Ferrari 296 Challenge
9th generation Ferrari Challenge vehicle
The 296 Challenge is a racing car that made its debut in the 2024 Ferrari Challenge season.
Normally, test drive reviews are written to advise readers considering a purchase, but this one is aimed at a very limited audience, so let me start by saying that the test drive car is the 296 Challenge, a car that competes in Ferrari’s one-make race, the Ferrari Challenge.
The Ferrari Challenge, which began in 1993, is a historic one-make race held around the world. It is currently held in four regions: Europe, North America, the UK, and Japan, with an Australian series scheduled to be added in 2025. Although it is a race aimed at gentleman drivers, the level of competition is high, and there are cases where this has led to a career as a professional driver. For example, Nicklas Nielsen, who won the European Series Pro Class Championship in 2018, became a Ferrari factory driver the following year and went on to win the overall championship in the Hypercar category at the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The 296 Challenge I test drove this time is the ninth generation model developed exclusively for the Ferrari Challenge. Its lineage began with the original 348, followed by the F355, 360, F430, and 458, and has evolved through the 458 Evo, 488, and 488 Evo, with this latest model being released in 2023. It’s based on the commercially available plug-in hybrid 296 GTB, but the powertrain and aerodynamics have been significantly improved. The engine is the same 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbo as the 296 GTB, but it’s been modified for racing, with the motor and battery removed. The engine’s maximum output has been increased to 700 PS, exceeding the 296 GTB’s 663 PS. Maximum torque remains at the same 740 Nm. The transmission is a 7-speed, rather than the GTB’s 8-speed. According to sources, it’s borrowed from the 488 GTB.
Maximum downforce of 870 kg at 250 km/h
The large rear wing can be adjusted in seven stages and generates a maximum of 870 kg of downforce at 250 km/h, an 18% increase over the 488 Challenge Evo.
The test drive took place at Monteblanco, a private circuit in Spain. What made this test drive special was that it wasn’t just a test drive; a coach was on board to provide guidance on braking and accelerating timing. After the drive, a data logger was used to analyze the data and provide specific suggestions for improvement. This curriculum is equivalent to Ferrari’s driving lessons and personal coaching on Corso Pilota.
Standing before the yellow livery of the 296 Challenge as it warms up in the pit, one is stunned by its racing-car-like presence, exemplified by its low, wide front spoiler and massive rear wing. Previous Challenge cars, especially those before the 488 Challenge, had focused on leveraging the appeal of production cars, but the 488 Challenge Evo marked a major shift in design philosophy. Pursuing racing performance, the focus has shifted to improving aerodynamics. This model also incorporates technologies found in GT3 cars. For example, air intakes in the center of the front bumper efficiently cool the radiator, while air exhausted from vents on the front hood is directed to the roof through the windshield. High downforce is achieved by improving the underbody’s airtightness. The fixed swan-neck rear wing can be adjusted in seven stages and generates a maximum of 870 kg of downforce at 250 km/h, an 18% increase over the previous model, the 488 Challenge Evo.
Opening the lightweight door, just like the 296GTB, you enter the interior, which is fitted with a roll cage. The full bucket seats, which have a sliding function, are easily adjusted fore and aft. Once you’ve adjusted your position, you’re given an explanation on the engine start and stop procedures, as well as how to adjust the traction control and ABS, which are essential features of modern racing cars. Once you’re ready, the mechanic will securely fasten your six-point seatbelt. This is one of the moments that enhances the special feeling of test driving a racing car.
Maximum output of 700PS exceeds that of the 499P racing car
The biggest change to the interior is that the engine rpm display LED, which was mounted on the steering wheel in the 488 Challenge Evo, has been integrated into the meter panel for improved visibility.
Finally, it’s my turn to drive. I pull the right paddle to put it in first gear and set off. There’s no gear noise inside the car, and it feels not much different from a production car, but the acceleration feels completely different. Thanks in part to the fact that the car is 140kg lighter than the GTB, the 296 Challenge is surprisingly agile. The engine already delivers ample power from around 4000 rpm, allowing me to fully experience the potential of the 700PS 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbo. After all, 700PS is even more powerful than the Ferrari 499P hypercar, which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans two years in a row.
