Ferrari has unveiled the latest example of one of its road cars adapted for its own single-make race series, the Ferrari Challenge. This, then, is the 296 Challenge, the company's new contender for 2024 onwards.
Ninth car in Ferrari Challenge history
Based on the road-going 296 GTB, the new 296 Challenge was unveiled before the final round, held at the Mugello circuit in Tuscany, Italy, of the 2023 Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli - a season contested by the outgoing 488 Challenge Evo.
The 296 Challenge is the ninth model to compete in the Ferrari race series, and it will be used in both the European and North American editions of the Challenge Trofeo Pirelli next year.
Ferrari says the 296 Challenge represents a 'revolutionary design' when compared to the 488 Challenge Evo it replaces, courtesy of a slew of new features for the latest racer. But its technological prowess is possible because Ferrari has ensured that the road-based 296 GTB is as ready as possible to be optimised into a racing version - in essence, the road variant was built and developed with its eventual competitive debut in mind.
No hybrid gear, but 700hp regardless
Using technology and specifications that are very similar to the 296 GT3, which has already made its global debut in the 2023 motorsport calendar, the 296 Challenge has upgrades to its drivetrain, its aerodynamics and its chassis configuration.
Ferrari is proud to confirm the 296 Challenge is the first car in the history of its one-make race series to feature a 120-degree V6, the car running a 2992cc twin-turbo unit that is stripped of any hybrid components. In Challenge spec, it delivers 700hp, all backed up with 740Nm of torque - and that makes it the contender with the highest specific output, of 234hp-per-litre, in the history of the competition.
Fully 870kg of downforce
Changes to the aero package, including that extraordinary-looking rear-end treatment, mean the 296 Challenge can summon up a whopping 870kg of downforce when it's running at 250km/h if the rear spoiler is set to its maximum angle of attack.
The car also uses ABS Evo Track, an adaptation of the system deployed on the 296 GTB road car. The Ferrari 296 Challenge also gains powerful carbon-ceramic material racing brake discs - known as CCM-R Plus - and a set of 19-inch tyres from Pirelli specially developed for this car only.