The world of motorsport would be incomplete without the Prancing Horse and their esteemed legacy. From Formula 1 to Le Mans, the Italian manufacturer has conquered it all but now the new generation is upon us with a race-bred Ferrari 296 GT3 under production.
Based on the road going GTB, the Ferrari 296 GT3 has been teased in a design sketch with cosmetic and aerodynamic upgrades as well as some changes in the powertrain department. From what we have seen with the latest V6 incarnation from Ferrari the racing derivative will be highly competitive although class regulations require the next generation racer ditch the hybrid system and be powered solely by the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter motor.
The road going GTB engine is said to put out 488 kW alone so we can expect the Scuderia to tinker further and eke out every horsepower the next generation V6 is capable of providing.
The Ferrari 296 GT3 will take the reins from the highly successful but ageing Ferrari 488 GT3 and 488 GT3 Evo models which have been around since 2015 and debuted in world competition in 2016. The Prancing Horse even called its predecessor “the most successful car” in their racing history. It also won the 2021 Intercontinental GT Challenge season that ended with the Kyalami 9 Hour a few months ago.
While the moody renderings provide us with a glimpse of what is to come, the Ferrari 296 GT3 expectedly looks far more aggressive than the road going version GTB with sharp canards flanking the bumper, aggressive front and rear wings emphasising aero and front fender air-vents akimbo for cooling.
We don’t know when the new race-bred Prancing Horse will officially be revealed however Ferrari have confirmed that it is under production. The 296 GT3 will also be the return of a Ferrari six-cylinder to the racetrack outside of Formula 1 and debut on the racing calendar as soon as 2023.