Monte Blanco is a course with many low-speed corners, but the paddles are easy to operate, respond quickly, and shifting gears is a joy. Even when I pressed the accelerator hard exiting a corner, the car didn’t lurch wildly, and the excellent traction control (TC) delivered outstanding performance. TC can be set using two four-stage adjustment dials. The dial on the right of the steering wheel, “TC1,” adjusts the timing at which the control kicks in, while the dial on the left, “TC2,” adjusts its strength. At the start of the test drive, the setting was set to “3,” which was a bit strong, and the gauges frequently displayed its activation when exiting tight corners. However, the intervention was natural, and I felt that by avoiding it, I could drive fast and smoothly. Ye Yifei, the Chinese works driver who drives a 499P in the WEC, was also a guest at the event, and he told me that it’s faster to drive with the traction control set to 1 or 2 depending on the road conditions rather than turning it off.
Braking performance has also undergone significant improvements. Like the 296 GTB, it uses by-wire brakes, with excellent pedal feel. When I previously test drove the 488 Challenge Evo, the brake pedal felt soft and unsettling, but with the 296 Challenge, there was no anxiety at all. The brake pedal feels just right, providing excellent control, and it’s also impressive that it doesn’t require the extraordinary pedal force of 120 kg like a GT3 car. The ABS can be adjusted to four stages, allowing for settings tailored to the course and road surface. 1-2 are for dry conditions, and 3-4 are for wet conditions. The specially designed slick tires, incorporating F1 technology, are 280/680ZR19 (11J) in the front and 300/720ZR19 (12J) in the rear, with larger front wheels and the same rear wheels compared to the 488 Challenge Evo.
Coaching that brings great growth
We checked the car’s performance using telemetry. It was 9 seconds behind the coach’s time of 1 minute 35 seconds. There was a fierce competitor who was 1 second slower than the coach, but he was a former professional driver.
I pitted, satisfied with the 296 Challenge’s performance, which had improved the lap time of its predecessor by two seconds at the Mugello Circuit. After the test drive, I received feedback from the coach. My lap time was 1 minute 44 seconds, just nine seconds behind the coach. The data logger pointed out specific areas for improvement, and on my next run I put into practice his advice, such as moving the braking point further back and changing both traction control settings to “2,” which ultimately reduced the gap to three seconds. At the beginning, I wrote that this was advice for readers, but since I’m nowhere near the level of the fierce competitors competing in Ferrari Challenge Japan, I’d like to change it to “musings” rather than “advice.”
What impressed me most this time was not only the perfection of the machine, but also the guidance of the coach, which brought about such great growth. Corso Pilota offers three programs: the beginner’s “Sport,” the intermediate “Evoluzione Plus,” and the practical “Race,” and in each program you can receive personal coaching like this one. The 2025 schedule has already been announced, so if you’re interested, please check the official website .
Through test driving the greatly evolved 296 Challenge, I was able to experience not only its performance, but also the driving learning opportunities that Ferrari offers. It has a wide range of enjoyment for all skill levels, from experts to beginners. In 2025, the Ferrari Challenge Japan will see the participation of over 30 cars. I truly envy those who will be able to enjoy the circuit in this machine, which can be said to be the culmination of Ferrari’s cutting-edge technology.
Check out the video for impressions of the “296 Challenge”!
REPORT/Takuro YOSHIOKA
PHOTO/Ferrari SpA
MAGAZINE/ GENROQ February 2025 issue
*Video added on 2025/2/15
SPECIFICATIONS
Ferrari 296 Challenge
Body size: Total length 4602, total width 1958, total height 1159mm
Wheelbase: 2600mm
Vehicle dry weight: 1330kg
Engine: V6 DOHC twin turbo
Total displacement: 2992cc
Maximum output: 700PS/7500rpm
Maximum torque: 740Nm/6000rpm
Transmission: 7-speed DCT
Drive system: RWD
Suspension type: Front double wishbone, rear multi-link
Brakes: Front and rear ventilated disc Tire
size (rim width): Front 280/680ZR19 (11J) Rear 300/720ZR19 (12J)
[Official website]
Ferrari Japan
https://www.ferrari.com/ja-JP
