Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo: the new weapon for endurance racing debuts at Spa with top-class solutions

Ferrari knows this well , and three years after the presentation of the 296 GT3, it has chosen the same exceptional stage – the 24 Hours of Spa – to present the new Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo, the technical and conceptual evolution of an already multi-victorious platform. A car born from what happens on the track and in the pits, designed to refine every detail and further raise the bar in endurance racing.

The starting point is solid. The 296 GT3, from 2022 to today, has conquered everything: five titles, over 140 victories, an absolute champion's list of achievements that includes legendary 24 Hours such as Daytona and Nürburgring. But in Maranello, they are not satisfied. And so, listening to the feedback of customers, teams and drivers, the Evo was born: a targeted, surgical update, built to make the difference in all conditions, without distorting an already excellent car.

At the heart of the project remains the 120° twin-turbo V6, a technical and philosophical signature of the 296. The engine does not change, nor would it make sense to do so. It is already appreciated for its power delivery, torque and reliability. What changes instead is its positioning, slightly lower and more inclined to favor the rear aerodynamic space. The weight distribution and the rigidity of the chassis, key parameters in endurance racing, are improved. And the cascade of gear ratios has also changed, revised with real data collected in the race: more promptness, more fluidity, more management.

But aerodynamics is the densest chapter of the 296 GT3 Evo. A silent and meticulous evolution that concerns almost every surface of the car. The work was meticulous: modifications to the splitter, the vortex generators, the rear diffuser, the air intakes and even the wheel arch louvers. The goal was not to increase the pure load - already at the maximum allowed by the regulations - but to stabilize it in all conditions, especially in the slipstream. Traffic, disturbed air, overtaking: everything that makes GT races unpredictable has been simulated, studied, addressed.

Fundamental to this process was the integration between CFD simulation and wind tunnel, to also test the effects of turbulence generated by other cars. The result is a 296 that is more predictable, more reactive, more stable. A car designed not for one lap, but to withstand the hours, the fatigue, the variability of long races.

Aesthetically, it is immediately recognizable by the new air intakes on the hood, which improve the cooling of the brakes and the cockpit, and by the new rear wing, derived directly from the LMGT3. The introduction of the quick adjustment mechanism, which allows the angle of the wing to be varied with a single screw, is a further simplification of operations in the pits, which has always been a strong point of the project.

It's not just the load that changes. The internal fluid dynamics have also been optimized. Thanks to new air intakes and ducts, front brake cooling is improved by 20%. The steering pump is more efficient, and even the underbody area receives new NACA ducts to ensure consistent performance even in the most critical conditions.

The experience gained with the 296 LMGT3 in the FIA WEC is rightfully incorporated into the Evo. The rear bodywork is the same, optimised to accommodate various types of tyres, an essential detail in championships with different suppliers. The rear-view mirrors have also been revised: less vibration, better visibility, more comfort for the driver. Every element, even the most secondary, has been rethought with a single objective: to do better.

On the dynamic front, the front and rear suspensions receive modifications to reduce the loads on the elements and improve the response between the front and rear axles. The setup becomes more intuitive, the behavior on the track more homogeneous. In an era in which the difference is measured in millimeters, even a tenth more precision can be worth a pole.

Inside the cockpit, Ferrari has chosen not to overturn an already optimal layout, but to intervene where necessary: the air conditioning system is more powerful, with additional fans, improving the physical endurance of the drivers in the double stints. Comfort and safety remain priorities, without compromise.

The 296 GT3 Evo will debut in 2026, once homologation is complete. But for those already racing with the 296 GT3, there will be no need to replace the entire car: an upgrade kit is planned, confirming the modular approach that has made the Ferrari project so popular in paddocks around the world.

In the Spa paddock, where it all began, the Evo is not just a novelty. It is a statement. Ferrari does not simply build racing cars: it evolves them by listening to those who live them. Drivers, teams, mechanics. The 296 GT3 Evo is the result of this constant dialogue. And perhaps this is what makes it so dangerous for its opponents: it is not just faster. It is smarter.

DATA SHEET

MOTOR

Type F163CE, 6 cyl. V 120°, 4 valves per cylinder, 2992 cm3, GDI Turbo

Bore/Stroke: 88 x 82 mm

Maximum power: approx. 600 hp* (447 kW) at 7250 rpm

Maximum torque: approx. 710 Nm* at 5500 rpm

* Subject to BoP

CHANGE

Sequential transverse gearbox, 6 speed

E-clutch, electronic clutch actuator with paddles on the steering wheel

Magnesium gearbox with integrated oil recovery tank

CHASSIS