Ferrari 296 GT3: Ferrari returns to the track with a V6 engine

Antonio Roncero @roncero_antonio 29 July 2022 3 min.

Ferrari puts back on track a car with a six-cylinder engine, in this case the new Ferrari 296 GT3, the new racing car built to compete in the GT category

If with the Ferrari 296 GTB the Maranello brand once again used a V6 engine in a road model, something it had not done since the Dino, now it is the Ferrari 296 GT3 that once again marks a milestone in the history of Ferrari, in this case in competition. And this new model represents the return to the track of a Ferrari with a six-cylinder engine.

The debut of this car, which revives the legacy left by the Ferrari 488, is scheduled for the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2023. According to the brand, it is a project developed around the needs of the teams and drivers competing in the GT category, which for Ferrari has meant adopting a new approach not only in design, but also taking into account what managing a car during a race weekend involves.

3-liter twin-turbo V6 engine with 600 CV

As you may have imagined, the 296 GT3 is derived from the 296 GTB, although the propulsion system leaves hybridisation aside in order to comply with championship regulations. It is a supercharged V6 turbocharged with the turbochargers installed inside the 120-degree “V” formed by the cylinder banks. This layout has especially important advantages in a racing car, such as compactness and, above all, allowing the centre of gravity to be lowered.

Compared with the 296 GTB, the engine is installed slightly further forward and in a lower position. Lighter components are also used, and a series of modifications have been made to improve performance, always without compromising reliability, which is key in endurance racing, while keeping fuel consumption as low as possible. The announced power is 600 CV at 7,250 rpm, with a maximum torque of 710 Nm at 5,500 rpm. By way of comparison, the hybrid unit of the road-going 296 GTB, which is assisted by an electric motor, reaches 830 CV, and its maximum torque rises to 740 Nm.

The gearbox is a specific development for this car, with six speeds and a single-plate clutch with electronic actuation that can be controlled from the steering wheel instead of through the classic pedal.

Ready to compete

In addition to the engine modifications, the chassis offers 10 percent more rigidity than the 488 GT3, and everything has been designed with the aim of making the work of engineers and mechanics easier during races. For example, both the front and rear sections of the car can be removed in seconds. The suspensions, with deformable parallelogram layouts on both axles, are set up to get the most out of the tyres, while the brakes now feature larger discs on the front axle (400 mm) and newly designed calipers.

A very important aspect of these cars, aerodynamics, has been thoroughly worked on, as can be seen in the images. In fact, the vertical load generated by the bodywork at high speed has been increased by no less than 20%, again compared with the 488 GT3. Even so, despite the large rear wing, air intakes and splitters, the silhouette of the road-going 296 GTB is still perfectly recognisable.

In the driver’s seat, the changes required by the regulations are evident, with many controls and functions now handled from a steering wheel inspired by those used by the brand’s Formula 1 single-seaters. Driver comfort has not been neglected either: the cars have air conditioning, many more adjustment options and easier access to the cockpit.

You would surely also like to experience what it feels like at its controls, but for now we will have to content ourselves with enjoying the images.