Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO : bred from victory, evolved to push limits

Three years after its presentation at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in 2022, Ferrari has chosen the same race, the most important on the GT calendar, to unveil the new 296 GT3 Evo.

The car builds on the experience gained with the 296 LMGT3 (which will compete in the FIA WEC from the 2024 season) and the 296 GT3, which, since its debut, has won five titles, including Drivers' and Team titles in the Pro class of the GT World Challenge Endurance Cup – the benchmark championship for GT3 cars – as well as victories at the Nürburgring 24 Hours and the 24 Hours at Daytona

The statistics take the tally to 140 victories, 405 podiums and 56 pole positions in 343 races. 

Client feedback and racing experience have led to the development of the 296 GT3 Evo, the result of targeted and concrete actions aimed at creating an even more competitive car in all conditions, while maintaining the concept of “modularity” that has made the 296 GT3 a true benchmark, especially in terms of ease of

maintenance and set-up.

Engine and gearbox. The V6 combustion engine of the 296 GT3 Evo remains unchanged from the previous version. It retains the 120° V configuration with the turbochargers positioned inside the V, which offers significant benefits in terms of compactness and weight reduction, helping to achieve extremely high levels of power. Versatile, reliable and high-performing, the engine has always been appreciated for for its power delivery and torque since its debut.

The engine remains in the same position as in the 296 GT3, positioned further forward and lower down than in the road-going version. This location helps to lower the centre of gravity and improve torsional rigidity. It was also tilted by 2° to allow more space for the rear diffuser.

As for the gearbox, the 296 GT3 Evo adopts a new gear ratio cascade, optimised after analysing data collected during the car's two years of use, to favour torque delivery at both low and high speeds.

Aerodynamics. The 296 GT3 Evo represents the next step in the evolution of the 296 GT3, a winning platform that already combines extreme aerodynamic performance and ease of load utilisation on the track. The goal set by Ferrari's engineers was to ensure a more predictable and stable response from the car in all race situations, while maintaining the performance of the standard 296 GT3 in terms of vertical load and efficiency, already pushed to the maximum allowed by the technical regulations. In engineering terms, the aerodynamics team focused on improving front vertical load stability when the 296 GT3 Evo is in the slipstream of another car, and aerodynamic sensitivity, i.e. minimising aerodynamic load variations.

Almost all of the bodywork has been evolved. The profiles of the splitter and front floor have been revised, and the expansion volumes and vortex generators have been optimised. The appendages on the front bumper have also been modified in search of the best performance compromise.

A further significant improvement has come from a thorough and careful review of the rear diffuser, which has been modified in terms of its expansion volumes and the number of channels.

The third element to undergo development was the front wheel arch louvers, developed in synergy with the front underbody to ensure clean air enters the rear air intakes, both in free air and in the slipstream of other cars.

For the development of the 296 GT3 Evo, the simulation methodology combining wind tunnel testing with CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) calculations has been further improved, allowing the simulation of disturbed aerodynamic fields and the rapid testing of many geometric variations. The performance of the development package was then validated on the track, both in performance laps and in conditions involving other cars. The result of the research is summarised in the car's ability to maintain high aerodynamic performance in traffic and “disturbed” air, which are very common in endurance racing, stabilising the vertical load in the slipstream to the benefit of competitiveness and precision even in the most dynamic and unpredictable contexts.

From an aesthetic and functional point of view, the 296 GT3 Evo is also recognisable by two air intakes in the front bonnet, which improve cooling for the brakes and the cockpit, as well as by the new rear wing, which has undergone significant changes. The support structure has been redesigned together with the side panels. The wing is now equipped with a quick adjustment mechanism, introduced for the first time in the LMGT3, which allows the wing angle to be adjusted using a simple screw, further improving track performance, already a distinctive feature of the 296 GT3.

Fluid dynamics. The development of the evolution package also involved internal aerodynamics, and in particular the cooling of the front brakes. Thanks to the optimisation of the ducts that convey air from the bumper to the discs and the introduction of two dynamic intakes on the bonnet, the overall airflow to the front brakes has increased by more than 20% compared to the 296 GT3. The steering pump also benefits from better and more effective cooling thanks to the

introduction of two Naca intakes in the underbody. LMGT3 experience. The entire rear wheel arch bodywork is borrowed from the LMGT3, which is distinguished by a more vertical curvature at the front, making it easier to accommodate the various types of tyres from different suppliers used in GT championships around the world. The rear-view mirrors also benefit from this experience and have been further improved thanks to a series of studies and calculations aimed at investigating the frequencies and modes of vibration of the exterior mirrors in the current version. These new parts have been moved inwards, changing their angle and improving visibility at the same time. 

Vehicle dynamics. Both the front and rear suspension kinematics have been modified with the aim of reducing loads on the components and improving reliability. At the same time, the new design ensures a connected dynamic response between the front and rear, as well as facilitating setup operations in the pits.

Cockpit. Intuitive, visibility and accessibility are the key principles around which the development of the 296 GT3's cockpit has been defined, without forgetting fundamental aspects such as safety and comfort. The 296 GT3 Evo retains these basic characteristics, but significantly improves the air conditioning system, which has been enhanced with an additional fan to make it even more effective.

Debut and kit. The 296 GT3 Evo, whose homologation process will be completed once the final aerodynamic refinements are underway, will make its debut in the 2026 season and will also be available as an upgrade kit for those competing with the 296 GT3.