Ferrari 296 Speciale Piloti Tribute Shines at Le Mans
Ferrari unveiled the 296 Speciale with the Piloti Ferrari configuration on the eve of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, electrifying the Circuit de la Sarthe with the latest jewel from its Tailor Made programme. The marque crafted this exclusive specification to celebrate its FIA World Endurance Championship triumphs and to recognise client-racing drivers who actively shape Ferrari’s competitive legacy. Inspired by the Ferrari 499P that conquered Le Mans in 2023 and 2024, the 296 Speciale carries the same racing soul into a road-legal berlinetta.
Designers painted the car in one of four race-bred colours—Rosso Scuderia, Blu Tour de France, Nero Daytona or Argento Nürburgring—and layered the bodywork with a Giallo Modena stripe that echoes the 499P. A hand-painted WEC emblem, an Italian flag front bumper, and a customer-chosen number complete the livery; the launch car proudly bore “51”, the winning number of Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, and Antonio Giovinazzi in 2023. Inside, thermoformed black Alcantara® racing seats, fire-retardant inserts, and carbon-fibre trim recreate the cockpit aura of Ferrari’s works hypercar, while a personalised carbon plaque and sill underline exclusivity.
Power comes from an 880 cv plug-in hybrid system that couples a 120-degree twin-turbo V6 with an electric motor. Engineers lightened and reinforced the internal-combustion unit with Formula One-derived parts, then matched it to an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox featuring Ferrari Fast Shift for sharper, torque-rich changes. Extra Boost software unleashes full power on demand, and revised aerodynamics deliver 20 per cent more downforce than the 296 GTB. The chassis, shorter than many rivals at 2,600 mm wheelbase, responds instantly, helping the car sprint from 0–100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and pass 200 km/h in 7.0 seconds before exceeding 330 km/h.
The Ferrari 499P provides the template. That Le Mans-winning hypercar combines a carbon-fibre monocoque with double wishbone suspension and marries a load-bearing 3-litre twin-turbo V6 to a front electric motor for around 680 cv and active all-wheel drive above 190 km/h. Regenerative braking, finely tuned aerodynamics, and relentless efficiency enabled chassis 51 and 50 to claim back-to-back Le Mans victories, restoring the Prancing Horse to endurance-racing glory after half a century.
Ferrari Tailor Made empowers clients to shape every detail of their car. A personal designer guides each owner through the Classica, Inedita and Scuderia collections, ensuring that every shade of paint, stitch of leather and weave of carbon reflects the client’s taste while respecting Maranello’s design language.
Measuring 4,625 mm long, 1,968 mm wide and 1,181 mm high, the 296 Speciale balances 40 per cent of its 1,410 kg dry weight over the front axle and 60 per cent over the rear. Massive carbon-ceramic brakes—398 mm front, 360 mm rear—anchor the car from 200 km/h in just 106 metres, and bespoke 20-inch tyres, 245/35 front and 305/35 rear, translate every steering input into crisp movement. A 7.45 kWh battery enables 25 km of silent e-drive cruising, yet the berlinetta laps Fiorano in 1 minute 19 seconds when unleashed. By infusing racing technology, sustainable hybrid power, and meticulous personalisation, Ferrari ensures the 296 Speciale Piloti Ferrari configuration stands as both a tribute to Le Mans glory and a thrilling chapter in its road car story.
