Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo Launches at Spa With Sharper Aero
Ferrari returned to the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the flagship GT3 race, to unveil the Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo, precisely three years after it presented the original 296 GT3 on the same Belgian circuit.
The new car draws on the 296 LMGT3, slated for FIA WEC duty, and on the race-winning 296 GT3, which has already earned five championship crowns, victories at the Nürburgring and Daytona 24-hour classics, and an impressive 140 wins, 405 podiums and 56 pole positions from 343 starts.
Engineers converted client feedback and track data into tangible upgrades that strengthen competitiveness in every condition, while preserving the celebrated “modularity” that allows crews to service and set up the car quickly.
The twin-turbo 120-degree V6 engine carries over, but its forward-and-low mounting, now tilted by two degrees, lowers the centre of gravity and stiffens the chassis. A new gear-ratio cascade sharpens torque delivery at both low and high speeds, letting drivers exploit the V6’s responsive power.
Ferrari’s aerodynamicists revised the splitter, front floor, bumper appendages, rear diffuser and front wheel-arch louvres to stabilise front downforce in traffic and cut sensitivity to “disturbed” air. Two bonnet intakes cool the brakes and cockpit. At the same time, a redesigned rear wing, supported by new side panels and adjusted via a single screw, delivers rapid and precise setup changes, first introduced on the LMGT3.
Inside the bodywork, optimised ducting and the bonnet intakes boost front-brake cooling by more than 20 per cent; twin NACA inlets beneath the floor now supply cooler air to the steering pump.
LMGT3 experience also informed taller, more vertical rear wheel-arches that accept a wider range of GT-series tyres, and re-engineered mirrors that sit further inboard to cut vibration and expand rearward vision.
Reprofiled front and rear suspension geometry reduces component loadings, heightens reliability and synchronises axle responses, all while simplifying pit-lane adjustments.
Drivers will appreciate a cooler, more ergonomic cockpit thanks to an additional fan that enhances the air-conditioning system without compromising safety or comfort.
Ferrari will complete homologation in time for a 2026 season debut and will offer the 296 GT3 Evo as an upgrade kit to current 296 GT3 teams, ensuring the Prancing Horse stays at the sharp end of GT3 racing.
