Ferrari 296 GT3 Revealed: A New GT Race Car From Maranello
The Ferrari 296 GT3 debuts for customer racing teams to drool over.
Ferrari has always been involved in motorsport and in the GT racing segment, there’s a new model derived from the 296 GTB – the Ferrari 296 GT3.
The Ferrari 296 GT3 takes the 2-seater, mid-rear engine sports Berlinetta concept to the track with the latest GT3 FIA regulations in mind. Unlike the customer-oriented 296 GTB, the 296 GT3 has no electric motor. Instead, power comes solely from the same 120-degree V6 turbo engine displacing 2992cc and producing 600 horsepower and 710Nm of torque. In this 296 GT3, the engine’s position has been moved forward and lower down for a lower centre of gravity and for better torsional rigidity. Overall, the 296 GT3’s torsional rigidity is up 10% versus the 488 GT3’s.
This race-focused version of the V6 is also fine-tuned to be reliable for both sprint and endurance races. One modification made was to attach the alternator to the gearbox for easier access during maintenance. Speaking of the gearbox, it has been specially designed for the 296 GT3. It has a single-disc clutch and 6 forward ratios. It is transversely mounted for better aerodynamics and better weight distribution. Both the clutch actuation and gear change is electronic. Premium materials were employed and miniaturised components were used to keep the weight of the transmission down.
Check out the press release for more technical details about this new GT racer from Maranello.
PRESS RELEASE
Exterior and aerodynamics
The Ferrari engineers have been able to define an aerodynamic configuration within the homologation performance window by reducing ride height sensitivities with the aim of improving handling and driveability. This precise and detailed work on the shapes yielded a gain of 20% in downforce on the car over the previous generation. From this perspective, the 296 GT3 lives in symbiosis with the air around it, exploiting it to maximise grip and handling, benefiting gentlemen drivers and professionals alike. The challenge met by the designers was to limit the car’s sensitivity to the forces generated by aerodynamics, to provide an extraordinary balance for the benefit of driveability and driver confidence. The geometry of all the components, from the body to the wing appendages, was designed in detail under varying operating conditions and in mutual aerodynamic interaction to optimise performance and make it robust in different racing contexts, also when in the slipstream of other cars. From the front splitter to the rear extractor, which has a diffusor with a sophisticated three-dimensional design, the 296 GT3 stands out through a refined design that aims to achieve the lowest possible drag.
Cockpit
Intuitiveness, visibility and accessibility are critical to the development of the cabin design without neglecting essential aspects such as safety and comfort. In endurance racing, performance depends on these features, particularly for gentlemen drivers. The cabin was completely redesigned over the 488 GT3, in response to input from factory drivers and customers. The result is a cockpit that allows its occupant to quickly and effectively find the best driving position, with the main functions always within easy reach. Many controls and functions have moved to the new Formula 1 single seater-inspired steering wheel, while the position of the Sabelt seat provides optimal visibility, both day and night. It also adds a new level of comfort for drivers of different sizes and statures who can use the adjustable pedals and steering to find their best position in the car. The air conditioning system and airflow inside the cabin were designed to provide adequate ventilation in all conditions, helping the driver to concentrate during every stage of a race.
Chassis and vehicle dynamics
While the 296 GT3 chassis draws on the experience of the 488 GT3, it is entirely new and is made of aluminium. Besides being extremely easy and fun to drive, the 296 GT3 can exploit the grip potential offered by the tyres without compromising their integrity in just a few laps, benefiting performance and repeatability. The chassis’ extreme lightness, which in the 296 GT3 also allows better and more efficient ballast management, contributes to this. The safety structure has been carefully designed using the most sophisticated simulations and innovative technologies and research, especially in alloys and materials.
The Ferrari 296 GT3 has a longer wheelbase than its road-going counterpart, within the regulatory limits, and a different suspension design to the 488 GT3, with dedicated kinematics and structures. The double wishbone arms in the front and rear suspensions are designed to offer maximum grip even at high speeds, limiting stress on the tyres as far as possible, to the benefit of tyre life, performance and reliability. The suspension, like the anti-roll bars, features the widest possible range of settings providing drivers with the best possible setup. The braking system was also revised and upgraded, with newly designed callipers and discs (now 400 mm at the front). Rotiform has developed an all- new, forged wheel homologated specifically for the 296 GT3. Encompassed in the partnership, the new Rotiform design will be the exclusive wheel offered for all factory Ferrari 296 GT3 professional level racecars.
In designing the 296 GT3, Ferrari’s engineers focused on speeding up track operations on the car during the race and pre-race. From this point of view, it is easier to modify the 296 GT3’s setup than the previous model due to more accessible mechanical and elastic components. Operations related to checks on the engine or major accessory systems were also significantly improved to cut intervention time on the car. However, the new Ferrari also differs significantly from its rivals in terms of replacing significant parts of the car. The front and rear portions can be switched in seconds due to a series of devices and solutions that ensure a quick return to the track after any damage affecting aerodynamics or performance.
Development
The Ferrari 296 GT3 was developed with extreme use in mind, typical of the “Pro” classes where victory is the ultimate goal, and for gentlemen drivers, for whom racing is first and foremost about having fun. The entire project concept emerged in 2020 and went live with with the first CFD simulations and simulator models. Then came the indoor testing, which defined the car’s aerodynamic shape in the wind tunnel, the bench-tuning of the engine and rigidity testing the vehicle chassis. The car finally completed the endurance tests in Maranello’s 4WD Dyno. Since the first shakedown at the Fiorano track on 12 April 2022, the new Ferrari has completed tens of thousands of kilometres preparing it for racing, the toughest challenge of all.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- ENGINE
- Type F163CE, 6 cil. V 120°, 4 valves per cylinder, 2992 cm3, GDI Turbo
- Bore/Stroke: 88 x 82 mm
- Max Power: ca. 600 Hp @ 7250 rpm
- Max Torque: ca. 710 Nm @ 5500 rpm
- GEARBOX
- Transversal sequential gearbox, 6 speed
- Rotary e-shift actuator gearshift with paddles on the steering wheel
- E-clutch actuator with paddle on the steering wheel
- Magnesium gearbox case with integrated oil catch tank
- Pneumatic pre-load adjustable differential
- CHASSIS
- Tracks: 1726 mm front / 1710 mm rear
- Width: 2050 mm max (without mirrors)
- Wheelbase: 2660 mm
- Weight (no fuel, no driver): 1250 kg
- Front and rear suspension: double wishbone, tubular steel suspension arms, aluminum uprights. 5 ways adjustable dampers
- Rims: Front 12,5″ x 18″, Rear 13″ x 18″
- Tyres: Front 30/68/18, Rear 31/71/18
- Brake discs: Front Ø 400×36, Rear 332×32
- Brake calipers: Front 6 pistons, Rear 4 pistons
- Brake pads: Front 30 mm, Rear 26.5 mm
About the Author
Subhash Nair Written work on dsf.my. @subhashtag on instagram. Autophiles Malaysia on Youtube.
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