, though again BoP will dictate race-by-race weight.

Ferrari’s apparent confidence in the new mill can be observed in the fact that it appears to power both the 296 GT3 and its to-be-named, to-be-revealed Le Mans Hypercar, which will be racing in the top LMH class next year too.

Besides the new engine the 296 GT3, as with all of next year’s GT3 cars, gets really interesting in terms of aero. These cars are blossoming somewhat to try to fill the GTE performance void. As such in the case of the Ferrari, the result is a 20 per cent increase in potential downforce compared with the 488 GT3, with optimisation of detailed elements to improve consistency across configurations. Displacement of the downforce at the front and rear has been reduced by 20 per cent and 40 per cent respectively, reducing the car’s sensitivity to how the air flows. The net result should be an eminently raceable car with a more consistent character and performance in a variety of configurations at a variety of tracks.

Needless to say, it looks very purposeful, with the cleaner lines and curves of the 296 wearing the frippery of motorsport effortlessly. Arguably the biggest change compared to the road car is at the back, where the strange truncated road car exhaust has gone in favour of traditional twin circular trumpet pipes, over which a towering swan-neck wing looms.

Besides racing in the new flagship GT class, as ever Ferrari’s GT3 protagonist will also be offered in a wide-reaching customer programme. Gentleman drivers have always been at the core of Ferrari’s GT racing presence, since the 250 days of the ‘50s and ‘60s. No doubt the popularity of the 296 will be matched only by that of the contemporary Porsche. We can’t wait to see it running side-by-side with the new to-be-revealed 911 GT3 R in next year’s IMSA Sportscar Championship.