Ferrari Converts An Electric-Powered 296 GTB Into A Hybrid-Free GT3

Some new designs from Ferrari illustrate how the 296 GT3 may be upgraded to compete with Aston Martin, McLaren, and Porsche in the heavily competitive GT3 category. You can still see the 296 GTB roots if you look carefully, but the extreme aerodynamic alterations designed to increase downforce at racing speeds disguise them.

At the front, a muscular front splitter extends beneath each wheel arch and is flanked by a pair of canards, whereas the fender tops have saw-tooth ducts to alleviate pressure accumulated. Ferrari did not disclose an image of the car's back, so we can only speculate.

The 296 GT3 will employ a variation of the 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 engine that drives the road vehicle, however, Ferrari hasn't revealed many technical specs.  It will race as a classic combustion-engined car without the electric powertrain from the production model to meet racing requirements.

The road car's V6 generates 654 hp (663 PS) and the hybrid power unit provides 123 kW (165 hp/167 PS), totalling 818 hp (829 PS). The racing variant, on the other hand, will be significantly weaker. Even though we've just seen designs of the vehicle, Ferrari confirms that it's already being manufactured in France by race outfit Oreca. 

The 296 GT3's design, according to Ferrari, is influenced by masterpieces like the 1963 250 LM, which won Ferrari's final outright Le Mans title in 1965. While Ferrari hasn't won the main prize since then, it has had a huge success in GT3 racing. A total of 107 titles, including 429 wins from 770 starts, were won by the previous 488 GT3 and later Evo variant, which this new GT3 vehicle substitutes.